Russell Means: Living Ancestor

Hau Mitakiepi:
As I sit enjoying this morning, my thoughts are upon healing and growing and learning. They say it is about faith, hope, and charity, yet I find those concepts disturbing. There is no word for love in the Lakota Language. Why? (Is it because we are heartless savages?) What is love? Besides, what good is faith and hope if one hasn’t found growing and learning? Our Primary Tenets are Bravery, Fortitude, Generosity and Wisdom. I think maybe faith hope and charity kept me far away from Healing and Growing and Learning.
I walked, as usual, to the neighborhood grocer to get breakfast for my friends. On my way home, two Crows greeted me with their akisha. I have found the Crow and the Squirrel are friends. The Crows escort any hungry Hawks through this area, yelling heeeeyaahhh! HeeeeYAHHH! As if to herd them along, they akisha. The Crows, after having their respective turns on the ground among the gnawing Squrrels, lift off. I am happy to see them flying with multiple peanuts in their beaks. I hear the Woodpecker’s familiar chirp, and now also the Chickadee. I see Nuthatches fly by, and I think of that hungry Hawk the Crows moved along the other day. The snow is crusty and sharp as the wind. I think of the Lakota Nation.
I think of the Fire of Freedom that has burned strongly in Russell Means’ chest now for 68 Winters. He inspired our Re-Awakening as Indigenous Peoples in general, over 30 years ago. Now, he re-awakens the spark of Indigenous Freedom specifically within the Lakota Oyate. Many detractors has he; Russell Means. Many fingers point and bemoan Russell’s so very public Struggles as an Indigenous Male, and as a Lakota Wicasa. Many tongues wag in derision of his loudly tactile bouts with oppression, repression and depression. Russell Means IS a flawed Man. Russell Means IS a polarizing entity. Russell Means IS a true and living representation of what it is to be a Lakota Male under Occupation.
Russell represents the best of us. Russell represents the worst of us. Russell mirrors US. Russell constantly and consistently has made his life a public and living work of Guerrilla Art at its most real. As Lakota, our Art must benefit the People. Our Art must be alive with Takuskanskan. Truly, as Francis Yellow has said, “Lakol Wicohan Ki is Performance Art at it Best”.
Russell always invites those with affinity and relatedness to join in on the performance. I was once inspired to Opagi Russell with my Canunpa to Hanbleciapi. Russell placed me upon a high hill above Wind Cave for four days that changed my Reality. Russell gave me my Name, and through Russell, I gained my Dream. I found my Voice through the Siyotanka that was shared with me on that hilltop. I spent that Summer learning from Russell. I wrote down the jewels of wisdom he would utter without warning. “Simple elegance is profundity…Period.” “True revolution means to go back to the beginning…to revolve.” “To be truly free is to be truly responsible.” I recall a piece of art of his, a piece entitled “Ancestors Leaving”. I recall how he would become melancholy and distant when he would relive times among HIS Elders. People like Noble Red Man and Fools Crow. I always felt as though I were sitting with a living, breathing Ancestor when I sit with Russell Means.
Russell has Counted Coup for the People upon many an enemy. He deserves many Feathers. He deserves many Songs.
I know that under the State of Occupation we currently endure, Coyotes are elevated past Wolves by the gate keeping Guard Dogs and Lap Dogs. I realize now that in a desire to protect the Squirrels, the loud and vocal Crows will harangue the Mighty Hawk just trying to live as a Free Being without handouts.
Hecetuwelo, Mitakuye Owasin, Wanbli WiWohkpe, He Emacia.