Russell Means

Russell Means
Carolmooredc · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Russell Means
Birth date	May 10, 1939
Birth place	Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota, United States
Death date	October 22, 2012
Death place	Porcupine, South Dakota, United States
Occupation	Activist, actor, writer, political candidate
Nationality	Oglala Lakota

Russell Means was an Oglala Lakota activist, leader, actor, and writer who became a prominent spokesperson for Native American rights in the United States. He rose to national attention through leadership roles in the American Indian Movement and high-profile occupations and legal campaigns, later pursuing acting and political candidacies while authoring memoirs and essays. Means's life intersected with key events, organizations, and figures in late 20th-century Indigenous activism.

Early life and education

Means was born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota and grew up within the context of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and the Oglala Lakota community. He attended schools associated with the Bureau of Indian Affairs system and spent formative years at institutions linked to boarding school policies affecting many Indigenous children, interacting with staff from agencies like the Indian Health Service. During his youth he lived in places including Porcupine, South Dakota and experienced relocations that connected him to urban centers such as San Leandro, California and Los Angeles, California where he encountered networks tied to organizations like the National Congress of American Indians and unions active in the period of the Civil Rights Movement.

Activism and American Indian Movement

Means became a leading figure in the American Indian Movement (AIM) during the late 1960s and 1970s, associating with activists such as Clyde Bellecourt, Dennis Banks, and Vernon Bellecourt. AIM organized protests and direct actions addressing treaties like the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868) and issues involving federal agencies including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of the Interior (United States). Means participated in mobilizations around events such as the Trail of Broken Treaties, the occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs headquarters in 1972, and the 1973 occupation at Wounded Knee, South Dakota, which involved confrontations with law enforcement agencies like the FBI and drew attention from journalists reporting for outlets such as The New York Times and Associated Press.

Legal actions and occupations

Means played central roles in occupations and legal actions that led to prosecutions, trials, and civil suits involving federal and local authorities. He was involved in legal proceedings connected to the Wounded Knee incident (1973), with cases that invoked provisions of statutes enforced by the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota and appeals reaching courts with judges nominated by presidents such as Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter. Means engaged in litigation concerning treaty rights and property claims that implicated statutes like the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act in broader advocacy for sovereignty recognized in decisions by the United States Supreme Court. His legal challenges intersected with activism by groups including the National Lawyers Guild and advocacy by entities like the American Civil Liberties Union.

Political candidacies and philosophies

Means pursued electoral politics and indigenous nationalism, running for offices that included a campaign for President of the United States under the banner of freedom-oriented parties and later seeking the gubernatorial nomination in South Dakota. His campaigns connected him to third parties such as the Libertarian Party (United States) and involved figures from movements for self-determination like Leonard Peltier supporters and allies from organizations such as the American Indian Movement. Means articulated philosophies drawing on principles found in the Sovereignty movement (Native American) and critiques of federal Indian policy, engaging in debates with politicians from the Democratic Party (United States) and the Republican Party (United States) while appearing at events hosted by institutions including Tribal colleges and activist conferences.

Acting, writing, and public speaking career

Means transitioned into film, television, and publishing, appearing in motion pictures directed by filmmakers like Oliver Stone and working with actors such as Adam Beach and Wes Studi. He held roles in films including productions related to Western and historical subjects, contributed to documentary projects by directors associated with the independent film circuit, and provided narration for projects distributed by entities like PBS and independent studios. Means authored memoirs and essays published by presses and distributed through outlets linked to bookstores and periodicals that covered Indigenous issues, collaborating with writers connected to the Native American Renaissance and participating in panels alongside scholars from universities such as Harvard University and Stanford University. He delivered lectures and keynote addresses at venues including the Smithsonian Institution and international festivals, often engaging audiences comprised of activists, students, and members of tribal communities.

Personal life and legacy

Means's personal life included family relationships within the Oglala Lakota nation and interactions with cultural institutions such as the Lakota People's ceremonial leaders and elders. His death in 2012 prompted responses from political figures including state officials in South Dakota and leaders of organizations like the National Congress of American Indians. Means's legacy influenced subsequent activists and cultural figures connected to movements for Indigenous rights, impacting scholarship at institutions including the University of Arizona and inspiring works by filmmakers and authors who examined events such as the Wounded Knee incident (1973), the Trail of Broken Treaties, and broader struggles for tribal sovereignty recognized in treaties like the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868). His archive and recorded interviews are held by repositories associated with museums and libraries such as the Library of Congress and regional historical societies, while commemorations and debates about his methods remain part of discussions within the Native American activism milieu.

Category:Oglala Lakota people Category:Native American activists Category:1939 births Category:2012 deaths