"Vine Deloria Jr. was a witty, sometimes acerbic man who reshaped the way Americans think of the First Americans. When he died Sunday in Golden, Colo., at 72, he left a legacy of insight and advocacy that had firmly established the values and traditions of his people as an important counterpoint to modern American life. Time magazine had called him one of the 11 most influential thinkers of the 20th century.

Born into a distinguished Sioux family, Mr. Deloria served in the Marines, graduated from Iowa State University and earned a master's degree in theology from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago and a law degree from the University of Colorado. In 1969 he burst into the nation's consciousness with his book "Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto." One reviewer said it "asserts the worth if not the dignity of the red man and blasts the political, social, and religious forces that perpetuate the Little Big Horn and wigwam stereotyping of his people.""

Get the Story:
First Americans' voice (The Charlotte Observer 11/16)
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Indian Country Today Articles from January 10, 2005:
Wilma Mankiller: An original thinker with a warrior's spirit
Suzan Shown Harjo: Selective memories of Vine Deloria Jr.
Faith Spotted Eagle: Deksi (Uncle) Vine
Charlie Wilkins: Visionary thinker and wordsmith par excellence
Hank Adams: A Vine Deloria Jr. collaboration: The first decade
John Mohawk: Vine Deloria Jr.'s unfolding legacy
Philip Deloria: Tales of a remarkable father
Norbert Hill: A hero to many

Related Stories:
Vine DeLoria: Spoke for a nation of Natives (11/15)
Deloria hailed as 'visionary' for role in Indian affairs (03/11)
Jodi Rave: Deloria unknown because he's Indian (01/24)
Vine Deloria is ICT's American Indian Visionary (01/10)
Column: Vine Deloria refuses honorary degree (05/25)