Ojibwa Warrior: Dennis Banks and the Rise of the American Indian Movement

Rating:
Summary: writer, runner, warrior
Review: As a teacher of Native American Literature, I have often wished for this book! Dennis Banks is a legend to the college students, as he was to me when I was a student. He is also the rare man who proves to not only live up to his legend, but to rise above it. The power he has to inspire people across generations and cultures is just one good reason to pay attention to what he has to say.

With the exception of Peter Matthiessen's In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, there had been no book which, for me, brought to life the early days of the American Indian Movement and made comprehensible the events surrounding the occupation of Wounded Knee, and its aftermath. Matthiessen does a good job, but is limited by the obvious--he is writing about something. Mr. Banks, of course, was there.

Mr. Banks is a man who can do anything, and do it well, as he shows us again through writing this book. When one has lived an amazing life, as he has, what better way to share it than through a book? His writing style is beautiful--clear, compelling, descriptive--and his subject matter is some of the most important and most neglected in all of American history.

But in spite of its national scope, the book is, above all, spiritual and personal. Banks shares his life, in the best sense. The first chapter shows us the danger at Wounded Knee, and the miraculous escape of Banks and four friends. Chapter 2 takes us back to his childhood on the Leech Lake reservation, from memories of the beautiful ceremonies surrounding the harvest of the wild rice to his enlistment in the Air Force at seventeen years old. Then, as later at Wounded Knee, it was the blessing of his people, the medicine and prayers they gave to him, which became his protection in this world. The honest and open way he speaks of his faith in spiritual matters should be envied by many of the so-called "spiritual" writers of our time--there is no troubling use of language here, no struggle to redefine spiritual terms to fit our day and time, and no awkwardness when he tells of praying aloud. At one Sun Dance, a young man asks for his help because of trouble with his wife; later, as Banks stands with his hands on a tree, praying to the Creator for his help and guidance in running the dance("Grandfather, help us during this day and all the days of this sacred dance.), the man's two small boys overhear him and begin laughing, thinking he is talking to the tree. He calls to them, wanting to tell them what it is all about, but they run away. He remembers an elderly blind woman from his own childhood, and how he and his friends hooted and whistled at her when she went to her own special place, a tree, to pray to the Creator. He can recall the lilt of her voice, her sincerity in singing and in prayer, and knows now how close she was to the Great Spirit. When he speaks of such things, of suffering, of the unquestioned belief that, with prayer, the spirits will help us, one sees where the power which sustains the American Indian Movement comes from. At the end of Chapter 21, which covers another amazing escape/shootout, this one in Marlon Brando's motorhome, Banks suggests, quietly, "Maybe the Creator is an AIM-lover."

The honesty of this book is evident in so many ways--without obsessing over them, Banks shares his failures in some relationships, and admits that his absences from home have been hard on his family. He speaks openly of his time in prison, offering some constructive criticism of the system and its methods of dehumanizing people. But again and again, it is the peacefulness of the story, the small moments, which delight the reader. Here is the man who spent months pursued by the FBI, the man who dodged countless bullets, both real and figurative, proving to the reader that he prefers peace, that he is not and has never been a violent man. This is underscored by the family moments, like when he takes his daughter, Tashina, deer hunting, and witnesses her crying, shocked, when she realizes he means to shoot the deer. So he doesn't--they amend deer hunting to deer-watching, and everyone goes home happy.

It is also a book which comes full circle, when in the Afterword we find Banks doing what he does now--raising his youngest son, Minoh, at Federal Dam, where he was born, and running a small business with wild rice and maple syrup. His son is learning the Anishinabe language, and they live in the old ways--hunting, fishing, making canoes and drums. "It is a good life up here," he says.

Dennis Banks is a man we should hear, and his is a book we should read. As a final note, it is also a book we should look at. The 72 photographs include excellent family photos, and photos of reservation life and sacred ceremonies, including modern-day Sun Dances. There are also, of course, many powerful pictures from the protests of the 1970's. Many of the Wounded Knee pictures have not been widely seen before, and, along with their captions, tell the story in their own way.

Rating:
Summary: Thanks to a real Warrior.
Review: Dennis Banks and the founders of AIM, deserve respect and thanks for their sacrifices, especially from American Indians. They woke us up with their refusal to fade away. They instilled honor and respect back into our lives and made us realize the pride of who we are. We are not sports team mascots, wacky Hollywood injuns or the names of vehicles, but a real and proud people, the First People.

If you want a close up look at a history, struggle and a real warrior this is the book.....and if you're American Indian buy this book and consider it a tobacco offering for Dennis Banks.

Mitakuye Oyasin - We are all related.

Rating:
Summary: Personal and informative
Review: Dennis Banks was born in 1937 on the Leach Lake reservation in Minnesota. He was taken from his home at an early age and forced to attend a government boarding school designed to rid him of his Ojibwa ways and assimilate him into white culture. After a brief stint in the U.S. Air Force, Banks returned to the U.S. and lived in the Indian slums of Minnesota, and was arrested stealing food to feed his family. While in prison, Banks educated himself and was inspired by the Civil Rights movements of the 1960s. After his release, Banks became a founder of AIM, the American Indian Movement, an organization deeply footed in Native religion and culture, designed to unify and inspire Indians in the fight for equal rights. Richard Erdoes has written several books on American Indians, including Lakota Woman. He spent many years with AIM and has documented much of their struggle in photographs.
This autobiographical account of the life of an AIM leader spans over 70 years, from Banks' birth to the present. Although the story recounts many events from Banks' life before AIM, the main focus is on the birth of the organization, and the major events in which AIM took part. The most well documented parts of the book are the discussion of the 1972 Trail of Broken Treaties march to Washington, D.C., which ended in the occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs building, and the 1973 standoff at Wounded Knee aimed at ending the violence and corruption of the tribal government at the Pine Ridge Lakota reservation. Banks offers significant insight into these events, describing the causes and effects of AIM's actions, as well as the conditions they faced, the players involved, and the underlying theme of unity and dedication among the AIM members. He focuses also on the relationships he formed with fellow members and supporters, his family, and his goals in keeping AIM a peaceful group that used violence only when necessary for self-defense. He pays tribute to all who helped him and his family during their time hiding from authorities, which shows just how respected this man was by his supporters, as well as how feared he was by those who felt threatened by him. When asked what AIM accomplished 25 years ago at the height of its activism, and if Indians are really better off now, Banks responds, "We were the prophets, the messengers, the fire-starters. Wounded Knee awakened not only the conscience of all Native Americans, but also of white Americans nationwide...We resurrected old beliefs and ways of life, blending them with demands of modern life, with what we needed to survive...We no longer needed whites to "interpret" our culture." Banks is realistic but optimistic in his conclusions, and states, "We have not achieved all that we wanted. We have only made a dent in solving our many problems...We leave much to do for the new generations coming up...we are a still a strong people."
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in prominent 20th century figures, social activism, Native American culture and history, or simply the autobiographical genre. In this first hand account, Banks provides details to which only he has access, and writes in a fast-moving way that maintains the interest of the reader. The account of the occupation of Wounded Knee was entertaining, educational, and heartbreaking. Banks describes his friendships with those who gave their lives for the movement, and even questions why he is still alive when others perished in the struggle. The emotional aspect of this book is what I found most valuable. Purely scholarly historical accounts of this subject may provide a more well-rounded view, but Ojibwa Warrior offers a glimpse at the humanity behind Dennis Banks, and the inner-workings of a man who has spent his life working for justice and equality. Richard Erdoes' photographs help bring the story of Dennis Banks and AIM to life, adding a face to many of the characters discussed in the book.

Rating:
Summary: An epic of the AIM movement
Review: The counterpoint to Russell Means, Dennis Banks was the romantic 'crazy horse' of the AIM movement. His exploits put him at the top of the celebrated leaders of the movement, and his leadership at wounded Knee put him on the governments wanted list. This first person account is an excellent story of one many struggle to redeem the American Indian and stand up to oppressive or unjust government policies, put in place not only by the BIA but also by fellow Native leaders like Dick Wilson at Pine Ridge.

Anyone fascinated with the rise of AIM and its actions will enjoy this fast paced account which rivals Means own autobiography. Banks tells of his 'exile' at Onandaga and his flight from federal authorities, as well as his leadership in many causes.

There are several flaws unfortunately. Banks gives almost no background on the many native tribes whose causes he championed. Even the Ojibwa culture is not given in much detail. Also a major drawback is the total lack of any maps. The AIM movement was a national movement representing tribes throughout America and demonstrating at many key reservations and yet we are not given any maps showing the mosaic of reservations. The siege of wounded knee with its many geographic descriptions and military confrontations is also not given a map, which makes it difficult to understand just how the action took place. Nevertheless this book should not be faulted for it is a true gem and a wonderful relic of a bygone age, when Natives found their spirit to retrieve themselves from many government programs that infringed on their way of life, told by one of its leading participants.

Rating:
Summary: An epic of the AIM movement
Review: The counterpoint to Russell Means, Dennis Banks was the romantic `crazy horse' of the AIM movement. His exploits put him at the top of the celebrated leaders of the movement, and his leadership at wounded Knee put him on the governments wanted list. This first person account is an excellent story of one many struggle to redeem the American Indian and stand up to oppressive or unjust government policies, put in place not only by the BIA but also by fellow Native leaders like Dick Wilson at Pine Ridge.

Anyone fascinated with the rise of AIM and its actions will enjoy this fast paced account which rivals Means own autobiography. Banks tells of his `exile' at Onandaga and his flight from federal authorities, as well as his leadership in many causes.

There are several flaws unfortunately. Banks gives almost no background on the many native tribes whose causes he championed. Even the Ojibwa culture is not given in much detail. Also a major drawback is the total lack of any maps. The AIM movement was a national movement representing tribes throughout America and demonstrating at many key reservations and yet we are not given any maps showing the mosaic of reservations. The siege of wounded knee with its many geographic descriptions and military confrontations is also not given a map, which makes it difficult to understand just how the action took place. Nevertheless this book should not be faulted for it is a true gem and a wonderful relic of a bygone age, when Natives found their spirit to retrieve themselves from many government programs that infringed on their way of life, told by one of its leading participants.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent new story
Review: The Sidekick to Russell Means, Dennis Banks was the romantic 'crazy horse' of the AIM movement. His exploits put him at the top of the celebrated leaders of the movement, and his leadership at wounded Knee put him on the governments wanted list. This first person account is an excellent story of one many struggle to redeem the American Indian and stand up to oppressive or unjust government policies, put in place not only by the BIA but also by fellow Native leaders like Dick Wilson at Pine Ridge.

Anyone fascinated with the rise of AIM and its actions will enjoy this fast paced account which rivals Means own autobiography. Banks tells of his 'exile' at Onandaga and his flight from federal authorities, as well as his leadership in many causes.

There are several flaws unfortunately. Banks gives almost no background on the many native tribes whose causes he championed. Even the Ojibwa culture is not given in much detail. Also a major drawback is the total lack of any maps. The AIM movement was a national movement representing tribes throughout America and demonstrating at many key reservations and yet we are not given any maps showing the mosaic of reservations. The siege of wounded knee with its many geographic descriptions and military confrontations is also not given a map, which makes it difficult to understand just how the action took place. Nevertheless this book should not be faulted for it is a true gem and a wonderful relic of a bygone age, when Natives found their spirit to retrieve themselves from many government programs that infringed on their way of life, told by one of its leading participants.

Seth J. Frantzman

Rating:
Summary: The Great Creator
Review: The Sidekick to Russell Means, Dennis Banks was the romantic `crazy horse' of the AIM movement. His exploits put him at the top of the celebrated leaders of the movement, and his leadership at wounded Knee put him on the governments wanted list. This first person account is an excellent story of one many struggle to redeem the American Indian and stand up to oppressive or unjust government policies, put in place not only by the BIA but also by fellow Native leaders like Dick Wilson at Pine Ridge.

Anyone fascinated with the rise of AIM and its actions will enjoy this fast paced account which rivals Means own autobiography. Banks tells of his `exile' at Onandaga and his flight from federal authorities, as well as his leadership in many causes.

There are several flaws unfortunately. Banks gives almost no background on the many native tribes whose causes he championed. Even the Ojibwa culture is not given in much detail. Also a major drawback is the total lack of any maps. The AIM movement was a national movement representing tribes throughout America and demonstrating at many key reservations and yet we are not given any maps showing the mosaic of reservations. The siege of wounded knee with its many geographic descriptions and military confrontations is also not given a map, which makes it difficult to understand just how the action took place. Nevertheless this book should not be faulted for it is a true gem and a wonderful relic of a bygone age, when Natives found their spirit to retrieve themselves from many government programs that infringed on their way of life, told by one of its leading participants.

Seth J. Frantzman

Rating:
Summary: The Great Creator
Review: When I read Dennis Banks' autobiography, it was as though someone led me through a perfect lecture of contemporary Native American history. I couldn't set it down, I was enraptured by the revolution and the significance that AIM still holds for uncountable groups of fellow humans.

I thank Mr. Banks and all the AIM members and supporters for the encouragement to be pure and true.

I am only a sixteenth Chippewa, but I feel my grandmother distinctly. My search for our history continues, and this book illuminated hopes and dreams that I couldn't have known existed had it not been for the bravery of those warriors who exercised their pride. Thank you, I will continue to endorse this book to whoever will listen.

I did enjoy my little nickname that I called him through the book, "The Great Creator" as he fathered eleven children with four different women. His love for them grows as he ages, and I hope his children can learn from him and not be too angry at him for his time dedicated to his life's work. It is a sacrifice to be a civic leader.