In honor of Vine Deloria, Jr.

[hermetic]

The great indigenous visionary, philosopher, author and activist Vine Deloria, Jr. passed over to join his ancestors today, November 13, 2005. Our thoughts and prayers go to his wife, Barbara, to his children and his other relatives. The passing of Vine creates a huge intellectual and analytical void in the native and non-native worlds. He will be greatly missed.

It is appropriate on this website to reflect on the meaning of Vine's contibutions to indigenous peoples' resistance, and to reflect on our responsibilities to maintain and to advance the lessons that Vine gave to us. It is safe to say that without the example provided by the writing and the thinking of Vine Deloria, Jr., there likely would have been no American Indian Movement, there would be no international indigenous peoples' movement as it exists today, and there would be little hope for the future of indigenous peoples in the Americas.

Vine Deloria, Jr. was a true revolutionary when he wrote "Custer Died
for Your Sins" in 1969, the first of his scores of books and scholarly
articles (for a partial bibliography of Vine's important books go to:
http://www.ipl.org/div/natam/bin/browse.pl/A31 ). He had the courage and the vision to challenge the dominating society at its core. He was
unapologetic in confronting the racism of U.S.law and policy, and he
was prophetic in challenging young indigenous activists to hone their
strategies.
In

[bemildred]

1. A kick for Vine Deloria Jr.

May he rest in peace.