Night Sky Watcher Leach
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007
Subject: From the Floyd Red Crow Westerman Family

Floyd Red Crow Westerman passed to the spirit world this morning in Los Angeles, California, with family at his side. Services are pending. We thank you from our hearts for all the prayers and support and kindness and love that you have shown him and us.
Gwen Westerman Griffin Mankato, MN

FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN, American Indian activist and country folk singer, was born on the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Sioux reservation in South Dakota in 1936.
In the Dakota language "red crow" is pronounced 'Kanghi Duta'. At the age of ten, he was sent to a government boarding school 80 miles off the reservation. He graduated from high school on the Flandreau South Dakota Sioux reservation, and continued on to Northern State College, South Dakota, majoring in Speech, Theater and Art. He earned a degree in Secondary Education, as well as beginning work on a Law Degree.

Well known on the country-folk singing circuit, Floyd Red Crow Westerman began his career in Colorado, and in 1969 he signed his first recording contract in New York. His first album, "Custer Died For Your Sins", based on Vine Deloria Jr.'s book, was released in 1970. The release of "Custer" led him to personal appearances throughout the U. S. and eventually worldwide. His second album, "The Land is Your Mother" was released in 1982. Since 1980 his concerts, in support of Human Rights for Indigenous People of the World, have taken him on more than 60 trips to Europe, Central and South America, as well as the U.S. and Canada. Earlier this year, Floyd's third album, "A Tribute to Johnny Cash" was released.

As a leader in the North American Indian Movement, he wa actively involved in all aspects of human rights which includes, the recognition of treaty, land and religious rights. In 1999, he was elected national co-Chair of the Coalition Against Racism in Sports & the Media.

To raise funds for the Rain Forest Foundation Project, in the early 90's Red Crow went on a worldwide tour with musician Sting. Red Crow's commitment to help stop the cutting of the rainforest in the Amazon jungle gave him the opportunity to have an audience with many foreign dignitaries including Pope John Paul II, Prince Charles, and President Mitterand of France.

Floyd Red Crow Westerman's many personal appearances included concerts and song writing collaborations with such well known artists as Willie Nelson, Joni Mitchell, Kris Kristofferson, Richie Havens, Buffy Saint Marie, Jackson Browne, and Harry Belafonte. He also appeared in Sting's video, released by A&M records and directed by Academy Award nominated director Jean Pierre Dutilleux.

Red Crow made his big screen debut in the motion picture Renegades, directed by Jack Sholder. He played Arthur, the Lakota Sioux father to Lou Diamond Phillips. Since that time, his list of screen credits continued to grow. His work with a number of prestigious directors includes Kevin Costner, who was quick to cast him as the third lead in Dances With Wolves. Floyd's brilliant and memorable portrayal of Chief Ten Bears earned him worldwide acclaim and recognition in the motion picture industry.

Director Oliver Stone cast Red Crow in the pivotal role of a Shaman and spiritual guide to Jim Morrison in The Doors. Red Crow's portrayal of such notable characters as No Ears, in Buffalo Girls, Grandfather Fool Bull in Lakota Woman, and Wilf in Clearcut, is unforgettable. In 1999, Floyd once again played the classic role of the tribal elder in director Richard Attenborough's Grey Owl, starring Pierce Brosnan.

Network television quickly became aware of Red Crow's talents and cast him as Uncle Ray in the series Walker Texas Ranger. His numerous television roles include guest leads in Northern Exposure, The Pretender, L.A. Law, X-Files, Millennium, Roseanne, Dharma and Greg, and a cameo appearance as Sitting Bull in the four-hour mini-series, Son of the Morning Star, directed by Mike Robe. Red Crow brought a sense of dignity, honor, tradition, and heritage to all his acting pursuits. While working with other creative personnel, he promoted and taught understanding, tradition and the meaning of all things sacred to Indian people. He continued to pursue his acting career and dedicating his life to the causes of human rights and environmental issues. He felt he was carrying the 'baton' passed on to him by fellow actor Will Sampson who received it from Chief Dan George.

Floyd Red Crow Westerman - Filmography

Feature Films/ Date/ Character/ Director

RENEGADES - 1989 - Red Crow - Jack Sholder
POWWOW HIGHWAY - 1989 - (CB voice) - Jonathan Wacks
DANCES WITH WOLVES - 1990 - Chief Ten Bears - Kevin Costner
THE DOORS - 1991 - Shaman - Oliver Stone
CLEARCUT - 1992 - Wilf - Richard Bugjaski
THE BRAVE - 1997 - Papa - Johnny Depp
NATURALLY NATIVE - 1998 - Chairman Pico - Valerie Red-Horse
GREY OWL - 1998 - Chief Wuttanee - Richard Attenborough


Television Series/ Date/ Character/ Episode

MacGYVER - 1988 - Two Eagles - Mask of the Wolf
HARDBALL - 1989 - Indian - The Cleveland Indian
NORTHERN EXPOSURE - 1990 - One Who Waits
LEGENDS OF THE WEST - 1993 - narration
THE X-FILES - 1995 - Albert Hosteen - Paper Clip
ROSEANNE - 1995 - Old Indian - Last Thursday Nov.
THE PRETENDER - 1997 - Ernie Two Feathers - Mirage
POLTERGEIST: THE LEGACY - 1997 - Ezekial - Shadow Fall
MILLENNIUM - 1997 - Old Indian - Single Blade of Grass
DHARMA & GREG - 1997 - George Little Fox - Indian Summer
DHARMA & GREG - 1998 - George Little Fox - Brought to You in Dharmavision
THE X-FILES - 1999 - Albert Hosteen - Biogenesis
THE X-FILES - 1999 - Albert Hosteen - Amor Finiti


Movies for Television, Documentary & Mini-Series/ Date/ Character/ Director

SON OF THE MORNING STAR - 1991 - Chief Sitting Bull - Mike Robe
THE DAKOTA CONFLICT - 1992 - narration
EARTH AND THE AMERICAN DREAM - 1993 - narration - Bill Couterie
RIO SHANNON - 1993 - Gabriel - Mimi Leder
SIRINGO - 1994 - Plenty Wounds - Kevin Cremin
JONATHAN OF THE BEARS - 1994 - Chief Tawanka - Enzo Castellari
LAKOTA WOMAN: SIEGE AT WOUNDED KNEE - 1994 - Grandfather Fool Bull - Frank Pierson
BUFFALO GIRLS - 1995 - No Ears - Rod Hardy
X-FILES, THE MOVIE - 1997 - Albert Hosteen


Floyd Red Crow Westerman - Discography

CUSTER DIED FOR YOUR SINS - 1970 - Red Crow Enterprises, Inc.
THIS LAND IS YOUR MOTHER - 1982 - Red Crow Enterprises, Inc.
A TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY CASH - 2006 - Hen House Studios & Red Crow Creations