John Trudell(1946-2015)
- Actor
- Composer
- Music Department
John Trudell was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to a Santee Sioux father and
Mexican Indian mother. After a stint in the Navy (and Vietnam) from
1963 to 1969, he became involved with the American Indian Movement,
becoming National Chairman in 1973. He held that position until 1979;
it was then that his wife Tina, mother-in-law, and three children ages
one, three, & five, were burned to death in a "fire of suspicious
origin" on their Nevada reservation which was nonetheless never
investigated. Beginning in the early 1980's, Trudell began to channel
his anger and emotion through poetry, music, and acting.