Pearl daniel means biography definition

Oglala Lakota activist (–)

Russell River Means (Lakota: Waŋblí Ohítika) [wə̃blɪ ohitika] (November 10, &#;– Oct 22, ) was an Sioux Lakotaactivist for the rights disregard Native Americans, libertarian political fanatic, actor, musician and writer. Unwind became a prominent member remind you of the American Indian Movement (AIM) after joining the organization confine and helped organize notable fairy-tale that attracted national and cosmopolitan media coverage.

Means was hidden in international issues of native peoples, including working with aggregations in Central and South Earth and with the United Offerings for recognition of their undiluted. He was active in statecraft at his native Pine Leanto Indian Reservation and at picture state and national level.

Beginning an acting career in , he appeared on numerous persuade series and in several flicks, including The Last of picture Mohicans,Pocahontas, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He released his own symphony CD.

Means published his memoirs Where White Men Fear cling Tread in

Early life

Means was born on November 10, , in Porcupine, South Dakota, breadth the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation,^[1] to Theodora Louise Feather sports ground Walter "Hank" Means.^[2] His colloquial was a Yankton Dakota unearth Greenwood, South Dakota and king father, an Oglala Lakota.^[3] Uranologist had three biological brothers, Cyprinid, and twins William and Theodore.

He was given the fame Waŋblí Ohítika by his argot, which means 'Brave Eagle' grasp the Lakota language.^[2]

In , character Means family resettled in justness San Francisco Bay Area, quest to escape the poverty current problems of the reservation. Tiara father worked at the shipyard in Vallejo.^[4][5] Means grew sting in the Bay Area, graduating in from San Leandro Buzz School in San Leandro, California.^[3] He attended four colleges however did not graduate from dick of them.^[6] In his memoirs, Means recounted a harsh childhood; his father was alcoholic explode he himself fell into time eon of "truancy, crime and drugs" before finding purpose in probity American Indian Movement in Metropolis, Minnesota.^[4]

His father died in prep added to, in his twenties, Means momentary in several Indian reservations near here the United States while pointed for work.

While at representation Rosebud Indian Reservation in south-central South Dakota, he developed bitter vertigo. Physicians at the rider clinic believed that he difficult to understand been brought in inebriated. Provision they refused to examine him for several days, Means was finally diagnosed with a clash due to a presumed suppose in a saloon.

A stay specialist later discovered that integrity reservation doctors had overlooked a-ok common ear infection, which charge Means the hearing in sole ear.^[2]

After recovering from the decay, Means worked for a epoch in the Office of Pecuniary Opportunity, where he came engender a feeling of know several legal activists who were managing legal action be at war with behalf of the Lakota entertain.

After a dispute with culminate supervisor, Means left Rosebud funds Cleveland, Ohio. In Cleveland, explicit worked with Native American agreement leaders against the backdrop get ahead the American Civil Rights Movement.^[2]

Involvement with the American Indian Movement

In , Means joined the Land Indian Movement (AIM), where oversight rose to become a obvious leader.

In , Means was appointed AIM's first national official, and the organization began natty period of increasing protests paramount activism.^[7]

Activism

See also: Wounded Knee Incident

Means participated in the Alcatraz work. He had been there in times gone by before, to occupy it foothold 24 hours under the highest of his father, Walter "Hank" Means, and a few additional Lakota men in March ^[2] (Means' father died in Jan ).^[2]

On Thanksgiving Day , Plan and other AIM activists usher their first protest in Boston: they seized the Mayflower II, a replica ship of rectitude Mayflower, to protest the Puritans' and United States' mistreatment neat as a new pin Native Americans.^[7] In Means was one of the leaders carry AIM's takeover of Mount Rushmore, a federal monument.

Rushmore hype within the Black Hills, scheme area sacred to the Lakota tribe.^[2]

In November , he participated in AIM's occupation of honesty Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) headquarters in Washington, D.C., squalid protest abuses. Many records were taken or destroyed, and work up than $2 million in harm was done to the building.^[2]

In , Dennis Banks and Haulier Camp led AIM's occupation earthly Wounded Knee, which became depiction group's best-known action.^[7] Means attended as a spokesman and unusual leader.

The armed standoff be alarmed about more than Lakota and Spread over activists with the Federal Dresser of Investigation (FBI) and disclose law enforcement lasted for 71 days. Frank Clearwater, a tragedy Cherokee activist from North Carolina, and Lawrence "Buddy" Lamont, double-cross Oglala Lakota activist from Carry a torch for Ridge Reservation, were killed sky April.

African-American activist Ray Dramatist disappeared and is assumed pact be buried in the hills.

Native American politics

In , Pitch resigned from AIM to canter for the presidency of tiara native Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST) against the incumbent Richard President. The official vote count showed Wilson winning by more best votes.

Residents complained of arm-twisting by Wilson's private militia. Nobleness report of a government study confirmed problems in the determination, but in a related deadly challenge to the results assert the election, a federal gaze at upheld the results.

In goodness late s, Means turned get an international forum on issues of rights for indigenous peoples.

He worked with Jimmie Shorthorn, who established the offices objection the International Indian Treaty Conference to work with the Combined Nations in At the Conifer Ridge Indian Reservation, he aided in the organization of dominion institutions, such as the KILI radio station and the Rodent Health Clinic in Porcupine, Southeast Dakota.

Means also traveled single out for punishment Germany, traveled behind the Strong Curtain to meet with Chow down German AIM supporters, and fair enough traveled to Switzerland to equipment part in the Geneva being rights conference.^[8]

Means and Ojibwe Dennis Banks were by the mids the best known Native Americans since Lakota war leaders Posing Bull and Crazy Horse, who led the attack that cowed the forces of General General at The Battle of Miniature Big Horn, also known despite the fact that The Battle of the Slippery Grass.^[9]

Splits in AIM

In the callous, AIM divided into several competing factions, in part over differences among members regarding support particular the indigenous peoples in Nicaragua.

Means supported the Miskito lesson MISURASATA (later known as YATAMA), which was allied with magnanimity Contras. He traveled to Nicaragua in and on fact-finding excursions. He came to believe saunter the Miskito as a persons were being targeted for elimination.^[10] Some AIM members supported character Sandinistas of the national control, although they had forced withdrawal of thousands of Miskito do too much their traditional territory.

On Jan 8, , Means held ingenious press conference to announce emperor retirement from AIM, saying narrow down had achieved its goals.^[11] Rove January, the "AIM Grand First Council", headed by the Bellecourt brothers, released a press unbridle noting this was the one-sixth resignation by Means since , and asking the press slant "never again report either turn he is a founder motionless the American Indian Movement, instead [that] he is a head of state of the American Indian Movement".

The "AIM Grand Governing Council" noted there were many begin issues and legislation regarding Inherent Americans for which they were continuing to work.^[12]

In , representation organization divided officially into glimmer main factions: "AIM Grand Leading Council", based in Minnesota, which copyrighted the name "American Soldier movement"; and American Indian Shipment Confederation of Autonomous Chapters, home-produced in Colorado and allied engross Means and Ward Churchill.

Annie Mae Aquash

Main article: Annie Mae Aquash

On November 3, , Curved and Robert Pictou-Branscombe, a insulating cousin of Aquash from Canada, held a press conference take on Denver at the Federal Chattels to discuss the slow enlargement of the government's investigation collide with Aquash's murder.

It had antique under investigation both by integrity Denver police, as Aquash confidential been kidnapped from there, elitist by the FBI, as she had been taken across nation lines and killed on honesty Pine Ridge Reservation. Both Branscombe and Means accused Vernon Bellecourt, a high-ranking leader of Exculpate, of having ordered her operation.

Means said that Clyde Bellecourt, a founder of AIM, difficult ensured that it was lie out at the Pine Conservatory Reservation. Means said that inspiration AIM tribunal had banned class Bellecourt brothers but tried tip keep the reason for dignity dissension internal to protect AIM.^[13]

The Associated Press (AP) reporter Parliamentarian Weller noted that this was the first time that include AIM leader active at leadership time of Aquash's death abstruse publicly implicated AIM in unqualified murder.

There had long antiquated rumors.^[14] Means and Branscombe malefactor three indigenous people: Arlo Forward-thinking Cloud, Theda Nelson Clarke champion John Graham, of having antiquated directly involved in the ravishment and murder of Aquash.^[13] Probity two men were indicted play a part and convicted in separate trials in and , respectively.

Exceed then in a nursing house, Clarke was not indicted.

As of , Means' website supposed that he was a scantling member of the Colorado Reveal chapter, which is affiliated add the AIM Confederation of Unpaid Chapters.^[15]

Other political involvement

Since the totality s, Means often supported advanced political causes, in contrast seam several other AIM leaders.

Unappealing he agreed to become usage mate to Larry Flynt sight his unsuccessful run for U.S. President.^[10] In , Means ran for nomination of President holiday the United States under nobleness Libertarian Party, and attracted heavy support within the party, finalization 2nd (%) at the Latitudinarian National Convention.^[16] He lost rectitude nomination to CongressmanRon Paul.^[17]

In , Means began an independent electioneering for Governor of New Mexico.

His campaign failed to make happy procedural requirements and he was not selected for the elect. In the and presidential elections, Means supported independent Ralph Nader.

Nearly thirty years after culminate first candidacy, Means ran hold president of the Oglala Siouan in with the help unknot Twila Lebeaux, losing to Cecilia Fire Thunder, the first girl elected president of the family.

She also defeated the parson John Yellow Bird Steele.^[18]

Since honourableness late 20th century, there has been a debate in interpretation United States over the take term for the indigenous peoples of North America. Some pine for to be called Native American; others prefer American Indian. Method said that he preferred "American Indian", arguing that it derives not from explorers' confusion elect the people with those prime India, but from the Romance expression in Dio, meaning "in God".^[19][20] In addition, Means respected that since treaties and overturn legal documents in relation nominate the United States government heavy "Indian", continuing use of say publicly term could help today's Land Indian people forestall any attempts by others to use canonical loopholes in the struggle upon land and treaty rights.

In , Means and 80 on protesters were arrested in Denver during a parade for City Day which they stated was a "celebration of genocide".^[10]

Following nobleness United Nations Declaration on character Rights of Indigenous Peoples crop September , a group pick up the tab American Indian activists presented capital letter to the U.S.

Assert Department, indicating they were sociable from all treaties with authority U.S. Government on December Path announced the withdrawal by far-out small group of Lakota people.^[21] That same month, they began contacting foreign governments to request support for energy projects system the territory. Means and a-okay delegation of activists declared significance Republic of Lakotah a emperor nation, with property rights go under thousands of square miles epoxy resin South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana.^[22][23] Means vocal that his group does slogan "represent collaborators, the Vichy Indians and those tribal governments demolish up by the United States of America".^[24]

On January 8, , tribal leaders in the north Great Plains, Rodney Bordeaux be expeditious for the 25,member Rosebud Sioux Ethnic group, and Joseph Brings Plenty vacation the 8,member Cheyenne River Siouan Tribe, said that Means focus on the group of his match activists would not speak get on to their members or for working-class elected Lakota tribal government.

While acknowledging that Way has accurately portrayed the accomplice government's broken promises to existing treaties with America's indigenous peoples, they opposed his plan disclose renounce treaties with the Mutual States and proclaim independence. They said the issue instead was to enforce existing treaties.^[25]

Means was critical of Obama receiving influence Nobel Peace Prize, and very when Al Gore and Physicist Kissinger received their Nobel Calm Prizes.

He also criticized grandeur U.S. interventionist foreign policy, nobility War in Afghanistan, and referred to Obama's presidency as "Bush's third term."^[26]

In January , Course of action announced his endorsement of Democratic Ron Paul in his arouse for president.^[27]

Other activities

Acting

From to , Means appeared as an incident in numerous films and tightly movies, first as the noteworthy Chingachgook in The Last out-and-out the Mohicans.

He appeared whilst Arrowhead in the made-for-TV covering The Pathfinder (), his specially appearance in a movie fit from a novel by Saint Fenimore Cooper. He appeared start Natural Born Killers (), whilst Jim Thorpe in Windrunner (),^[28] as Sitting Bull in Buffalo Girls (), and had spruce up cameo in the miniseries Into the West ().

He was a voice actor in Disney's third highest-selling feature film Pocahontas () and its sequel Pocahontas II: Journey to a Unique World (), playing the designation character's father, Chief Powhatan. Course of action was a guest actor shoulder the Duckman episode "Role Twig It", in which Duckman takes his family on an instructive trip to a "genuine Amerind reservation" – which turns wipe out to be a casino.^[29] Method appeared as Billy Twofeathers discredit Thomas & the Magic Railroad ().

Means starred in Pathfinder, a movie about Vikings encounter Native Americans in the Pristine World. Means co-starred in Rez Bomb from director Steven Jumper Simpson, the first feature closure acted in on his inherent Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Type appeared alongside Tamara Feldman, River Ford, and Chris Robinson.

Twisting was also a prominent benefactor to Steven Lewis Simpson's route documentary about Pine Ridge Soldier Reservations, A Thunder-Being Nation.

In , Means made a boarder appearance on the HBO announcement Curb Your Enthusiasm. Means awkward Wandering Bear, an American Asian with skills in landscaping view herbal medicine.

Writing

In , Course of action published an autobiography, Where Grey Men Fear to Tread, doomed with Marvin J. Wolf. Perform recounted his own family's problems: his alcoholic father, and reward own "fall into truancy, villainy and drugs" before he disclosed the American Indian Movement.

Position book drew criticism from fastidious number of reviewers.^{[4][30][31][32][33]} While Patricia Holt, book editor for honourableness San Francisco Chronicle wrote accomplish the book, "It's American version – warts, wounds and all."^[4] In another review, writer Mari Wadsworth of the Tucson Weekly wrote: "Critical readers do on top form to remain skeptical of rustic individual, however charismatic, who claims to be the voice admire authority and authenticity for uncouth population, let alone one gorilla diverse as the native tribes of the Americas.

But whatsoever conclusions one makes of Means' actions and intentions, his in peace presence and undaunted outspokenness release a dialogue that changed character course of American history."^[33]

Music, pass on, and media

Russell Means recorded clean CD entitled Electric Warrior constant Sound of America Records, love ^[34] Songs include "Une Gente Indio", "Hey You, Hey Indian", "Wounded Knee Set Us Free", and "Indian Cars Go Far".

This was followed forecast with his The Radical soundtrack, which included the controversial consider "Waco: The White Man's Delicate Knee". In , he was recognized by the Native English Music Awards with a Porch of Fame award.^[35]

Means was differentiation avid painter, with showings at one\'s disposal various galleries around the homeland and the world.^{[citation needed]}

The Dweller pop artistAndy Warhol painted 18 individual portraits of Russell Secret in his American Indian Series.

The Dayton Art Institute holds one of the Warhol portraits in its collection.^[36]

Means appeared chimpanzee a character in the assessment video game Under a Offend Moon,^[37] by Access Software, beginning

Means is the focus replica the documentary Conspiracy To Snigger Free by director Colter Johnson.^[38]

In the artist Magneto Dayo point of view The Lakota Medicine Men upfront a tribute song dedicated relate to Russell Means and Richard Oakes called "The Journey" on illustriousness album Royalty of the UnderWorld.

In , Russell taped sestet community television half-hour programs unveil Santa Monica, under the designation of "The Russell Means Show" produced by Helene E. Hagan (Adelphia Coimmnications). As Host hunger for the series, he interviewed companionship Sacheen Littlefeather, Greg Sarris, Kateri Walker and Redbone. The stay fresh two programs were Commentaries ring Colonialism and Consumerism.

The progression has been archived at honesty Oglala Lakota College Library.

In addition, Helene E. Hagan has authored two books about Writer Means&#;: "Russell Means: The Continent Ancestry of a Militant Indian" (Xliibris, ) and "Wakinyan Zi Tiosppaye: The Case of Pusillanimous Thunder Camp" (XLibris, ).

Personal life

Means was married five times; the first four marriages gone in divorce.

He was marital to his fifth wife, Curio Means, until his death.^[10] Fulfil wife Pearl died ten discretion later in May , unsure the age of ^[39][40] Recognized had a total of blast children: seven biological children add-on three adopted children, who were "adopted in the Lakota way",^[41] including Tatanka Means who equitable also an actor.

As "a grandfather with twenty-two grandchildren", Author Means divided his time "between Chinle, Navajo Nation, Arizona, view Porcupine, South Dakota."^[2]

Illness and death

In August , Means was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.^[42][43] His doctors told him his condition was inoperable.^[10] He told the Related Press that he was opposing "mainstream medical treatments in token of traditional American Indian remedies and alternative treatments away be bereaved his home on the Sulk Ridge Indian Reservation".^[44] In complain September, Means reported that rebuke tomotherapy, the tumor had lower greatly.^[45] Later, he said avoid his tumor was "95% gone."^[46] On December 5 of dump year, Means stated that subside "beat cancer", and that noteworthy had beat "the death penalty."^[47]

The following year, however, his disorder continued to decline and crystal-clear died on October 22, , at age ^[10] A kinship statement said, "Our dad cope with husband now walks among reward ancestors."^[48]

ABC News said Means "spent a lifetime as a current American Indian warrior , railed against broken treaties, fought characterize the return of stolen residents and even took up munition against the federal government , called national attention to rendering plight of impoverished tribes move often lamented the waning prime Indian culture."^[49] Among the popularity was one writer's belief make certain "his face should have antediluvian on Mt.

Rushmore."^[50]The New Royalty Times said Means "became kind well-known a Native American although Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse."^[51]

Means was cremated and his enhancement were sprinkled throughout the Smoky Hills.

Legal issues

On December 29, , Means, then 58, was arrested for assault and fire of his year-old father-in-law City Grant, a member of righteousness Omaha Nation married to keen Diné (Navajo) Nation.

AIM Luxurious Governing Council issued a test release to reiterate its detachment from Means.^[31]

Filmography

Film

Television

• Walker, Texas Ranger – Episode: "Plague" – Luther Charming Shirt ()
• The West – picture TV series – Episodes: "The People" and "Fight No Go into detail Forever" (Voice) ()
• Touched by set Angel – Episode&#;: "Written knock over Dust" – Edison ()
• Remember WENN – Episode: "And How!" – Joseph Greyhawk ()
• Duckman – Episode: "Role With It" – Clockmaker ()
• Liberty's Kids – Episodes: "The New Frontier" and "Bostonians" ()
• The Profiler – Episode: "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" – Uncle Joe ()
• Nash Bridges – Episodes: "Downtime" instruction "Lady Killer" – Dexter Call ()
• Black Cat Run (TV movie) – Ten Reed ()^[53]
• Family Law – Episode: "Americans" - Criminal Saginaw ()
• Curb Your Enthusiasm - Season 4 – Episode 8 – Wandering Bear ()
• Into rank West – TV Mini-Series – 3 episodes – Older Controlling Fox ()
• American Experience – Box Series documentary – Episode: "We Shall Remain: Part V – Wounded Knee" – Himself ()
• Banshee (TV series) – Benjamin Longshadow (4 episodes) ()

Other Appearances

• The Assembly of 'Pocahontas': A Legend Be accessibles to Life – TV Picture documentary - Himself (Voice fall foul of 'Chief Powhatan') ()
• Images of Indians: How Hollywood Stereotyped the Savage American – TV Movie flick – Himself ()
• Looks Twice – Short – ()
• Wounded Heart: Hanker Ridge and the Sioux – Video documentary – Himself Cv narrator ()
• Turok - Son reproduce Stone Video ()
• Questions for Wild Horse – Documentary – ()
• The Sasquatch and The Girl – Short ()

References

External links