Dennis Banks
Dennis Banks
Dennis Banks, a Native American leader, teacher, lecturer, activist and author, is an Anishinaabe born on Leech Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota. Banks is also known as Nowa Cumig. His name in the Ojibwe language means "In the Center of the Universe." He has been a longtime leader of the American Indian Movement, which he co-founded in 1968 with Native Americans in Minneapolis...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionReligious Leader
Date of Birth12 April 1937
CountryUnited States of America
It also called upon traditional people in the Four Directions to strengthen the healing ceremonies and asked people to heed the warnings of Mother Earth.
When you have a spiritual foundation, you look at poverty differently then.
I'm on this road for the rest of my life.
The Sun, Moon and Stars are there to guide us.
What we did in the 1960s and early 1970s was raise the consciousness of white America that this government has a responsibility to Indian people. That there are treaties; that textbooks in every school in America have a responsibility to tell the truth. An awareness reached across America that if Native American people had to resort to arms at Wounded Knee, there must really be something wrong. And Americans realized that native people are still here, that they have a moral standing, a legal standing. From that, our own people began to sense the pride.
Since the beginning, Native Peoples lived a life of being in harmony with all that surrounds us. It is a belief that all humankind are related to each other. Each has a purpose, spirit and sacredness. It is an understanding with the Great Spirit or Creator that we will follow these ways. And in this understanding we believe we are related to all other living species...
Even the people who come our way look upon us in amazement, that we run only for the healing of Mother Earth
The fact that these teachers are willing to share their time is important, and we are very grateful.
When we arrived in Japan in 1988, we were not prepared for the overwhelming support shown to us.
Many young Japanese were hearing for the first time the words of Native people from the West.
In 1967 the last Unity Caravan was held.
It is an understanding with the Great Spirit or Creator that we will follow these ways.
This strikes to the foundation of who we are. There is deep deep pain.
Then a strong bond develops as they ride together, pray together, eat meals together, and gather in the evening remembering the day's run.