SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Russell Means was a modern American Indian warrior. He railed against broken treaties, fought for the return of stolen land and even took up arms against the federal government.
So when the 72-year-old died Monday from cancer, he left behind a strong, decades-long legacy.
A onetime leader of the American Indian Movement, Means called national attention to the plight of impoverished tribes and often lamented the waning of their culture. Even after leaving AIM in the 1980s, he was still a cultural presence, appearing in several movies.
He helped lead the 1973 uprising at Wounded Knee, the bloody confrontation that raised America's awareness about the struggles of American Indians.
He was among their first national advocates, seeking to restore their cultural pride and challenge a government paying them little attention.
