Former American Indian Movement activist Russell Means - who starred in The Last of the Mohicans - dies aged 72

  • Means led uprising against the government in South Dakota in 1973
  • Helped bring grievances of Native Americans to national and global attention
  • Went on to feature in Natural Born Killers and Curb Your Enthusiasm

By Associated Press

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Russell Means, a former American Indian Movement activist who helped lead a 1973 uprising against the U.S. government and appeared in several Hollywood films, has died. He was 72.

Means died early Monday at his ranch in South Dakota, Oglala Sioux Tribe spokeswoman Donna Solomon said.

Means announced in August 2011 that he had developed inoperable throat cancer and 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.

Farewell: American Indian activist Russell Means (in October 2011) has died at his home in South Dakota

Farewell: American Indian activist Russell Means (in October 2011) has died at his home in South Dakota

'Our dad and husband now walks among our ancestors,' his family wrote on his website. 'He began his journey to the spirit world at 4:44 am, with the Morning Star, at his home and ranch in Porcupine.'

Means led AIM's armed occupation of the South Dakota town of Wounded Knee, a 71-day siege that included several gun battles with federal officers.

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.

'No one except Hollywood stars and very rich Texans wore Indian jewelry,' Means said. 'That's all changed.'

He was often embroiled in controversy, partly because of AIM's alleged involvement in a 1975 killing.

Strong: Means (in 1974) challenged Oglala Sioux Tribal President Richard Wilson in a reservation election. He laughs at report quoting Wilson as saying he will give AIM 10 days to get off the reservation after he is reelected 'or else'

Strong: In 1974, he challenged Oglala Sioux Tribal President Richard Wilson in a reservation election. He laughs after hearing that Wilson said he will give AIM 10 days to get off the reservation after he is reelected 'or else'

Outspoken: Means, pictured in 1989, helped bring the grievances of Native Americans to national and global attention in the 1970s before going on to become a Hollywood actor

Outspoken: Means, pictured in 1989, helped bring the grievances of Native Americans to national and global attention in the 1970s before going on to become a Hollywood actor

Activist: Means, who led an uprising against the government in South Dakota in 1973, is pictured being arrested by Denver police in 2000 for blocking the March for Italian Pride Columbus Day parade

Activist: Means, who led an uprising against the government in South Dakota in 1973, is pictured being arrested by Denver police in 2000 for blocking the March for Italian Pride Columbus Day parade

But Means was also known for his role in the movie The Last of the Mohicans and his unsuccessful run for the Libertarian nomination for president in 1988.

Paul DeMain, publisher of Indian Country Today, there plenty of Indian activists existed before AIM, but the group became the 'radical media gorilla'.


'Our dad and husband now walks among our ancestors'

Family statement

'If someone needed help, you called on the American Indian Movement and they showed up and caused all kind of ruckus and looked beautiful on a 20-minute clip on TV that night,' DeMain said.

Means said he felt his most important accomplishment was the founding of the Republic of Lakotah and the 're-establishment of our freedom to be responsible' as a sovereign nation inside the borders of the United States.

His efforts to have his proposed country recognized by the international community continued at the United Nations, he said, even as it was ignored by tribal governments closer to home, including his own Oglala Sioux Tribe.

Movie star: Means is pictured left in the Last Of The Mohicans with Daniel Day-Lewis, centre

Movie star: Means is pictured left in the Last Of The Mohicans with Daniel Day-Lewis, centre

High profile: Means, pictured left beside Eric Schweig and Daniel Day-Lewis, played chief Chingachgook

High profile: Means, pictured left beside Eric Schweig and Daniel Day-Lewis, played chief Chingachgook

But others may remember him for his former organization's connection to the killing of Annie Mae Aquash, whose death remains synonymous with AIM and its often violent clashes with federal agents in the 1970s.

Authorities believe three AIM members shot and killed Aquash on the Pine Ridge reservation on the orders of someone in AIM's leadership because they suspected she was an FBI informant.

Two activists - Arlo Looking Cloud and John Graham - were eventually convicted of murder. The third has never been charged.

Means blamed Vernon Bellecourt, another AIM leader, for ordering Aquash's killing. Bellecourt denied the allegations in a 2004 interview, four years before he died.

Also in 1975, murder charges were filed against Means and Dick Marshall, an AIM member, in the shooting death of Martin Montileaux at the Longbranch Saloon. Marshall served 24 years in prison. Means was acquitted.

Russell Means
Russell Means

Career: Means, pictured left in The Last of the Mohicans and right in April, also played roles in Natural Born Killers and the animated film Pocahontas, among others. In 1995, he released an autobiography

Remembered: Means, pictured in April 2012, died early on Monday at his ranch in South Dakota

Remembered: Means, pictured in April 2012, died early on Monday at his ranch in South Dakota

But Means always considered himself a Libertarian and couldn't believe that anyone would want to identify as either a Republican or a Democrat.

'It's just unconscionable that America has become so stupid,' he said.

His acting career began in 1992, when he portrayed Chingachgook alongside Daniel Day-Lewis' Hawkeye in The Last of the Mohicans.

He also appeared in the 1994 film Natural Born Killers, voiced Chief Powhatan in the 1995 animated film Pocahontas and guest starred in 2004 on the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Means recounted his life in the book Where White Men Fear to Tread. He admitted to his frailties and evils but also acknowledged his successes.

'I tell the truth, and I expose myself as a weak, misguided, misdirected, dysfunctional human being I used to be,' he said.

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