A Look Back at AIM and Russell Means

EDITORIAL: A Look Back

AIM and “Modern Day Warrior” Russell Means

D.S. Mitchell

*November is Native American Heritage Month. It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the various cultures, art, religions, languages, music, and traditions of America’s Native peoples. It is also a good time to look back at the American Indian Movement (AIM) and its fearless warrior Russell Means.*

Introduction

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the U.S. Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of 55,700,000 acres of land held in trust by the United States for American Indians, Indian Tribes and Alaska Natives. Sadly the Bureau often seems to be working against the indigenous people of the United States.  The actions of the Bureau and other federal departments are often operating in direct opposition to the people that they are supposed to be protecting.

Champion For Native American Rights

History may view AIM as a militant group, but AIM saw itself as a spiritual movement. AIM encouraged participation in age old religious ceremonies that had been outlawed by the federal government after the Wounded Knee Massacre (December 29, 1890). AIM members actively and publicly participated in Sun Dances, sweat lodges and other long hidden ceremonies, hoping to re-ignite the spirit and the culture of Native Americans by bringing the long outlawed practices out of the shadows. Russell Means was an early leader of the group. Above all he was a champion of Native American civil rights. Means drew public attention to the mistreatment of native people according to biographer Michael Ray, “with audacious and controversial actions that were equal parts protest and theater.”

Charismatic Leader 

From the 1970’s thru the early 2000’s Russell Means was the face of AIM. He was as famous as Sitting Bull. Means, was tall and ruggedly handsome with long traditional braids. He often seemed bigger than life. He had a forceful and charismatic personality. He was a Native American activist, actor, painter, politician, musician and writer. Means was born in 1939 on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation. His Lakota name “Wanbli Ohitika” means “Brave Eagle.” His mother was a Yankton Dakota Sioux and his father an Oglala Lakota Sioux.

A Harsh Life

In 1942 his parents left the reservation, in an effort to escape the poverty and depression of the reservation. They settled in the San Francisco Bay Area where his father worked in the shipyards during WWII. In his 1995 autobiography Russell Means described living with his alcoholic father and abused mother. It was a harsh life. In his biography he describes how he fell into “years of truancy, crime and drugs”, before finding purpose and direction in the American Indian Movement.

1964 Alcatraz Occupation

In 1964 Russell and his father joined a protest occupation of Alcatraz Island, in San Francisco Bay, CA.  The protest lasted a mere 24 hours. Native Americans were protesting against the U.S. government for its long history of treaty violations. He later remembered the 1964 Alcatraz event as the catalyst for a life time of activism for protecting the rights of Native Americans. Alcatraz was in AIM’s view a legitimate symbol of the federal government’s rejection of treaty agreements. A 1868 treaty provision guaranteed that Native people had the right to appropriate surplus federal land. Reclaiming “the abandoned Rock” became a rallying cry for Indians, many of whom viewed the island as a symbol of government indifference toward the treaties with our indigenous population.

The American Indian Movement

In 1956 the federal government had passed the Indian Relocation Act. The Act promised good jobs and housing for Natives who moved off the reservation and into cities. Most of those Native Americans who re-located were tragically let down by the U.S. government. They found only low-wage labor, substandard housing, discrimination, violence, alcoholism, drug addiction, and despair.  In 1968, grassroots activists Dennis Banks, Clyde Bellecourt, Eddie Benton Banai, and George Mitchell came together to form the American Indian Movement in Minneapolis, MN. AIM at first sought to improve conditions for recently urbanized Native Americans living in Minneapolis. AIM took on police abuse, inadequate health care, and  inadequate legal representation for the Native poor.

Expansion Of Goals

AIM and its leaders undertook a long campaign of “confrontation politics” and AIM became known as the militant arm of the American Indian civil rights struggle.  The goals of AIM expanded quickly, broadening to “turn the attention of Indian people toward a renewal of spirituality which would impart the strength of resolve needed to reverse the ruinous policies of the United States, Canada, and other colonialist governments of Central and South America.” AIM’s goals were economic independence, revitalization of traditional culture, protection of legal rights, and most especially, autonomy over tribal areas and the restoration of lands that they believed had been seized illegally. But most important, AIM is credited with restoring hope to Native peoples.

A New Voice

Russell Means emerged as the voice of AIM during a violent and turbulent time. In 1970 he became the first National Director of the American Indian Movement. AIM became involved in many violent and highly publicized protests in reaction to abhorrent government policies toward American Indians during this time. The spiritual ceremonies of Native Peoples has been outlawed since 1884.

Modern Day Warriors

Means’ and other AIM members cultivated a tough persona which they felt was necessary to face the “dark violence of police brutality and the voiceless despair of Indian people.” The view of these activists as “warriors” was essential to the movement.

Prayer Vigil At Rushmore

In 1970, immediately after his installation as National Director of AIM, Means led a prayer vigil on the top of Mt Rushmore to, according to the NY Times, “dramatize Lakota claims to Black Hills land.” (The Rushmore Monument is on land sacred to the Lakota people.)

Taking The Mayflower II

Later that same year, Mean’s led a Thanksgiving Day demonstration in Boston where 200 American Indians captured the Mayflower II (a replica) and painted Plymouth Rock red and began a “Day of Mourning” while a stunned nation watched the action play out on television.

Chief Wahoo

In 1972 in another controversial move the Cleveland chapter of AIM filed a $9 million dollar suit against the Cleveland Indians baseball team for the use of “Chief Wahoo” as its toothy Indian mascot. In defense of the suit Russell Means stated, “It (the logo) attacks the cultural heritage of the American Indian and destroys Indian pride.” Opening day protests against the use of the logo have continued every year since 1971 often resulting in arrests of the Indian demonstrators.

At Long Last

The Cleveland Indians, in 2014, finally agreed to “slowly” eliminate the logo. In 2020, the Cleveland Indians have eliminated the offensive “Chief Wahoo” logo.  Some are pushing for dropping the name “Indians” and just go with the town name, Cleveland. As of this writing the historic name of the DC Red Skins has also been tossed as an insensitive insult to Native peoples. Until they come up with a new team name we will be calling the Washington Football team just that.

The Trail of Broken Treaties

The Trail of Broken Treaties also known as the (Trail of Broken Treaties Caravan and the Pan American Native Quest for Justice ) was a cross-country protest that was staged in the autumn of 1972 in the United States by American Indian and Canada’s First Nations organizations. American Indian protesters led by Means and representatives of eight other American Indian organizations traveled by bus, car truck and camper from California to Washington, D.C.

A Litany Of Complaints

Once in DC the protesters occupied the Bureau of Indian Affairs building for a week in protest of broken treaties and government abuses. Bureau of Indian officials complained that numerous records were removed or destroyed and that more than $2 million in damages was done to the building. After nearly a week long standoff the Nixon administration agreed to consider their demands and agreed to pay for them to return home.  Remember this is the Nixon era. The activism made AIM a target of the FBI’s covert operation, COINTELPRO, meant to disrupt domestic political activists.

Rapid City Riot

On February 10, 1973, a club swinging group of Indians and whites confronted one another in a melee in Rapid City, South Dakota that injured 20 and resulted in 40 arrests. Dennis Banks and Russell Means attempted to calm the situation and denied charges that AIM was responsible for the rioting.  They had per their statements just termed the town “neutral ground because the people are willing to sit down and recognize injustices.”

Wounded Knee

In early 1973, AIM received a request for help from the Oglala Sioux Civil Rights Organization.  According to Gladys Bissonette, who sent the request, told AIM that the traditional Lakota people on the Pine Ridge Reservation were being terrorized by white vigilantes and Native supporters of Tribal President Dick Wilson. In response to the request, on February 27, 1973 Russell Means and a force of 200 Oglala Lakota Sioux and other followers of AIM seized and occupied Wounded Knee, a small town on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

And The Feds Respond

The little town was subsequently surrounded by hundreds of federal agents with military weaponry. The stand-off lasted 71 days. AIM demanded hearings on their treaty and investigation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The issue was the continued exploitation of resources of Indian lands by the federal government, aided by corrupt Indian officials, chiefly Oglala tribal chairman Richard Wilson. Two Native men, Buddy Lamont and Frank Clearwater were killed during the stand-off.

Wounded Knee Is The Most Famous Insurrection In The 20th Century

The activists chose the site of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre for its symbolism. Wounded Knee would become the most famous Indian insurrection of the twentieth century.  Two Indian activists were killed by government authorities and 13 more wounded. Two federal agents were wounded by activists, leaving one paralyzed.  After the siege ended Dennis Banks and Russell Means, as AIM officials, were arrested and indicted on charges related to the events at Wounded Knee. In 1974 both men had their cases dismissed for “prosecutorial misconduct”.

And Women

Despite the  fame of many of the male AIM leaders, native women were most often anonymous. The names of a few are known. But it is important to understand Native women made extraordinary sacrifices for the movement. Pat Bellanger known as “Grandma AIM” has spent more than 50 years at the heart of the AIM movement.

Rioting For Justice

Then there is the courage of Sarah Bad Heart Bull. Sarah was involved in the American Indian Movement. Her son Wesley was stabbed in the heart at the Buffalo Gap bar. When she attempted to enter the Custer, S. D. County Court house, police struck her in the face with a baton,  and later she was choked and thrown down a stairwell. The police abuse caused a riot as bystanders and AIM members rushed to her defense. Sarah was convicted of “inciting a riot,” and served five months of an up-to- five year sentence, while the man who killed her son spent one day in jail.

On Trial Again

In 1974, Dennis Banks and Russell Means were tried for conspiracy and assault at the federal courthouse in St. Paul. After a nine month trial the presiding judge, Fred Nichols, dismissed all charges because of  government misconduct. Although AIM declared victory the movement had begun to splinter. Infighting,  jealousy, combined with FBI efforts to divide the organization had sewn suspicion and paranoia began to destroy the movement. The murder of Anna Mae Aquash, marked the beginning of the end of the united AIM. Members blamed the FBI and each other, destroying the trust within the movement.

Murder of Anna Mae

In 1975 Anna Mae Pictou Aquash, a suspected FBI informant was murdered on the Pine Ridge Reservation by unknown perpetrators. Authorities suspected AIM members including Russell Means of killing Aquash. Her murder went unsolved until 2003.  In March 2003 Arlo Looking Cloud and John Graham were indicted for Aquash’s murder. Looking Cloud was convicted in 2004, John Graham was convicted in 2010. Both received life sentences. Many of Aquash supporters are convinced that higher-level AIM officials ordered her murder. Russell Means publicly called for continued investigations.

Hounded by The Man

Between 1974-1976 Means was arrested by the FBI and various state governments time and again for his activism. During that time Means was charged with multiple crimes. In 12 separate cases he represented himself and won acquittal in each. In 1975 Means and an AIM member, Richard Marshall were indicted and tried for the murder of Martin Montileaux at a saloon in Scenic, South Dakota. The court exonerated Russell Means. His co-defendent Richard Marshall was sentenced to 24 years in prison.

Assassination Attempt or Accident?

Less than a month after the Montileaux killing, Means while on pre-trial release was in North Dakota on the Standing Rock Reservation when he was involved in an argument with a BIA officer.  Means was shot in the stomach 3 times by the Bureau of Indian Affairs agent. The Bureau of Indian Affairs called the shooting an “accident” while AIM leaders called it an “assassination attempt.” Russell Means was charged with assault, but was later acquitted.

Escalating Violence

The violence surrounding AIM activists was rapidly accelerating. Within 30 days of his acquittal Means was stopped on the Pine Ridge Reservation and allegedly assaulted by members of the “puppet tribal government” led by Oglala Tribal President, Richard Wilson. In another incident Means was shot at, with a bullet grazing his forehead in a drive-by assassination attempt. He received 12 stitches related to the incident.

The Longest Walk

Jail Time

A South Dakota court convicted Russell Means in 1979 of inciting a “Riot To Obstruct Justice”. The charge originated from a riot at the Sioux Falls courthouse. Means was sentenced to a four year prison sentence, but was paroled after just one year. In 2003, Means was given a pardon ostensibly because the law that was used to convict Means had been repealed as “unconstitutionally vague” BEFORE his original sentencing.

Organizing For the Betterment of Indian People

In 1981 Russell Means founded “Yellow Thunder Camp” a spiritual youth camp in the Black Hills. His goal to return his people to the Black Hills, the Lakota Nation’s Holy Land. In 1982 Means founded MILI radio station on the Pine Ridge Reservation. MILI became the first Indian owed and operated radio station in the country. In 1985 Russell Means organized the building of the first independent health clinic on any Indian Reservation in the United States.

Working Nationally And Internationally

AIM developed into an international movement. The organizations goals included the full restoration of tribal sovereignty and treaty rights. While Russell Means was active nationally during these years he was also active internationally. In 1977 Means created an international conference to discuss the sovereign rights of North, Central and South American Indians a program sponsored by the United Nations. In 1983, he gave two speeches at the Prague Czechoslovakia UN conference on international nuclear development.

Running For Office

In 1985 he participated in the first Peace Conference held between the Indians and the Sandinistas of Nicaragua. His international activism lasted through the 1980’s. In 1984 he ran as vice presidential candidate joining Larry Flynt in his unsuccessful bid for the Republican presidential nomination. Means campaigned for the Libertarian party nomination for president but lost to Ron Paul in 1984.  In 1988 he announced his retirement from AIM.

Charismatic Good Looks

The 1990’s ushered in a new chapter in Russell Means’ life.  The handsome and charismatic Means was tapped for acting roles in many television programs. Means quickly moved to parts in films, such as The Last of the Mohicans, Natural Born Killers, and many more.

Where White Men Fear To Tread

In 1995 he published his autobiography, Where White Men Fear to Tread co-written with M. J. Wolfe. The book drew raves and rants. “It’s American history-warts, wounds and all” said Patricia Holt in the San Francisco Chronicle.  M. Wadsworth writing for the Tucson Weekly added, “whatever conclusions one makes of Means’ actions and intentions, his unremitting presence and undaunted outspokenness opened a dialogue that changed the course of American history.”

Music Hall of Fame

In addition to television, movies, and books, Russell Means was an avid painter, and musician with a world-wide audience. During his long career Means wrote and produced several successful albums. He was recognized posthumously for his contribution to Native American music. He is a member of American Indian Music Awards Hall of Fame.

A Voice for The Voiceless

Physicians diagnosed Means with esophageal cancer in August 2011. After a year of declining health Russell Means died in October 2012. ABC said, “Means spent a lifetime as a modern American warrior….he railed against broken treaties, fought for the return of stolen land and even took up arms against the federal government-he called national attention to the plight of impoverished tribes and lamented the wane of Indian culture.”

Dignity and Leadership

Means was married five times and had seven biological children and multiple adopted children, as is the Lakota way. His son Tatanka spread his father’s cremated remains across his beloved Black Hills. Russell Means was an inspirational visionary. A man whose cry for justice still echoes. His stalwart dignity and uncompromising leadership left an indelible mark on the national character.

Last Shreds

Clyde Bellecourt continued to lead the Minneapolis branch of AIM in the 2010’s, fighting police misconduct, fighting derogatory team names and developing the AIM Interpretive Center.

Sources:

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#inbox/FMfcgxwKjTXlsdWdQDKsrcnxJTkvQnnG

Biography.com/people/russell-means

www.russellmeansfreedom.com

www.britannica.com/biography/Russell-Means

www.nytimes.com 2/27/1973

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell-Means

www.indiancountry/archive/russell-means-a-look-thru-his-life