Saturday, March 23, 2013

Dennis Banks Honors Russell Means

Apparently the Red Cloud High School and the Oglala High School or Pine Ridge High School has changed since I went to school. Ok, Harvey Nelson most likely the greatest teacher at Pine Ridge and or Oglala Community High School.  He was a United States History Teacher and was in my own words magnificent.  I enjoyed his class and wanted to get through my high school years so I did not mess around.  Of course I remember other teachers but Harvey was pretty cool and on a scale of 1-10 he was a ten.  So I was in my basketball career at Pine Ridge and I just started playing when I was in 9th grade.  I suppose I did not ever get beat up so I have always had a chip on my shoulder.  But I was sure of my skill and I had great confidence in my team.  We were playing Holy Rosary or Red Cloud High School. 
I chose this picture to place in my blog because these are the two greatest Indian in the 20th Century.  Of course my friend Russell Means passed away last year and this is the second honoring and Dennis Banks is speaking.  I thought it was pretty cool that I made a bet with my teachers and gave them eleven points against us.  We were playing against Red Cloud school and way back then we had Chadron or Chadrad broadcasting out games.  We were just under the point spread and I was able to get the ball and score to make sure I covered the points and I won a few dollars. 
So Dennis Banks and Russell Means are amazing men.  I wish I could be like them but it was a different era and these men were willing to put their lives on the line.  I spent some time with Russ and he helped me to understand Freedom and he was a true friend.  We spent time visiting and he gave me advice and some people would like to make something up but in the end, I can only think he was my friend.  Oh and the area this picture was taken was the place I scored and bet the Crusaders!!!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Impressive that Dennis is in the room where your talent shown. The day you took me to Russell's house was one of the high points of my life. The last thing Russell said to me at his door was, "I have seventy winters." Since then I have calculated age the Lakotah way and this week I have eighty winters. Life is good. Keep writing, Leon. You inspire us all. Your friend, Horace Smith