John Trudell, 1946-2015. Photo by Tara Trudell
Albert Bender, a member of the Cherokee Nation, reflects on the life of the late activist John Trudell, who passed away on December 8, 2015, at the age of 69:
Another dauntless advocate of American Indian activism has walked on with the passing of Native rights stalwart John Trudell. He follows in the footsteps of Russell Means and Carter Camp. All three died of cancer. Trudell passed away at his home in Santa Clara County, in Northern California, on Dec. 8, in the company of family and friends, at age 69. He was a Santee Dakota born in Omaha, Nebraska, on Feb. 15, 1946. Trudell's stellar role in the movement for American Indian justice, beginning in the !960s, was inspirational. He was not only an activist, but also a poet, actor, orator, musician, spoken word artist and philosopher. His life was a brilliant, uncompromising mosaic of dedication to Indigenous rights, cultural preservation and language rejuvenation. Trudell's activism began in 1969, when he joined other American Indians who had taken over Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay demanding that the former federal prison be returned to Native people under the Treaty of Fort Laramie of 1868. Trudell, who had studied radio and broadcasting in college at San Bernardino, became spokesperson for the group calling itself United Indians of All Tribes. He operated a radio broadcast from the island entitled Radio Free Alcatraz.Get the Story:
Albert Bender: John Trudell: Another warrior for Native rights passes on (People's World 12/14)
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