Dennis Banks
Dennis Banks
Dennis Banks, a Native American leader, teacher, lecturer, activist and author, is an Anishinaabe born on Leech Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota. Banks is also known as Nowa Cumig. His name in the Ojibwe language means "In the Center of the Universe." He has been a longtime leader of the American Indian Movement, which he co-founded in 1968 with Native Americans in Minneapolis...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionReligious Leader
Date of Birth12 April 1937
CountryUnited States of America
What we did in the 1960s and early 1970s was raise the consciousness of white America that this government has a responsibility to Indian people. That there are treaties; that textbooks in every school in America have a responsibility to tell the truth. An awareness reached across America that if Native American people had to resort to arms at Wounded Knee, there must really be something wrong. And Americans realized that native people are still here, that they have a moral standing, a legal standing. From that, our own people began to sense the pride.
The Canadian run can be no different, at least in terms of actual running.
Every man should see the birth of his children
I have a Father's Day every day
And Americans realized that native people are still here, that they have a moral standing, a legal standing.
Most importantly, the meaning of spirituality lays the seeds for our destiny and the path we must follow.
It also called upon traditional people in the Four Directions to strengthen the healing ceremonies and asked people to heed the warnings of Mother Earth.
I'm on this road for the rest of my life.
Since the beginning, Native Peoples lived a life of being in harmony with all that surrounds us. It is a belief that all humankind are related to each other. Each has a purpose, spirit and sacredness. It is an understanding with the Great Spirit or Creator that we will follow these ways. And in this understanding we believe we are related to all other living species...
Even the people who come our way look upon us in amazement, that we run only for the healing of Mother Earth
When the run is over, there will be a closing ceremony and the runners will return to the many distant lands from which they came.
The Sun, Moon and Stars are there to guide us.
When you have a spiritual foundation, you look at poverty differently then.
In 1978, the tradition of running from village to village with a message was revived. that first run was from Davis to Los Angeles, a distance of 500 miles