Frank Fools Crow

Frank Fools Crow was a Lakota Sioux spiritual leader, Yuwipi medicine man, and the nephew of Black Elk. He was instrumental in negotiating the end of the insurrection at Wounded Knee in 1973 [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE5DB113DF93AA15752C1A96F948260 "Frank Fools Crow, a Sioux Tribal Leader," the NY Times] ] and the subject of a biography by Thomas Mails.

Life

Born near Wounded Knee in South Dakota, he quit school in the third grade so he could work in order to help to support his family. As a young man he traveled around the United States with the Buffalo Bill Cody Wild West Show and in 1983, he presented the fifth and current Chief Illiniwek Indian regalia to the University of Illinois.

His first wife, Fannie Afraid, died in 1954. His second wife, Kate, died in October 1988. Fools Crow died in 1989, his exact age is unknown, but he is believed to have been 99. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE5DB113DF93AA15752C1A96F948260 "Frank Fools Crow, a Sioux Tribal Leader," the NY Times] ]

Wounded Knee

In 1973 members of the American Indian Movement seized the village of Wounded Knee to protest the United States Government's policies on Native Americans. The insurrection lasted for 71 days. It ended after an agreement was reached between Federal officials and a Sioux delegation, of which Fools Crow was “a prominent member.” [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE5DB113DF93AA15752C1A96F948260 "Frank Fools Crow, a Sioux Tribal Leader," the NY Times] ]

Prayer Before the United States Senate

In 1975 he was invited to offer a prayer before the United States Senate. This is the prayer he gave:

"We Shall Never Sell Our Sacred Black Hills"

On September 10th of 1976, Fools Crow delivered a lengthy speech to the Congressional Subcommittee on Interior and Insular Affairs. The speech, entitled the "Joint Statement of Chief Frank Fools Crow and Frank Kills Enemy on Behalf of the Traditional Lakota Treaty Council Before Honorable Lloyd Meads Sub-Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs," was a plea for the return of the Black Hills to his people. Later, the speech was printed up in poster form and widely disseminated over the reservations. [1990"Fools Crow", University of Nebraska Press, page (210)] The full speech can be read [http://www.geocities.com/lakotastudentalliance/lsa2_weshallneversell.html here] .

On Healing

External links

* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE5DB113DF93AA15752C1A96F948260 New York Times "Frank Fools Crow, a Sioux Tribal Leader"]
* [http://www.chiefilliniwek.org/phoenix/library/foolscrow.htm Chief Illiniwek Educational Foundation Information on Frank Fools Crow]
* [http://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/bookinfo/2299.html Summary of "Fools Crow" by Thomas E. Mails]
* [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0879612509 Little Eagle, Lionel, "Greengrass Pipe Dancers - Crazy Horse's Pipe Bag and a Search for Healing"] (Naturegraph Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0879612509)

Film

*The Grandpa character in "Thunderheart" was based on Fools Crow.
* [http://www.nativespiritinfo.com Native Spirit and the Sun Dance Way] , DVD documentary, 2007, World Wisdom

References