Obit: Vine Deloria, Jr. -Custer Died for your sins

Subject: Obit: Vine Deloria -Custer Died for your sins
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 12:43 PM

It was with sadness I heard of Vine Deloria's passing on Nov. 13th, here in his home in Colorado. There is more about him, HERE. There is an excellent interview on our local NPR with one of his best friends, Rick West, the Director of the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian. The archive will be available tomorrow, at www.cpr.org under "Colorado Matters."

Here is another bio about him.

Mitakuye oyasin,

kat

Subject: RE: Obit: Vine Deloria -Custer Died for your sins
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 01:31 PM

I didn't post this obit because I wasn't sure if very many people were going to know who he was.

This is a description of his memorial service that was posted in the ASAIL online newsletter (Association for the Study of American Indian Literature). --SRS

Hello All - Vine's Celebration of Life was a wonderful experience for everyone there. Through most of the evening there were pictures of Vine, family and friends projected onto the huge, tall back wall of the Mount Vernon Event Center so that everyone there could see the images as they constantly changed. It was the perfect punctuation for the personal recollections of speakers starting with Norbert Hill, and Suzan Harjo, Ray DeMallie, Rick Williams, Floyd Red Crow Westerman, Jennifer Easton, Sam Scinta, Tom McCoy, David Wilkins and Bobby Bridger. All of these were memories of things that Vine had done with, and sometimes for, each of the speakers that reflected Vine's humor, superb intellect and commitment to the people.

Vine's son, Phil, gave us a fascinating glimpse into what it was like growing up as Vine Deloria's son and for the family to share Vine with first hundreds, then thousands, and finally millions of people. And, for them, the most important people in Vine's life, to know how much he loved them.

After everyone shared a meal together, the representative from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe read the proclamation from the Tribal Council ordering all flags to be at half mast in honor their favorite son who always responded to any request Vine's Tribe asked of him.

There were many other people who asked to offer their "Vine reminisce," so many that there wasn't enough time. We all left that gathering with a true sense that we had just celebrated with Vine and that we could wish him Happy Trails with a smile on our face.

Joyzelle Godfrey

Subject: RE: Obit: Vine Deloria -Custer Died for your sins
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 04:24 PM

Thanks, SRS. I figured there are at least a few of us who would know.

Subject: RE: Obit: Vine Deloria, Jr. -Custer Died for your sins
From: ranger1
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 05:38 PM

I first read "Custer Died for Your Sins" when I was 16. I had to get it through interlibrary loan, because neither the local library nor my school library had a copy. It's a book that I think everyone ought to read at least once in their lives.

Subject: RE: Obit: Vine Deloria, Jr. -Custer Died for your
From: number 6
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 07:46 PM

I'm greatly saddened to read this post.

Red Earth, White Lies is a book I mentioned in the 'Books you have read more than once' thread.

May he find peace.

sIx

Subject: RE: Obit: Vine Deloria, Jr. -Custer Died for your
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 11:42 PM

I had the honour of hearing Floyd Red Crow Westerman sing his song of the same name, Custer Died for Your Sins, at a powwow back East. Wish I'd bought the original tape he was selling of it, then. I know I can get it now, but that was when he was selling them out of his car, so to speak.

Subject: RE: Obit: Vine Deloria, Jr. -Custer Died for your sins
From:
Date: 02 Dec 05 - 04:51 PM

Hi,
I don't know if this website was meant to be a condolence-site, but it's the first I found on the net where people express their feelings about what happened the 13th. I simply wanted to say I agree with Kat and that I'll miss him although I never met him.

I really hope his grave will not be robbed one day and that he may rest in peace for ever.

With love,

Lennert van Oorschot
from Holland across the ocean

Subject: RE: Obit: Vine Deloria, Jr. -Custer Died for your
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Dec 05 - 06:09 PM

Welcome to the Mudcat, Lennert. This is primarily a site for folk, blues, traditional music and we have members from all over the world.

We also have a "BS" section where we discuss all manner of things in the world. When someone dies, whom we feel is important, be it in music, or otherwise, one of us may start an "obit" thread, as I did for Mr. Deloria. Usually, obit threads remain in the Music section, where you found this one. I am surprised this was the only site you have found with condolences for him and I echo your wish that his grave not be disturbed.

You might want to see about spoting your condolences at this site, too. I jsut found it on google: Colorado AIM. Also, there's a good article about him in Indian Country Today.

Thank you for posting and if you are a music lover, have a look around. Membership is free and many times folks get together in the real world, too, to play music together.

Mitakuye oyasin,

kat