Trudell Documentary

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This John Trudell documentary is a must watch for anyone that is interested in not only truly learning about one of the great figures in American history, but is a must watch for any avid lover of philosophy, or poetry. John Trudell is a reknown poet, national recording artist, actor and also most importantly an activist who is internationally acknowledged for his selfless actions and messages. At one time during the ’70′s, Trudell had the largest file the FBI had on anyone because of his passionate activism and leadership.

In this Trudell documentary we learn about his background and that Trudell (Santee Sioux) came into mainstream consciousness as a spokesperson for the Indian of All Tribes occupation of Alcatraz Island from 1969 to 1971. He then worked with the American Indian Movement (AIM), contributing as chairman from ’73 to ’79. In Febuary of ’79, a fire of suspicious origins killed Trudell’s wife, three children and mother-in-law. Through such a tragedy Trudell pulled away from the movement and everything else and committed himself to some deep soul searching where his artistic and poetic spirit developed to new heights. They were Trudell’s salvation, in the words of Trudell, they helped him “to stay connected to reality.”

In 1982, Trudell began recording his poetry to traditional Native music and in 1983, his debut album “Tribal Voice” was released on his own label called Peace Company. Much of his music was spoken word poetry over Native Music, Blues and Rock. He collaborated with many prominent and legendary artists through out his time as a recording artist.

Friends like actors Robert Redford, Val Kilmer, Russell Means, and many others can testify that more than anything else, listening to John Trudell speak is like experiencing a poet connect to ones deepest heart by capturing a resonating clarity and lucid emotion. He can explain Native issues in a manner that anyone can understand. His writings and lectures are a symphony of the heart to the heart spoken in a language of love and truth that can only come from a unique survivor such as this warrior, John Trudell.

Besides a music career, Trudell has had books published and played in many feature films, including the Mirimax film “Thunderheart”, and a major role in Sherman Alexie’s “Smoke Signals”. Amongst his more recent prominent roles he played Coyote in Hallmark’s made for television movie, “Dreamkeeper.”

You will not regret seeing this Trudell documentary, and if you like it you can click links to buy Trudell movies, books or mp3s on this News Now page.

Excerpts from John Trudell’s book, “Stickman”

“We are a spirit, we are a natural part of the earth, and all of our ancestors, all of our relations who have gone to the spirit world, they are here with us. That’s power. They will help us. They will help us to see if we are willing to look. We are not separated from them because there’s no place to go — we stay here. This is our place: the earth. This is our mother: we will not go away from our mother.

“And no matter what they ever do to us, no matter how they ever strike at us, we must never become reactionary. The one thing that has always bothered me about revolution, every time I have seen the revolutionary, is they have reacted out of hatred for the oppressor. We must do this for the love of our people.

No matter what they ever do to us, we must always act for the love of our people and the earth. We must not react out of hatred against those who have no sense.”

- Trudell, Black Hills Survival gathering, 1980

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ABOUT POWER

“We must not become confused and deceived by their illusions. There is no such thing as military power; there is only military terrorism. There is no such thing as economic power; there is only economic exploitation. That is all that it is. They try to program our minds and fool us with these illusions so that we will believe that they hold the power in their hands but they do not.

All they know is how to act in a repressive, brutal way…Power…we are a natural part of the earth. We are an extension of the earth, we are not separate from it. We are a part of it. The earth is our mother. The earth is a spirit and we are an extension of that spirit. We are spirit. We are power. They want us to believe that we have to believe in them and depend upon them and we have to consume these consumer identities and these religious identities and these political identities and these racial identities. They want to separate us from our power. They want to separate us from who we are.”

Resistance

“We must go beyond the arrogance of human rights. We must go beyond the ignorance of civil rights. We must step into the reality of natural rights because all of the natural world has a right to existence and we are only a small part of it. There can be no trade-off.”

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