Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means, left, and assistant U.S. attorney general Kent Frizzell sign the Wounded Knee settlement on April 5, 1973 in South Dakota. Looking on left is Frizzell's assistant Richard Helstern and AIM leader Dennis Banks.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means tells newsmen at the National Press Club in Washington on November 21, 1973 that Indians will protest the nation's bicentennial celebration unless treaty disputes are resolved. Means stands in front of a photo-mural of the Capitol.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means leads a chant during a protest of Columbus Day celebrations on October 12, 1998 in Pueblo, Colorado. The protesters gathered to show their opposition to the hanging of a wreath on a statue of Christopher Columbus by Pueblo's Italian community.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Original caption: September 17, 1974-St. Paul, MN: American Indian Movement (AIM) leaders Russell Means (L, seated) and Dennis Banks (seated wearing vest) sing an AIM victory song with other AIM members at a rally. The victory rally was held after charges were dismissed against Banks and Means in the eight-month-old Wounded Knee trial.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Sens. James Abourezk, left, and George McGovern listen to Sefert Youngbear, center, during negotiations on March 2, 1973 in Wounded Knee, South Dakota, as Russell Means, right and Crow Dog, second from right, listen. Meanwhile, federal marshals maintain their posts outside the town.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

In this February 4, 1974 file photo, Russell Means, who was challenging incumbent Oglala Sioux Tribal President Richard Wilson in the election on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, laughed at a news report which quoted Wilson as saying he would give AIM 10 days to get off the reservation after he is reelected "or else."

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Original caption: Actor Marlon Brando (right) visited the trial of Indian leaders Russell Means (left) and Dennis Banks (not shown) who are charged with 10 felonies each in the 1973 armed takeover of Wounded Knee. Brando sat in the courtroom for 10 minutes to show his support of Banks and Means then walked outside to talk briefly with reporters.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means, left, gets an application of war paint from Sioux Medicine man Crow Dog in 1973 just prior to a cease fire agreement between federal forces and AIM leaders occupying Wounded Knee.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means, one of the AIM leaders in Wounded Knee, South Dakota on March 12, 1973, explains to followers what is expected of them as a sovereign nation.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means, right, with his running-mate Carmen Quintana, leave the Federal Court House in Santa Fe, New Mexico on July 24, 2002, after filing a lawsuit to try to secure a spot on the November 5 general election ballot as a third-party candidate for New Mexico governor. Means is seeking to become the gubernatorial nominee of a newly formed political party, the Independent Coalition Party.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

American Indian Movement leaders Russell Means and Dennis Banks raise their arms in a victory gesture afer a federal judge dismissed all charges against them. They were charged with five felonies each in the 71-day armed occupation of Wounded Knee on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means leaves the federal building on January 24, 1974 in St. Paul one day after winning the primary election for Oglala Sioux tribal President in South Dakota. He is on trial here in regards to the 1973 takeover of Wounded Knee.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means speaks at anti-nuke rally on April 27, 1980 in Washington.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means is lead away by a tribal officer after being arrested for refusing to leave the site of blockade on June 28, 2007, at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Tribal police shut down a volunteer blockade aimed at keeping beer out of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where alcoholism is rampant, and arrested Means and two other organizers who refused to leave.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means speaks to supporters in front of the state capitol building before kicking off his walk across New Mexico campaign for governor in Santa Fe on April 21, 2002. Means intends to run for governor as the nominee of a newly formed political party, the Independent Coalition Party.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means addresses the crowd from the steps of the Colorado State Capitol on October 6, 2007. Means was participating in AIM's protest of Denver's Columbus Day Parade.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means is seen here on April 3, 2011 during Star Magazine's ALL HOLLYWOOD Event held at Trousdale, in West Hollywood, California.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means walks hand in hand with two unidentified American Indians as they march to Whiteclay, Nebraska, on July 3, 1999 from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota protesting treaty violations, the unsolved murder of two Sioux men and the sale of alcohol in Whiteclay. Means and eight other American Indians were arrested in Whiteclay for crossing a police line.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means, left, is greeted by Rev. Katsuzo Sawada of the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist sect of Japan at Means appearance before the National Press Club in Washington, on July 7, 1978. Means has vowed to fast until he is freed of a South Dakota conviction for rioting to obstruct justice. Sawada pledged the support for his sect for The Longest Walk, an effort of over six hundred Native North Americans to walk 3,000 miles to bring attention to alleged anti-Indian legislation now before Congress.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means leads a protest march on the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, Colorado on November 21, 2005. The American Indian Movement is protesting what they consider thin coverage of the recent death of Indian author Vine Deloria Jr. The group also alleges the newspaper incited and celebrated the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864, where more than 100 Indians were killed by the Colorado militia.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means holds his son, Tatanka, on a hill near his home in Porcupine, South Dakota, on May 8, 1987.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means testifies in Ward Churchill's civil suit against the University of Colorado at the City and County Building in Denver, Colorado on March 23, 2009.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means speaks at a news conference in Washington, December 19, 2007, on the Lakota Sioux Indian withdrawal from all treaties with the U.S. government.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

A U.S. flag flies upside down March 3, 1973 outside a church occupied by members of the American Indian Movement (AIM), background, on the site of the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. AIM's occupation of Wounded Knee triggered a violent standoff with federal authorities.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

AIM leader Russell Means gives peace pipe to U.S. assistant attorney general Kent Frizzell, right as AIM Ramon Roubideaux, seated, and Wallace Black Elk watch prior to settlement of Wounded Knee situation, Thursday, April 6, 1973.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

AIM leader Russell Means leaves U.S. District Court in St. Paul, August 16, 1974 after resting their defense in the Wounded Knee trial. Means and Dennis Banks, co-defendants, are on trial for larceny, conspiracy and three counts of assaulting federal officers during the occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means, second left, and his brother, Ted Means, center participate in a powwow at AIM's International Treaty Conference on June 9, 1974.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Tatanka Means, a son of Russell Means, carries the urn with Means' ashes into Little Wound High School in Kyle, South Dakota on October 24, 2012

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

In 1992 Russell Means played Chingachgook in "Last of the Mohicans." It was his first movie role.

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

Russell Means (left) with Daniel Day-Lewis in a scene from "Last of the Mohicans."

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Russell Means: A Photographic Journey

By:

ICTMN Staff

October 28, 2012

Indian country lost a warrior on Monday, October 22 when Russell Means walked on. A man many call larger than life. He was an activist, an author and an actor.

Take a look at some important moments in his life here, from the standoff at Wounded Knee to the moment when his son carried his ashes into the honoring ceremony at Little Wound High School in Kyle, South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Russell Means Begins His Final Journey as Family and Supporters Gather for First of Four Memorials

Russell Means: A Look at His Journey Through Life

Indian Country Reacts to Russell Means Passing

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