Oglala Sioux Tribe honors Means

Oglala Sioux Tribe honors Russell MeansThe Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota is honoring former American Indian Movement leader Russell Means.

Means is a member of the tribe and gained national fame in the 1970s for his political activism related to the American Indian Movement. He helped lead the 71-day uprising at Wounded Knee in 1973. Means has gone on to become an actor in films such as “The Last of the Mohicans” and “Pocahontas.”

Oglala Sioux President John Yellow Bird Steele declared June 26, 2012, as “Russell Means Day” to honor Means’ “accomplishments, dedication and patriotism” to the tribe.

The signed proclamation was given to Means at the conclusion of a walk on Tuesday that commemorated the many people killed on the reservation during the 1970s.Comment:  Steven Lewis Simpson, the Scottish director of Rez Bomb, was traveling with us in South Dakota. He's close to Means and mentioned this honoring ceremony.

He said it was significant that Steele, who ran against Means for the tribal chairmanship, was participating. It's an example of two old enemies coming together, even if for political reasons.

Anyway, Simpson regretted that he couldn't attend the ceremony because he was with us. He thought he might catch a bit of hell from Means because of it.

For more on Russell Means, see Means at Wounded Knee Conference and Means Says He's Cancer-Free.

Below:  Means before he lost weight due to cancer.