Russell Means
Russell Charles Means (November 10, 1939 – October 22, 2012) was an American actor, Oglala Lakota activist for the rights of Native American people and libertarian political activist. He became a prominent member of the American Indian Movement (AIM) after joining the organization in 1968, and helped organize notable events that attracted national and international media coverage.
Republic of Lakotah proposal
editThe Republic of Lakotah or Lakotah is a proposed independent republic in North America for the Lakota people and other people. Proposed by activist Russell Means, the suggested territory would be enclaved by the borders of the United States, covering thousands of square miles in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana. These proposed borders are those of the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie between the United States government and the Lakota. These lands are now occupied by Indian reservations and non-Native settlements. None of the existing Lakota tribal governments support the proposed republic, and they were not consulted about the proposal.
* Activities
On January 1, 2008, the republic announced that it would file liens on all U.S. government-held lands within their claimed borders; however, the first round of liens, in an unnamed county in South Dakota, were rejected. Following this the group chose to concentrate on the Black Hills.
In July 2008, Means announced that the Republic of Lakotah would be founding an all-Lakota "grand jury" to investigate corruption by U.S. government officials on the seven reservations in the republic's claimed territory.
Means unsuccessfully ran for the presidency of the Oglala Lakota several times; in the 2008 election he lost 1,918 to 2,277
Connections with other movements
editThrough its membership and work, the Republic of Lakotah has several direct ties to other activist movements among both the Indian and libertarian communities.
Russell Means and Robert Robideau were both prominent in the American Indian Movement (AIM), and later in AIM Autonomous, with Means along with Tegheya Kte having taken part in the Wounded Knee incident and Robideau acquitted in a trial related to the Leonard Peltier case. Tegheya Kte, meanwhile, led the Big Foot Riders in 2007, while Phyllis Young is one of the founders of Women of All Red Nations.
You can find people similar to Russell Means by visiting our lists Oglala people and Members of the American Indian Movement.
| Full name at birth | Russell Means
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| Claim to fame | Pocahontas
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| Date of birth | 10 November 1939
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| Place of birth | Pine Ridge, South Dakota, USA
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| Date of death | 22 October 2012
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| Age | 72 (age at death)
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| Place of death | Porcupine, South Dakota, USA
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| Resting place | Cremains scattered at the Black Hills
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| Occupation | Actor, Producer, Singer
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| Height | 6' 1" (185 cm)
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| University | PhD American Indian Humanities, ?, (19xx)
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- Running for governor of New Mexico as an Independant, was a Libertarian candidate but left party October 21 (2001)
- In 1976, Andy Warhol made a portrait of Means as part of his "American Indian Series" of portraits. The portrait can be viewed as part of the collection of the Dayton (Ohio) Art Institute, among other institutions.
- Previous occupations include assistant golf pro, ballroom dance instructor, computer programmer, systems management director, and accountant.
- Father of actor Tatanka Means.
- Ran for President of the United States in 1988 as a Libertarian Party Candidate.
Russell Means is known for his role in the film Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000) as Billy Twofeathers.
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