Albert Bender: Russell Means to be honored at events in Denver

The life of one of Native America's greatest heroes, Lakota warrior Russell Means, will be celebrated this week with a days' long tribute in Denver, Colorado. On Nov. 7-10, Russell's family, friends and supporters will host "Mitakuye Oyasin (we are all related) - Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Russell Means," with a series of programs and panels to honor the huge contributions he made to both the Indian and non-Indian world.

The commemoration is being organized by the Denver-based Russell Means Honoring Committee. The celebration will honor the life of Russell Means as a political, cultural and visionary American Indian leader. Russell was a Oglala Lakota warrior for the people, a momentous leader of the American Indian Movement (AIM) and a founder of the Republic of Lakotah. He has been described as "the most famous American Indian of the 20th century." Acclaimed Standing Rock Sioux author and scholar Vine Deloria, Jr. has said of Means, "We should cherish this man as one of our greatest people."

Russell made his journey to the spirit world on Oct. 22, 2012, at his home in Porcupine, South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge reservation of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Aside from his vast impact on the political scene, Means was an author, a spiritual leader of the Sun Dance, a gifted artist, a world known actor and a talented musician. He could be said to be truly an American Indian "Renaissance figure."