A group of folks, my folks included, formed the American Indian Leadership Council in 1969, maybe late ‘68. That group actually put that question exactly the same way: What does it mean to be an Indian? We had a series of meetings for about five weekends in a row. Out of that intense dialogue pretty much came a vision for the future by that group of people, and we decided that it doesn’t mean anything to be an Indian.
We’re Lakota. We’re Oglala. We’re Oglala Lakota. That’s what we are. We’re not Indians. What it means to be an Indian is to be viewed as a lesser human being than anybody else, and to be treated that way. It means to be viewed, as you walk into boarder towns, as being lazy and incompetent and probably drunk most of the time. When we adopt the notion that we’re Lakota, then we stand straight because we know that we are a people. Particularly for those who have taken that back to traditional spirituality. When you affirm that you’re Lakota, in your own way, you’re affirming that you stood on a hill in Humblecha, and your’e affirming that you pierced at the Sun Dance Tree, perhaps; you’re affirming that you have adopted this view of reality; that means that you have a commitment to ensure that the people live. What does it mean to be Lakota? That is what it means. What does it mean to be Indian? It means nothing.