Being is a spiritual proposition. Gaining is a material act. Traditionally, American Indians have always attempted to be the best people they could. Part of that spiritual process was and is to give away wealth, to discard wealth in order… — Russell Means Copy Share Image
Freedom is for everyone, whatever lifestyle they choose, as long as it's peaceful and honest — Russell Means Copy Share Image
America always put forth this phony melting pot theory, but it's a reality now. They couldn't accomplish the melting pot economically; they couldn't accomplish… — Russell Means Copy Share Image
I've always considered myself a man of integrity as a leader of the American Indian Movement and of Indian people. I will stand that… — Russell Means Copy Share Image
When a woman grabs my braids and says "How cute!" I crab her breast and say "How cute!" She never touches me again! — Russell Means Copy Share Image
Golden eagles don't mate with bald eagles, deer don't mate with antelope, gray wolves don't mate with red wolves. Just look at domesticated animals, at mongrel dogs, and mixed breed horses, and you'll know the Great Mystery didn't intend them to be that way. We weakened the species and introduced disease by mixing what should be kept seperate. Among humans,… — Russell Means Copy Share
Being an Indian means living with the land. And the only way we'll be able to do that is to gain our freedom. — Russell Means Copy Share Image
I don't want to be remembered as an activist; I want to be remembered as an American Indian patriot. — Russell Means Copy Share Image
Before AIM, Indians were dispirited, defeated, and culturally dissolving. People were ashamed to be Indian. You didn't see the young people wearing braids or chokers or ribbon shirts in those days. Hell, I didn't wear 'em. People didn't Sun Dance, they didn't Sweat, they were losing their languages. Then there was that spark at Alcatraz, and we took off. Man,… — Russell Means Copy Share
Children in poverty aren't trying to get out of poverty; they're just trying to rip off a pair of Nikes. So we Indian people… — Russell Means Copy Share Image
We Indians do not teach that there is only one god. We know that everything has power, including the most inanimate, inconsequential things. Stones have power. A blade of grass has power. Trees and clouds and all our relatives in the insect and animal world have power. We believe we must respect that power by acknowledging it's presence. By honoring… — Russell Means Copy Share
What the American Indian Movement says is that the American Indians are the Palestinians of the United States, and the Palestinians are the American… — Russell Means Copy Share Image
