Floyd Red Crow Westerman goes to the next world

Floyd Red Crow Westerman was an incredible human being with many gifts. He was a gifted singer and performer. He often appeared on TV shows as well as in movies. He appeared at Wolf Trap; appeared with Sting.

A stalwart of the original American Indian Movement (AIM) Floyd always kept focused on working on cultural and legal issues that affect Native Americans.  Floyd, a Dakota (the Lakota Nation, called "Sioux" in English, includes the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota peoples), himself survived the often-barbaric "Indian schools" where youngsters were ripped from their families and often beaten for speaking their own language.

He appeared several times in shows such as the X-Files, Texas Ranger, and Dharma and Greg (the latter gave him a chance to show off his comedic talents).

One of Floyd's lifetime friends was the late author Vine Deloria, who wrote Custer Died for Your Sins. One of Westerman's albums later carried that same title.

A former Marine, Westerman also held a college degree in education. 

And, he was a very sweet man. Also a warrior: he was part of the Wounded Knee takeover that protested corruption and mistreatment at Pine Ridge Reservation.

Named a "Living Legend" by the Native American Music Awards, Floyd released his Tribute to Johnny Cash album just last year. 

Rene, would you mind using his full name in your headline? Floyd never used just "Red Crow". 

And thank you for posting this. When I got the news last week, I simply could not bring myself to write about it. I have tears in my eyes as I post this.

Pilamaya, Floyd. Your life was an education for us all, you spirit still is. 

Pep,

Thank you for your tribute,  how amazing that you knew him.

The story on Indian Country mentions the loss of Vine Deloria and Vernon Bellecourt.

The loss of so many leaders must be hard.

Rene, thanks for changing the header.

 I used to talk on the phone with Vine a lot when he was working one one book and I was working on my poetry book. Very witty guy.  Know the Bellecourts. Vern was.....Vern. That's all I'll say. Remember Anna Mae Aquash.