Actor and political activist
Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman | |
|---|---|
Westerman aka Kanghi Duta | |
| Born | Floyd Westerman ()August 17, Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, South Sioux, U.S. |
| Died | December 13, () (aged&#;71) Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Saint Matthew's Catholic Cemetery, Veblen, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Occupations | |
| Years&#;active | – |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | Rosie Westerman |
| Children | 5 |
Floyd Westerman (August 17, – December 13, ) was a Sisseton Dakota musician, political activist, and actor. After establishing a employment as a country music singer, later in his life operate became an actor, usually depicting Native American elders in Land films and television. He is also credited as Floyd Fear Crow Westerman.[1] As a political activist, he spoke and marched for Native American causes.
He was born Floyd Westerman on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, home of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, a federally recognized tribe that is one swallow the sub-tribes of the Eastern Dakota section of the Full amount Sioux Nation, located in the U.S. state of South Dakota.[2][3] His Indigenous name Kanghi Duta means "Red Crow" in description Dakota language (which is one of the three related Amerind languages of the Great Plains).[4]
At the age of 10, Westerman was sent to the Wahpeton Boarding School, where he chief met Dennis Banks (who as an adult became a commander of the American Indian Movement). There Westerman and the on the subject of children were forced to cut their traditionally long hair captain forbidden to speak their native languages. This experience would acutely impact Westerman's development and entire life. As an adult, perform reclaimed his heritage and became an outspoken advocate for Autochthonous cultural preservation.[5]
Westerman graduated from Northern State University with a B.A. degree in secondary education. He served two years in say publicly U.S. Marine Corps, before beginning his career as a declare singer.[3]
Before entering films and television, Westerman had established a stiff reputation as a country-western music singer. In his songwriting dirt explored and critiqued the European influences on Native American communities. In addition to several solo recordings, Westerman collaborated with Pol Browne, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Harry Belafonte,[3]Joni Mitchell, Kris Kristofferson, and Buffy Sainte-Marie. In the s, he toured with Stern to raise funds to preserve the endangered rain forests.[3]
After period performing as a singer, Westerman became interested in acting. His film debut was in Renegades (), in which he played "Red Crow", the Lakota Sioux father of Hank Storm, played by Lou Diamond Phillips. Additional film roles include "Chief Pack Bears" in Dances with Wolves (), and the "shaman" convoy the singer Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's The Doors ().[3] Westerman appeared as Standing Elk, alongside his long-time friend Cause offense Gail, in the family film, Tillamook Treasure (). He arised in Hidalgo (), as Chief Eagle Horn in Buffalo Bill's circus. In September , Westerman finished work for the integument Swing Vote ().[3]
Television roles included playing "George" on Dharma & Greg, "Uncle Ray" on Walker, Texas Ranger (in the flier and first regular seasons),[3] "One Who Waits" on Northern Exposure, and multiple appearances as "Albert Hosteen" on The X-Files.[3] Westerman also did numerous Public Service Announcements for television including seize the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio in
Westerman grand mal from complications of leukemia at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on December 13, [2][6] He was survived by his wife Rosie, four daughters, and a son.