Russell Means facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Russell Means
Means at the Illinois Libertarian Party convention in Chicago, Illinois, at the time he was running for the Libertarian Party nomination for president in 1988
Born	Russell Charles Means (1939-11-10)November 10, 1939 Porcupine, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota, U.S.
Died	October 22, 2012(2012-10-22) (aged 72) Rapid City, South Dakota, U.S.
Resting place	Cremains scattered at the Black Hills
Nationality	Oglala Sioux Tribe
Occupation	Activist actor musician politician writer
Years active	1968–2012
Political party	Libertarian
Spouse(s)	Pearl Means ​ (m. 1999)​
Children	10, including Tatanka Means

Russell Charles Means (November 10, 1939 – October 22, 2012) was an Oglala Lakota activist. He worked to protect the rights of Native Americans. Means was also an actor, musician, and writer. He became a well-known member of the American Indian Movement (AIM) in 1968. He helped plan important events that got attention from around the world.

Means cared about the rights of indigenous peoples everywhere. He worked with groups in Central and South America. He also worked with the United Nations to make sure their rights were recognized. He was active in politics on his home Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He also worked in state and national politics.

In 1992, Means started acting. He appeared in many TV shows and films. These included The Last of the Mohicans and Pocahontas. He also released his own music CD. In 1995, Means published his life story, called Where White Men Fear to Tread.

Early Life and Background

Russell Means was born on November 10, 1939. His birthplace was Porcupine, South Dakota. This is on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. His mother, Theodora Louise Feather, was Yankton Dakota. His father, Walter "Hank" Means, was Oglala Lakota. Russell had two brothers and three sisters.

His mother gave him the name Waŋblí Ohítika. This means 'Brave Eagle' in the Lakota language.

In 1942, his family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. They hoped to find a better life away from the reservation's poverty. His father worked at a shipyard. Russell grew up there and finished high school in 1958. He went to four colleges but did not finish any of them.

After his father passed away in 1967, Russell traveled. He lived on different Indian reservations looking for work. He later worked for the Office of Economic Opportunity. There, he met legal activists helping the Lakota people. Means then moved to Cleveland, Ohio. In Cleveland, he worked with Native American leaders. This was during the American Civil Rights Movement.

Joining the American Indian Movement

In 1968, Russell Means joined the American Indian Movement (AIM). He quickly became a key leader. By 1970, he was AIM's first national director. During this time, AIM started more protests and actions.

Important Protests and Actions

Means took part in the 1969 Alcatraz occupation. He had been there before in 1964. His father and other Lakota men had occupied it for a day.

On Thanksgiving Day in 1970, Means and other AIM members protested in Boston. They took over the Mayflower II. This was a replica ship of the original Mayflower. They protested how Native Americans had been treated by settlers and the United States. In 1971, Means helped lead AIM's takeover of Mount Rushmore. This monument is in the Black Hills. The Black Hills are sacred to the Lakota tribe.

In November 1972, he joined AIM's occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) building. This was in Washington, D.C.. They protested unfair treatment.

In 1973, Means was a main spokesperson during the Wounded Knee incident. This was AIM's most famous action. Over 300 Lakota and AIM activists stood against the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The armed standoff lasted for 71 days.

Working for Native American Rights

In 1974, Means left AIM for a time. He ran for president of his tribe, the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST). He lost the election. People said there were problems with the voting. A government investigation agreed there were issues. However, a court still upheld the election results.

In the late 1970s, Means started working on global issues. He focused on rights for indigenous peoples worldwide. He helped set up the International Indian Treaty Council. This group worked with the United Nations. On the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, he helped create local services. These included the KILI radio station and a health clinic.

Changes within AIM

In the 1980s, AIM groups began to disagree. One reason was different views on supporting indigenous people in Nicaragua. Means supported the Miskito people. He visited Nicaragua in 1985 and 1986. He believed the Miskito people were being targeted. Some AIM members supported the Sandinista government. This government had moved thousands of Miskito people from their homes.

On January 8, 1988, Means announced he was leaving AIM. He said AIM had met its goals. Other AIM leaders said this was not his first time resigning. They asked the press not to call him a founder or leader of AIM anymore. They said there was still much work to do for Native Americans.

In 1993, AIM officially split into two main groups.

Other Political Work

Russell Means speaks against the War on Terror at a DC Anti-War Network's anti-war protest on November 11, 2001.

From the late 1970s, Means often supported libertarian political ideas. This was different from some other AIM leaders. In 1983, he ran for U.S. President with Larry Flynt. In 1987, Means ran for president again. He sought the nomination of the Libertarian Party. He got a lot of support and finished second. He lost the nomination to Ron Paul.

In 2001, Means tried to run for Governor of New Mexico. His campaign did not meet all the rules. So, he was not on the ballot. In the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections, Means supported independent candidate Ralph Nader.

In 2004, Means ran for president of the Oglala Sioux tribe again. He lost to Cecilia Fire Thunder. She was the first woman elected to lead the tribe.

There has been a debate about what to call the native peoples of North America. Some prefer "Native American." Others prefer "American Indian." Means said he liked "American Indian." He believed it came from the Italian phrase in Dio, meaning "in God." He also noted that treaties use "Indian." Keeping the term could help protect land and treaty rights.

In 2007, Means and 80 other protesters were arrested in Denver. They were protesting a Columbus Day parade. They called it a "celebration of genocide."

After the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007, Means made another big statement. He and a small group of Lakota people said they were leaving all treaties with the U.S. Government. They declared the Republic of Lakotah a sovereign nation. They claimed land in several states. Means said his group did not represent tribal governments set up by the U.S.

However, other tribal leaders disagreed. In January 2008, leaders from the Rosebud Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes spoke out. They said Means did not speak for their members. They agreed that the U.S. had broken promises. But they wanted to enforce existing treaties, not renounce them.

In 2009, Means criticized Barack Obama for getting the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. He also criticized U.S. foreign policy. In January 2012, Means supported Republican Ron Paul for president.

Other Activities

Acting Career

From 1992 to 2012, Russell Means acted in many films and TV shows. His first role was Chingachgook in The Last of the Mohicans. He played Arrowhead in The Pathfinder (1996). He also appeared in Natural Born Killers (1994). He played Jim Thorpe in Windrunner (1994) and Sitting Bull in Buffalo Girls (1995). He had a small role in the miniseries Into the West (2005).

Means was a voice actor in Disney's Pocahontas (1995). He also voiced Chief Powhatan in the sequel Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998). He was a guest actor in a 1997 Duckman episode. Means played Billy Twofeathers in Thomas & the Magic Railroad (2000).

He starred in Pathfinder (2007). This movie was about Vikings fighting Native Americans. Means also acted in Rez Bomb (2008). This was the first movie he filmed on his home Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. In 2004, Means was a guest on the HBO show Curb Your Enthusiasm. He played Wandering Bear, an American Indian with special skills.

Writing and Music

In 1995, Means published his autobiography, Where White Men Fear to Tread. He wrote it with Marvin J. Wolf. The book talked about his family's challenges. Many people reviewed the book. One reviewer said it was "American history – warts, wounds and all." Another writer said Means's strong voice "opened a dialogue that changed the course of American history."

Russell Means recorded a CD called Electric Warrior in 1993. Songs included "Une Gente Indio" and "Wounded Knee Set Us Free." In 2007, he released The Radical album. In 2013, he was honored by the Native American Music Awards. He received a Hall of Fame award.

Means was also a talented painter. His art was shown in galleries around the world. The famous pop artist Andy Warhol painted 18 portraits of Russell Means.

Personal Life

Russell Means was married five times. His first four marriages ended in divorce. He was married to his fifth wife, Pearl Means, until he passed away. Pearl Means died in 2022. He had ten children in total. Seven were his biological children. Three were adopted "in the Lakota way." One of his children, Tatanka Means, is also an actor.

As a grandfather of twenty-two, Russell Means split his time. He lived between Chinle, Arizona on the Navajo Nation and Porcupine, South Dakota.

Illness and Passing

In August 2011, Means was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Doctors told him it could not be operated on. He chose to use traditional American Indian remedies. He also tried alternative treatments instead of mainstream medicine. In late September, he said the tumor had shrunk a lot. Later, he stated it was "95% gone." On December 5, he announced he had "beat cancer."

However, his health got worse the next year. He passed away on October 22, 2012. This was less than a month before his 73rd birthday. His family said, "Our dad and husband now walks among our ancestors."

ABC News said Means "spent a lifetime as a modern American Indian warrior." He spoke out against broken treaties. He fought for stolen land to be returned. He brought attention to the struggles of tribes. Many people honored him. One writer felt his face "should have been on Mount Rushmore." The New York Times said Means became as famous as Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.

Means was cremated. His ashes were spread throughout the Black Hills.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

• Walker, Texas Ranger – Episode: "Plague" – Luther Iron Shirt (1996)
• The West – documentary TV series – Episodes: "The People" and "Fight No More Forever" (Voice) (1996)
• Touched by an Angel – Episode : "Written in Dust" – Edison (1996)
• Remember WENN – Episode: "And How!" – Joseph Greyhawk (1997)
• Duckman – Episode: "Role With It" – Thomas (1997)
• Liberty's Kids – Episodes: "The New Frontier" and "Bostonians" (2002)
• The Profiler – Episode: "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" – Uncle Joe (1997)
• Nash Bridges – 2 episodes (1998)
• Black Cat Run (TV movie) – Ten Reed (1998)
• Family Law – Episode: "Americans" - James Saginaw (2001)
• Curb Your Enthusiasm – Season 4 – Episode 8 – Wandering Bear (2004)
• Into the West – TV Mini-Series – 3 episodes – Older Running Fox (2005)
• American Experience – TV Series documentary – Episode: "We Shall Remain: Part V – Wounded Knee" – Himself (2009)
• Banshee (TV series) – Benjamin Longshadow (4 episodes) (2013)

Other Media Appearances

• The Making of 'Pocahontas': A Legend Comes to Life – TV Movie documentary - Himself (Voice of 'Chief Powhatan') (1995)
• Images of Indians: How Hollywood Stereotyped the Native American – TV Movie documentary – Himself (2003)
• Looks Twice – Short – (2005)
• Wounded Heart: Pine Ridge and the Sioux – Video documentary – Himself / Narrator (2006)
• Turok - Son of Stone Video (2008)
• Questions for Crazy Horse – Documentary – Himself (2010)
• The Sasquatch and The Girl – Short (2010)

See also

In Spanish: Russell Means para niños