RIP Russell Means

Indian Activist Russell Means photographed at Red Rocks 20 years ago. He died today at age 72.

Russell Means died today at age 72, at his ranch on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation – according to the New York Times.

He was a member of the Oglala Sioux tribe and devoted much of his life to fighting for Native Americans and their rights, also educating people about the nation’s history of injustice toward native peoples.

I photographed him in the early 90’s, on assignment for Time/Life’s Entertainment Weekly magazine. Among his many achievements, he starred in the film, “The Last of the Mohicans” and that brought the two of us together. I met him near downtown Denver, CO and drove to Red Rocks Amphitheatre area in the foothills west of town for our portrait session.

Original images were taken with a 120mm camera and a few with 35mm – shooting both on chrome film.

Read more about Means by clicking this link.

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