John Trudell
John Trudell
John Trudellwas a Native American author, poet, actor, musician, and political activist. He was the spokesperson for the United Indians of All Tribes' takeover of Alcatraz beginning in 1969, broadcasting as Radio Free Alcatraz. During most of the 1970s, he served as the chairman of the American Indian Movement, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionAuthor
Date of Birth15 February 1946
CountryUnited States of America
human trying understanding
I am just a human being trying to make it in a world that is rapidly losing its understanding of being human.
oral particular poet society tradition
Because we are all of an oral tradition in our beginning histories, the voice of the poet in this particular society will be heard.
indian indigenous member nations western
I'm a member of the American Indian Movement, and I'm from the indigenous nations of the Western Hemisphere.
interest native people realities younger
I have a real interest in working with younger Native artists. I think it's a very important way for Native people to communicate the realities of our culture and remember our ancestors.
expand music people room ways
I find there is room in music to talk with music. It may expand ways people can participate with music. It doesn't sound hokey or like some kind of voice-over.
authentic indian politics preventing
All politics to me - Indian or white - is an illusion preventing us from being authentic because we're communicating through something that isn't real to us.
dealing solution understand
For decades, my identity was political, but I've come to understand that there's no political solution when you're dealing with someone else's rules.
good home someplace
It's always good to go home. It's strengthening to see your past and know you have someplace to go where you're part of a people.
crops grow land somewhere took
They took all our land; I don't have any land to toil. My crops have to grow somewhere else.
bull falling sitting
Before Little Bighorn, Sitting Bull had dream of soldiers falling from the sky.
happened land positive protecting resources terms vigilant
There have been some positive things that have happened for the tribes, but it's a constant, vigilant fight about protecting what resources we have in terms of land and rights.
art culture lives longer people rely society truth
When one lives in a society where people can no longer rely on the institutions to tell them the truth, the truth must come from culture and art.
arts early eighties further influence left music natives politics
When I left politics in the early Eighties and started writing and recording, my idea was that I could have an influence further down into other generations. That Natives could come into the culture through arts and music.
doors entertainment knocking media rest saying whatever
Whatever their reasons, Hollywood, or the entertainment industry, is saying something about Indians. I don't see the rest of the media knocking down any doors to do that.