David Yeagley is the great-great-grandson of Comanche leader Bad Eagle. 
by David Yeagley"/>
Russell Means is dying, according to three independent sources, only one of which is a hoot & holler internet site. The other sources are personal, earthy, and real, from different parts of the country, including the Dakotas.
No, you won’t find any news about his failing health, nor the nature of his maladies, anywhere in the news. But is all over Indian Country, by word of mouth only. That’s because it is real Indian news, for real Indians, I suppose.
Russell Means, b. 1939. He is
now 72. His mother was a
full-blood Yankton Sioux.
Word on the rez is very bad. They say he’s down to less than 100 pounds, and that his skin color has turned atrabilious, as in atra bilis (black bile). I had heard, too, that there were sores in his mouth and throat, and I know for a fact that he cannot do interviews at this time. Various medicine men, Sioux and Dine (Navajo in-laws) have prayed for him, and done their ceremonies for him. I know special considerations have been made, with the use of special implements, drums, etc.
What is curious and the distinct is the fact that this lethal condition–of a famous Indian activist–has been kept almost completely quiet. Why would that be? Every man has the right to die privately, of course. Every family has the right to manage the death process in its own way. It just seems ironic, or especially difficult, that there is no official word. It is all word of mouth, and that form of communication, in Indian Country, is known for its ‘imaginary’ nature. Either Means and family are content to allow the Indian Country word to take its course, or they simply do not wish to be involved. The other possibility is that they believe he will recover, and that any such news of his death is premature, ill-advised, or simply mistaken altogether.
Perhaps it is so. Perhaps Russell Means will recover.
Russell Means, one of the original American Indian Movement leaders, one of the first professional protesters among American Indians, is distinguished from most of them today, in that he has always had an open mind. He has always been willing to try new ways to bring improvement to the Sioux people, and to all Indian people in America. He tried the Libertarian Party. He supported Republican John Thune for Congress (then turned around and sued him for betraying his office). He created a new constitution for the Oglala Sioux (2005). He started an total immersion Indian school on Pine Ridge. Russell’s notoriety enabled always enabled him to advocate what he thought were the best solutions to Indian problems.
I first encountered him in 2001, on Hannity & Colmes. He took the position of condemning Indian mascots, while I praised the mascots as representing bravery and courage, the warrior image–one of the few positive images Indians have yet today. I honestly disagreed with him, yet, I can still admire his efforts and intents in the cause of improving Indian life. We have different views of the white race, of course. He believes the white race is responsible for the condition that Indians are in today. I don’t argue with that, but I simply envision different attitudes and solutions–to be generated within Indians ourselves. My approach is not based on blame.
Means has always been a creative thinker. I hope he lives–and devises yet new ideas for Indian Country. I am greatly saddened by the word of his passing point.
There are other details about his lifestyle and health which are perhaps not demonstrable as his ideas. Indiscriminate sexual practice is rampant in many conclaves of Indian Country. Venereal diseases, and their effects on young and old, are ubiquitous. There is no doubt about their role in the life of many leaders. The word in Sioux country does not distinguish Means from this lifestyle. I’ve been told some of this is even on record. There have been such systemic indiscretions from the early days in Indian history. Young children (especially girls) were traded for various luxuries like a bottle of whiskey, a pouch of tobacco, or a bag of flour.
Many Indians feel more Indian, or feel that they are maintaining their indianness more fully, if they refuse involvement with the white man’s religion. Sometimes they’ll act friendly or bonded to other world religions, just to spite Christianity. “I’m a recovering Christian,” I heard a Sioux woman say once, at Augustana College in Sioux Falls. There are a thousand reasons to reject Christianity, but, being Indian is certainly not singular.
I personally believe that the moral principles of the Bible, the Judeo-Christian tradition, bring about the better health of any people who practice them. All Indians believe in a Creator. Have we not a right then to appeal to Him for help? If we’re willing to admit that we need help, shall we not bring our suit before the One who alone can do wondrous things for them who trust Him?
But, that’s my thinking. Not every Indian thinks that way. Every Indian wants a better life for Indians, but, as in the case of Russell Means, we don’t all agree on what a better life actually is. For Indians, we know it’s more than material things, or the accoutrements of success in the white world. Yet, we know we’ll never live by hunting the buffalo again, either. It is hard for us to identify exactly what we want. In the mean time, our leaders tend to scoop up all the financial profits they can, and that’s the one thing Russell Means protested from the day he hit the concrete. That’s why he joined the resistance at Wounded Knee in 1973.
I hope Russell Means can be remembered in a positive way. He took the approach of the protester, the discontented, yet, he had many positive, creative ideas. For these, he should be remembered. Let the rancor, the Communist-funded protests, the self-aggrandizing legal suits, the anti-American publicity stunts, all be forgotten. Let his best ideas be remembered, especially something like his new Oglala Dakota Constitution. Let him be remembered for being willing to try different political parties, and most of all, for having an open mind.
20 responses so far ↓
1 REG // Aug 9, 2011 at 4:10 pm
I don’t know very much about Mr. Means though his name keeps coming up. We are close to the same age. I have always respected him for the fact that he rarely ever looks for the government nipple. At least, I have always gotten that idea. The idea that he believes that the Indian must raise himself up, a helping hand is nice but I can walk by myself attitude. I read an article about him when he was a Libertarian, would have voted for him. I’ll say a word in his behalf in my evening prayers.
2 Pamela K. // Aug 9, 2011 at 4:47 pm
How shocking and tragic about Russell Means. It is strange that there is no mention of him being sick in the media, but may be it is like you said, he and his family are keeping quiet about his illness.
The period of displacement, or American Indians being forcibly uprooted and exiled from their ancestral lands, was followed by the “conversion movement” which unfortunately included the deceitful and ungodly practice to “kill the Indian, save the man” conducted by white men and women puffed up with a self-righteous, prideful spirit.
“With our tongues we prevail; our lips are our own to command at our will, who is lord over us?” Psalm 12:4
Bereft of the leading of the Holy Spirit, the end result of much of organized religion’s often abusive efforts to convert the Indians resulted in a particularly bitter harvest and only served to generate much suspicion and fear of anyone or any organization connected to Jesus Christ in Indian country.
God loves his Native children and He has not forgotten them.
“For You will not abandon me to Sheol (the place of the dead) neither will You suffer Your holy one to see corruption.” Psalm 16:10
The Indian people need not only to experience the love and mercy of Christ, and to hear the powerful, saving message of the true gospel, but to fully understand that He came not only to be the white man’s God, but their God too.
“And Ruth said, “Urge me not to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16
3 Sioux // Aug 9, 2011 at 6:02 pm
I will never forget Russell Means in the opening scene of “Last of the Mohicans” – very impressive keeping up with the younger guys running through the forest for what seemed like forever….it wore me out. He was just wonderful in that movie. As you say, Dr. Y – let us remember the positive acts that came in the last half of life (which would never have been possible without the notoriety of the first half of life).
4 Thrasymachus // Aug 9, 2011 at 7:52 pm
As far as rejecting Christianity, the Japanese in Japan often give the same reason: “It’s a Western (i.e. European) religion.”
Besides, I have come to believe, quite recently, that “primitive” or “original” Christianity was not the same as the “mass-marketed” (no pun intended) variety that developed in later centuries. I, for one, could never have lived in Calvin’s Geneva. I’d have gladly left that harsh and unbearable dictatorship.
I certainly respect Russell Means for trying to bring improvement to his people, the Sioux. In light of this, I must say that no human being has infinite knowledge; we are obliged to work with limited resources. It is impossible to have a worldview that is absolutely perfect in every detail.
5 wyoman // Aug 9, 2011 at 9:12 pm
Russell Means came into national prominence during a time of protest by drug addled misfits and leftist radicals. He is one of the few leaders of that time I have come to respect. I can not say I always agree with him but I believe he has always been sincere and honest. That is all one man can ask of another. Thinking people must disagree at times or one of them is not thinking. I sincerely wish him a complete recovery from any malady he may be suffering.
6 David Yeagley // Aug 10, 2011 at 9:30 am
He was also a real pleasure to hang out with. Completely humble man, actually.
But, that’s how white people would say it. For me, it’s just being Indian. Indians around other Indians. No matter who you are, you’re just another Indian. You’re never more than that.
7 David Yeagley // Aug 10, 2011 at 9:35 am
Here is a personal video by Russell himself. This is dated August 9, so, perhaps the Indian Country word is indeed exaggerated. Of course, we don’t know when the video itself was made. I have been told that this video was made at the beginning of the diagnosis. They were just posted recently, that’s all. Presently, he is definitely dying.
8 David Yeagley // Aug 10, 2011 at 9:49 am
Here is another one, made two days earlier:
“America is a drowning man.” “I cannot, in good conscience, gloat over what’s happening in the United States of America.”
Same “liberal” anti-American views, sorry to say. Pretty bad, actually. But, it’s what it is.
9 David Yeagley // Aug 10, 2011 at 10:11 am
So, these videos were made a good while ago, at the beginning of the illness. I understand that, at the present time, Means is nearly dead. That is the word, as of this morning. August 10, 2011.
10 Pamela K. // Aug 10, 2011 at 10:25 am
I think what Russell Means is talking about in the second video makes a lot of sense. The Congress is bought off and the media is a form of irresponsible entertainment, especially in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that use to be called “The War on Terror”
It is a game being played by US pharmaceutical companies with a stake in the vast fields of opium growing there, or so that members of Congress in bed with the oil companies with business investments in that nation can grow even wealthier!
Is it also a race to see who will ultimately control the dope and the oil. Will it be America? Russia? Iran? Saudi Arabia? Notice how our government leaders are not only increasingly ingratiating themselves with the Islamic World, but this conflict is no longer permitted to be called, “The War on Terror”.
Meanwhile, our soldiers, who are the real heroes in this mess, are being sacrificed on the altar of human greed and selfishness.
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2011/August/Afghan-President-31-Americans-Killed-in-Crash/
11 Thrasymachus // Aug 10, 2011 at 5:02 pm
The second video sounds very similar to any so-called “right-wing extremist” group today! He may be a “liberal,” but he sounds like a member of the “far right.” Since the Republicans have moved so far to the Left, leaving me on the “far right,” this is a compliment, not a complaint. I am actually a traditional Jeffersonian Republican.
To sum up:
Russel Means, in the second video, is speaking the thoughts and ideas of all American dissidents — including White American dissidents. Anyone who does not know that the U.S. is in imminent danger is self-deceived and has a false, blind-folded optimism.
12 David Yeagley // Aug 10, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Did you hear him say “Al Qaeda” was the only one in the world “trying to tell the truth”? Russ is still capable of distorted interpretation of political phenomenon. It is a life-long habit of anti-Americanism. That he never shook. That hackneyed rhetoric he never grew out of. It was his ideas about improving American Indian life that were innovative and worthy.
That’s my opinion, anyway. It is easy, too easy, to criticize and condemn America. Russell’s friend, the fake and pretentious Ward Churchill, fired from university of Colorado for academic fraud, was a great American hater. That kind of low-life seek personal status in their anti-Americanism.
I think it’s cheap.
13 Thrasymachus // Aug 10, 2011 at 5:19 pm
I thought he words he used were “the alternative media,” rather than “Al Qaeda.” I did not hear mention of Al Qaeda.
I also agreed with him that Europe will last longer.
14 Thrasymachus // Aug 10, 2011 at 5:26 pm
I checked again at 3:12 and though it is easy to hear “Al Qaeda,” a very careful listen will reveal, I believe, the words the “aternative media.”
Now what this “alternative media” is for him and what it is for me may well be two very different things! Who knows?!
15 Thrasymachus // Aug 10, 2011 at 5:36 pm
To me, American Renaissance is one example of “Alternative Media.” I think Russel Means may be referring to media of European nations at just this point (such as France) — but I am not entirely certain.
When I was studying French at university, I received French publications at my home to read — and the opinions on the mid-East war were often quite anti-USA.
16 David Yeagley // Aug 10, 2011 at 5:39 pm
“Independent Media” on the internet, is a deeply Communist network.
“Alternative” media is always subversive. It proposes to be different from the “status quo” or the “establishment”–whatever the establishment happens to be.
But, you never see Communists rising up against Communists, right? That’s the one status quo they like.
17 Pamela K. // Aug 10, 2011 at 6:33 pm
An Example Of ‘Alternative Media’.
“Who invented Osama bin Ladin? The Americans. The CIA invented him so they could fight the Soviets in Afghanistan…The US always needs an enemy…Today it is Islam. According to this plan or ideology of born again Christians who form an alliance with Zionism-Islam is the monster.”
-Lebanese Druze minister Whalid Jumblatt, speaking on Al-Arabiya TV, claiming the United States was really to blame for the September 11th attacks.
This was an interview from 2004.
Things have not changed much.
Especially the Arab-Islamic World’s jealousy and hatred of America.
Osama Bin Ladin was a protected agent provocateur of the Saudi Royal Family who was purported to have turned against his masters and has now allegedly been killed while holed up somewhere in Pakistan.
al-Qaeda is still alive and kicking and in a turf war with the Muslim Brotherhood for control over North Africa and the Middle East, while Islam is still very much a monster, menacing freedom-loving people and societies all over the world….And Ward Churchill still walks and breathes on American soil.
18 whitetrash // Aug 11, 2011 at 11:15 am
“Indian policy” has now been brought down upon the American people, and the American people are the new Indians of the 21st Century.”
Russel Means
19 David Yeagley // Aug 11, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Russell Means appears to have been quoting me for many years now. (Har, har.)
20 whitetrash // Aug 12, 2011 at 8:32 am
It is certainly interesting that you and Means reached the same conclusion, given the differences in background, education, and political interests.
The analogy is a powerful one.
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