Dennis Banks, a founder of the American Indian Movement who helped lead demonstrations — notably the 10-week siege at Wounded Knee, S.D., in 1973 — that at times descended into violence as they brought long-festering tribal wounds to national attention, died Oct. 29 at a hospital in Rochester, Minn. He was 80.
Native American Obituaries
Native American Obituaries
Wahacanka Peltier, the youngest child of imprisoned Leonard Peltier, walked on while on a trip to the nation’s capital where hundreds are gathering this weekend in a prayer vigil to free his father. Wahacanka Peltier was 41.
A prominent Kicked In The Belly chief, war leader, and reservation-era chief, Joseph “Joe” Medicine Crow was a Crow Elder, the last surviving war chief of the Crow tribe, tribal historian, and the first of his tribe to become a university educated anthropologist. Medicine Crow died Sunday, April 3, 2016 at the age of 102 at a hospice house in Billings, Montana. A half-sister, Louella Whiteman Runs Him Johnson, confirmed his death and said she did not know the cause.
On December 8, 2015, American Indian activist, spoken word artist and poet, actor and visionary John Trudell walked on surrounded by his family and friends at his home in Santa Clara County, California, after a battle with cancer. He was 69.
When a loved one dies, many times paying funeral bills can be a financial burden. However, that burden can be lifted or eased by the Cherokee Nation’s Burial Assistance Program, which helps citizens of federally recognized tribes pay funeral expenses.
Last Navajo Code Talker Dies
22 ViewsThe language he once was punished for speaking in school became Chester Nez’s primary weapon in World War II. He was the last surviving Navajo Code Talker.
Ruth Ziolkowski passes on at age 87
22 ViewsRuth Ziolkowski, who has died aged 87 after a prolonged struggle with cancer, spent much of her life helping her husband, the Polish-American sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, to achieve his dream of transforming a mountain in the Black Hills of South Dakota into a colossal sculpture depicting the 19th-century Oglala Lakota war chief Crazy Horse.
Folk singer and activist Richie Havens, Blackfeet, died at his home in Jersey City, New Jersey, on April 22. He was 72 years old. Havens will always be remembered as the opening act at the Woodstock music festival in 1969.
Russell C. Means, the charismatic Oglala Sioux who helped revive the warrior image of the American Indian in the 1970s with guerrilla-tactic protests that called attention to the nation’s history of injustices against its indigenous peoples, died on Monday, October 29, 2012, at his ranch in Porcupine, S.D., on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He was 72.
Elouise Cobell has died
22 ViewsBlackfeet Nation tribal citizen Elouise Cobell passed away Sunday evening at age 65 in Great Falls, Montana. Diagnosed with cancer last year, Cobell reportedly had surgery in April at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for what she described then as “a serious cancer.” The Indian woman who fought the U.S. government-and won-has lost her battle with cancer.
Author: Rob Capriccioso Wilma Mankiller, the first woman to lead the Cherokee native American tribe, died Tuesday, April 6, 2010, after a battle with pancreatic cancer, Cherokee leaders announced Tuesday. She was 64.
Gwen Westerman Griffin of Mankato, MN announced today that Floyd Red Crow Westerman passed to the spirit world this morning about 5:00 a.m. in Los Angeles, California, at Cedars Sinai Hospital with family at his side after an extended illness. He was 71.
Vernon Bellecourt, long time leader of the American Indian Movement (AIM) passed away today at about 2:45pm in Minnesota. He was one of the earliest and most active members of AIM and a prominent spokesman for the organization, and one of the finest orators of his time. Vernon Bellecourt was a leader in AIM actions […]
Vine Deloria Jr. walks on
22 ViewsPOSTED BY Colorado AIM In Honor of Vine Deloria, Jr. (1933-2005) The great indigenous visionary, philosopher, author and activist Vine Deloria, Jr. passed over to join his ancestors on November 13, 2005. Vine Victor Deloria Jr. was born in 1933 in Martin, South Dakota. He obtained a Master of Theology degree from the Lutheran School […]
Gladys Tantaquidgeon, the Mohegan Indian Tribe’s venerable medicine woman and a nationally known expert on ancient Indian practices, died Tuesday morning. She was 106.
Famed Navajo artist R.C. Gorman is dead at the age of 74.
Charles Chibitty, the last survivor of the Comanche code talkers who used their native language to transmit messages for the Allies in Europe during World War II, has died. He was 83.
Blackfeet honor Kicking Woman
22 ViewsA week after Pope John Paul II was buried in the Vatican, the Blackfeet Nation laid to rest one of its most revered spiritual leaders here Thursday.
KEYWORDS: Makah language oldest Makah tribal member obituary basketweaver Makah history tribal elder Ruth E. Claplanhoo AUTHOR: Brenda Hanrahan NEAH BAY — Friends and family of Makah tribal elder Ruth E. Claplanhoo say a piece of Makah history has been lost with her death — and can never be replaced. Mrs. Claplanhoo, the oldest Makah […]
FREDERICK P. WHITEFACE (1922-2002)
22 ViewsKEYWORDS: native american musician native american obituaries Frederick P. Whiteface NAMMYS Native American Music Association South Dakota Lakota musician Native American Music NAMA’s 1998 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Best Jazz Artist at the First Native American Music Awards Second Annual Native American Music Awards Third Annual Native American Music Awards The Swing Fantabulous Pine Ridge […]
KEYWORDS: Fern Eastman Mathias Indian Elders AIM organizer Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota activist Native rights Red Power american indian movement organizers native american obituary american indian obituaries Chief Cloud Man Many Lightnings 1862 Dakota resistance Ohiyesa Charles Alexander Eastman Pine Ridge Agency Ohiyesa’s granddaughter 1973 Wounded Knee occupation of Alcatraz Longest Walk June 26, 1975 incident at […]
Keywords: Obituaries Henry Rodriguez La Jolla Mission Indians tribal elder spiritual leader Pala reservation Gathering of EaglesSan Pasqual Band of Mission Indians Luisenos original inhabitants of the North County and Southwestern Riverside County reservations La Jolla Pechanga Pala Pauma Rincon Pauma Band of Mission Indians Southern California Intertribal Council Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association North […]
Fond du Lac College President Dies
22 ViewsAUTHOR: The Pine Knot Keywords: Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Lester Jack Briggs tribal college brave horse picture indian pictures free pictures buy posters CLOQUET – Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College president Lester Jack Briggs died on Sunday, December 16, at his home in Cloquet.
AUTHOR: Ray Chandler The Herald A renowned local potter of the Catawba Indian Nation died Monday with the dignity she wanted to preserve.
November 9, 2001 By MATT SEDENSKY Patricia A. Locke, who worked for decades to preserve American Indian languages and became a pioneer in an effort to grant the tribes greater authority in the education of their children, died on Oct. 20 at a hospital in Phoenix. She was 73 and lived in Wakpala, S.D., on […]