Dennis Banks, cofounder of the American Indian Movement>, has probably done
as much as anyone alive to advance American Indian rights. He's best known for
leading the 1973 occupation by militant Indians of Wounded Knee, S.D., where, 83
years before, U.S. troops had slain a band of Lakota women and children.
Now 63 and still AIM's national field director, Banks is at pains to present
himself as a kinder, gentler Indian-rights activist, the father of 20 children
and corporate partner (with the Aveda cosmetics firm) of a foundation that
benefits young runners. He comes to De Anza College on March 15 to raise funds
for his Sacred Run Foundation, which sponsors long-distance runs in line with
various Indian traditions that give running a spiritual meaning.
as much as anyone alive to advance American Indian rights. He's best known for
leading the 1973 occupation by militant Indians of Wounded Knee, S.D., where, 83
years before, U.S. troops had slain a band of Lakota women and children.
Now 63 and still AIM's national field director, Banks is at pains to present
himself as a kinder, gentler Indian-rights activist, the father of 20 children
and corporate partner (with the Aveda cosmetics firm) of a foundation that
benefits young runners. He comes to De Anza College on March 15 to raise funds
for his Sacred Run Foundation, which sponsors long-distance runs in line with
various Indian traditions that give running a spiritual meaning.
It was 1971 when the anger in Means had built up to the point of boiling over.
He helped to found the American Indian Movement Survival School System that
subsequently implemented more than 40 alternative schools in seven states and
two Canadian Provinces. He was part of the siege and destruction of the Bureau
of Indian Affairs Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
He helped to found the American Indian Movement Survival School System that
subsequently implemented more than 40 alternative schools in seven states and
two Canadian Provinces. He was part of the siege and destruction of the Bureau
of Indian Affairs Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
In February 1979, Trudell led a march in Washington, D.C. to draw attention to
the difficulties the Indians were having. Although he received a warning
against speaking out, he delivered an address from the steps of the FBI
building on the subject of the agency's harassment of Indians...Less than 12
hours later, Trudell's wife, Tina, his three children, and his wife's mother
were burned alive in the family home in Duck Valley, Nevada - the apparent work
of an arsonist.
the difficulties the Indians were having. Although he received a warning
against speaking out, he delivered an address from the steps of the FBI
building on the subject of the agency's harassment of Indians...Less than 12
hours later, Trudell's wife, Tina, his three children, and his wife's mother
were burned alive in the family home in Duck Valley, Nevada - the apparent work
of an arsonist.