Westerman, Floyd: Renowned musician, activist, elder passes on

By: Paul DeMain

Floyd Red Crow Westerman, 71, of Palm Springs, California walked on during the earlier morning hours of December 13, 2007.

Funeral services and burial to be held in Sisseton, South Dakota are pending. Plans for a memorial service in California are also being made.

Westerman had been battling health issues complicated by leukemia for weeks in critical condition at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles, California.

Westerman, a musician, activist and actor was born on the Lake Traverse Reservation, home of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Dakota in state of South Dakota. The elder Dakota in the late 20th century became a leading actor depicting Native Americans in American films and television and an advocate for many causes.

At the age of 10, he was sent to the Wahpeton Boarding School, where he first met Dennis Banks of the American Indian Movement. His involvement with Banks over the years blossomed as he traveled on behalf and in support of many activities of AIM.

Westerman earned a degree in secondary education from Northern State University in South Dakota where he majored in both art, and speech and theatre.

He began singing in Denver, Colorado and signed his first record contract in 1969. His albums included Custer Died for Your Sins, (1970), Indian Country: (1970), and The land Is Your Mother, (1973).

His first album, 1970's Custer Died for Your Sins, took its name from an influential book by Santee Sioux author and activist Vine Deloria, Jr., and both were stinging rebukes of America's destructive Indian policy. His most recent album was A Tribute to Johnny Cash, (2006).

Westerman's film and television appearances include the role of the "Shaman" for Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's The Doors and as "Ten Bears" in Dances with Wolves. Westerman debuted in Renegades in which he played "Red Crow" the Lakota Sioux father of Lou Diamond Phillips. Westerman also appeared as Standing Elk alongside his long-time friend Max Gail in the 2006 family film, Tillamook Treasure. He can be seen as well in the beginning of Hidalgo, as the Chief in Buffalo Bill's circus.

His television roles have included playing "Uncle Ray" on Walker, Texas Ranger, "One Who Waits" on Northern Exposure and multiple appearances as "Albert Hosteen" on the X-Files.

Before his entrance in films and television, Westerman had established a solid reputation as a country-western music singer. His recordings offer probing analysis of European influences in Native American communities. In addition to several recordings of his own, Westerman has collaborated with Jackson Browne, Willie Nelson, Joni Mitchell, Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt and Buffy Sainte-Marie.

In 1996, he attended the first Native American Music Awards and performed with Joanne Shenandoah in a tribute performance for Hall of Fame Inductee, the late Buddy Red Bow.

In 2002 he was awarded the NAMA Living Legend Award at the Fifth Annual Native American Music Awards with Keith Secola accepting on his behalf.

In 2006, he was won Best Country Recording at the Native American Music Awards for his last full length recording, "A Tribute To Johnny Cash" released by Henhouse Studios.

Westerman has also been a recognized political advocate for Native American causes, working at times with AIM and other Native organizations at the grass root level, and donating his time free of charge, to help raise money for Native causes. He would aften appear at events with close friends, Oneida comedian Charlie Hill and Ojibwe musician Keith Secola.

In 2000, American Indian Expo named Westerman Indian Celebrity of the Year.

Among other accolades, Westerman received a Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition, the Award for Generosity by the Americans for Indian Opportunity, was named Cultural Ambassador by the International Indian Treaty Council, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the City of Los Angeles and Mayor Richard Riordan, the Integrity Award from the Multi-Cultural Motion Picture Association.

He was also featured in an international advertising campaign by Dutch software company, OTIB, alongside such dignitaries as former Soviet Union president Mikhail Gorbachev and Czech Republic president Vaclav Havel.

From 2003-2007, Westerman appeared in a number of television advertisements for "Lakota" brand topical pain reliever, often wearing traditional Native dress.

Condolences are being posted at Westerman's My Space site at http://www.myspace.com/floydredcrowwesterman