Dennis Banks

Dennis Banks
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Name	Dennis Banks
Birth date	April 12, 1937
Birth place	Leech Lake Indian Reservation, Minnesota
Death date	October 29, 2017
Death place	Rochester, Minnesota
Occupation	Activist, American Indian Movement leader

Dennis Banks was a prominent American Indian Movement leader, activist, and indigenous rights advocate, who played a key role in the Wounded Knee incident and the Alcatraz Occupation. Born on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota, Banks was influenced by his Ojibwe heritage and the struggles faced by Native American communities. He worked closely with other notable activists, including Russell Means and Vine Deloria Jr., to address issues such as Native American civil rights and land rights. Banks' activism was also shaped by his interactions with organizations like the National Congress of American Indians and the Native American Rights Fund.

● Early Life and Education

Dennis Banks was born on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota, where he was raised in a traditional Ojibwe family. He attended Ponemah Elementary School and later enrolled in the Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, but dropped out due to financial difficulties. Banks' early life was marked by experiences with poverty and discrimination, which would later inform his activism. He was influenced by the Indian Reorganization Act and the Indian Claims Commission, and he became involved with organizations like the National Indian Youth Council and the American Indian Movement.

● Activism and Career

Banks' activism began in the 1960s, when he became involved with the American Indian Movement (AIM), which was founded by Clyde Bellecourt, Vernon Bellecourt, and George Mitchell. He participated in the Alcatraz Occupation in 1969, a 19-month protest led by Richard Oakes and LaNada Means, which aimed to highlight Native American rights and land claims. Banks also played a key role in the Wounded Knee incident in 1973, a 71-day standoff between AIM members and federal authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Marshals Service. He worked closely with other notable activists, including Russell Means and John Trudell, to address issues such as Native American sovereignty and self-determination. Banks' activism was also influenced by his interactions with organizations like the Native American Rights Fund and the Indian Land Tenure Foundation.

● Personal Life

Banks was married to Darlene Kamook Banks and had several children, including Tatanka Banks and Tiopa Banks. He was a traditional Ojibwe spiritual leader and practiced sweat lodge ceremonies. Banks was also a skilled traditional medicine practitioner and worked to preserve Native American cultural heritage. He was influenced by the teachings of Black Elk and Fools Crow, and he worked to promote interfaith dialogue and cultural exchange between Native American communities and other groups, including the Catholic Church and the Unitarian Universalist Association.

● Later Life and Legacy

In his later years, Banks continued to be involved in activism and advocacy, working with organizations like the Native American Rights Fund and the Indian Land Tenure Foundation. He also founded the Nowa Cumig Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Native American cultural heritage and promoting indigenous rights. Banks received several awards for his activism, including the National Native American Hall of Fame and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Congress of American Indians. He was also recognized by the United Nations for his work on indigenous rights and self-determination. Banks' legacy continues to inspire Native American activism and indigenous rights movements around the world, including the Idle No More movement and the Standing Rock protests.

● Imprisonment and Legal Issues

Banks was arrested and imprisoned several times for his activism, including a 1984 arrest for felony charges related to a confrontation with South Dakota Highway Patrol officers. He was also involved in a high-profile trial in Custer, South Dakota, where he was acquitted of murder charges related to the death of Anna Mae Aquash, a fellow AIM activist. Banks' legal issues were often related to his activism and his challenges to federal authority, including the Indian Child Welfare Act and the Major Crimes Act. He worked with lawyers like William Kunstler and Ramsey Clark to address issues such as Native American sovereignty and self-determination. Banks' experiences with the criminal justice system also informed his advocacy for prison reform and indigenous justice, including the Native American Prisoner Support organization.