08/27/23 - Russell Charles Means (Interview from 2000)

From the 2000 program archive. Russell Charles Means (November 10, 1939 – October 22, 2012) was an Oglala Lakota activist for the rights of Native Americans, libertarian political activist, actor, musician and writer. He became a prominent member of the American Indian Movement (AIM) after joining the organization in 1968 and helped organize notable events that attracted national and international media coverage.

Means was active in international issues of Indigenous peoples, including working with groups in Central and South America and with the United Nations for recognition of their rights. He was active in politics at his native Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and at the state and national level. Beginning an acting career in 1992, he appeared on numerous television series and in several films, including “The Last of the Mohicans” and “Pocahontas” and released his own music CD. Means published his autobiography, "Where White Men Fear to Tread,” in 1995.

He was given the name Waŋblí Ohítika meaning “Brave Eagle” in the Lakota language. He talks about an array of topic but mostly patriarchy and matriarchy, and what it means to become a “Pow Wow” Indian.

Production Credits:
Tiokasin Ghosthorse (Lakota), Host and Executive Producer
Liz Hill (Red Lake Ojibwe), Producer
Karen Ramirez (Mayan), Studio Engineer, Radio Kingston
Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Audio Editor
Kevin Richardson, Podcast Editor

Music Selections:
1. Song Title: Tahi Roots Mix (First Voices Radio Theme Song)
Artist: Moana and the Moa Hunters
Album: Tahi (1993)
Label: Southside Records (Australia and New Zealand)
(00:00:22)

2. Song Title: Sacred Black Hills
Artist: Larry Long
Album: Fun for Freedom / Sweet Thunder (1984)
Label: Flying Fish Records
(00:30:00)

3. Song Title: Don’t Wanna Fight
Artist: Alabama Shakes
Album: Sound and Color (2015)
Label: ATO Records
(00:47:19)

4. Song Title: He Sapa Ki, Un Kita Pi
Artist: Earl Bullhead
Album: Keeper of the Drum (1995)
Label: Soar Records
(00:53:38)

AKANTU INTELLIGENCE
Visit Akantu Intelligence, an institute that Tiokasin founded with a mission of contextualizing original wisdom for troubled times. Go to https://akantuintelligence.org to find out more and consider joining his Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/Ghosthorse