Russell Means, Indian activist, "Last of the Mohicans' co-star, dies at 72

Mercury News ^ | 10/22/12 | Dirk Lammers

[Borges]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Russell Means, a former American Indian Movement activist who helped lead the 1973 uprising at Wounded Knee, reveled in stirring up attention and appeared in several Hollywood films, has died. He was 72.

Means died early Monday at his ranch in in Porcupine, S.D., Oglala Sioux Tribe spokeswoman Donna Solomon said. Means, a Wanblee native who grew up in the San Francisco area, announced in August 2011 that he had developed inoperable throat cancer.

He told The Associated Press he was forgoing mainstream medical treatments in favor of traditional American Indian remedies and alternative treatments away from his home on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Means was an early leader of AIM and led its armed occupation of the South Dakota town of Wounded Knee, a 71-day siege that included several gunbattles with federal officers. He was often embroiled in controversy, partly because of AIM's alleged involvement in the 1975 slaying of Annie Mae Aquash. But Means was also known for his role in the movie "The Last of the Mohicans" and had run unsuccessfully for the Libertarian nomination for president in 1988.

AIM was founded in the late 1960s to protest the U.S. government's treatment of Native Americans and demand the government honor its treaties with Indian tribes. Means told the AP in 2011 that before AIM, there had been no advocate on a national or international scale for American Indians, and that Native Americans were ashamed of their heritage.

[TigersEye]

I always liked him. I did a pencil drawing of him and Dennis Banks from a photo in about ‘74. They were both in traditional dress and the only clue in the picture that they weren’t two Indians from the 19th century was a watch one of them was wearing. I called the drawing Means and Banks. (real original I know lol)

[savagesusie]

The evil Leftists are some of the BEST actors-—it is fact that they have to HIDE their plans—to kill millions and enslave the masses-—to get the adoring sycophants to vote for their ugly, nasty policies.

He was great as Uncas. I love that movie.

[Psalm 144]

He actually played Chingachgook in Last of the Mohicans. And, I agree — I thought he was very good.

Particularly, when he killed Magua in the final scene...

*************************

Thanks for the correction - too much data over the years. My mind is a two foot shelf trying to accommodate three and half feet of books.

That was an outstanding scene. Loved Wes Studi as Magua too. One of his best roles.

[vortigern]

Thanks for the link. One of the best movies scenes ever! Wes Studi as Magua was awesome as well.

[Psalm 144]

The evil Leftists are some of the BEST actors

********************

Very often true. I was very fortunate to see Charlton Heston and Vanessa Redgrave in a live performance of ‘Macbeth’ as Lord and Lady Macbeth. It was the most powerful performance of anything I have ever seen. The synergy between the two as actors was white hot.

She is a perfect example of what you refer to. A consummate actress and an utter viper at the same time.

[ExCTCitizen]

Russell Means was a REAL NATIVE AMERICAN -— unlike SQUAW SPEAKING BULL (aka Liz Warren)

[tumblindice]

[righttackle44]

There was and is something terribly wrong with Dennis Banks. I never actually met either him or Mr. Means, but I have been in the same room a number of times with one or both of them. (I didn't feel I really wanted to meet them.) But Mr. Banks always had the phony baloney going--talking to the press or other authorities while holding his daughter, always presuming to speak for the people of Indian Country, always trying to appear to have more power than he really did, always giving AIM the appearance of lordship over Indian people.

I will take your word about Mr. Means--though I have spoken with people from his reservation that said that the role of Uncas was the first job he ever had.

[carolinablonde]

He didn’t play Uncas. He played Chingachkook, the father. But that will always one of my favorite movies.

[cricket]

Well; ‘God speed’ Russel. ‘That said’; am wondering if he voted early. . .?

[righttackle44]

And the man is right. He did play Chingachgook.

[Sioux-san]

That is one of my fav movies and fav scenes -thanks for posting it

[LittleBillyInfidel]

Wes Studi is a great guy. I hired him as a voice narrator for a documentary I produced about 1812. We recorded it in Santa Fe, where he lives. I asked him to give us some “Magua” and the line about ‘killing his seed’ (or similar) and he happily obliged, and nailed it. He then pulled out his guitar and played some riff. Just two dudes eating sandwiches with Magua, and jamming out. Surreal.

[MNnice]

Russell Means was a libertarian who despised the federal government and the government-loving Indians around him. He believed in freedom as much as any conservative in freeperland. Those of you who are spouting hate towards him are greatly misguided.

[okie01]

Wes Studi is a great guy. I hired him as a voice narrator for a documentary I produced about 1812.

Voiceover people are an accommodating bunch. I once used Mel Blanc -- who worked for scale -- to deliver one line on a commercial job (bug's voice: "Hot Shot just kills me!").

I remarked that would've enjoyed listening to him do all the variations he delivered, just so we could get the one we wanted. He asked me what my children's names were.

Then, he called "roll tape" and proceeded to provide us with a full two minutes of dialogue from all his characters -- Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Woody Woodpecker, Tweety Bird, Sylvester the Cat, Yosemite Sam, etc. -- all of it addressed to my children by name.

I've no idea whatever happened to the tape -- but I sure wish I'd maintained a "vault copy".