Golden eagles don`t mate with bald eagles, deer don`t mate with antelope, gray wolves don`t mate with red wolves. Just look at domesticated animals, at mongrel dogs, and mixed breed horses, and you`ll know the Great Mystery didn`t intend them to be that way. We weakened the species and introduced disease by mixing what should be kept seperate. Among humans, intermarriage weakens the respect people have for themselves and for their traditions. It undermines clarity of spirit and mind.

Means said that an AIM tribunal had banned the Bellecourt brothers but tried to keep the reason for the dissension internal to protect AIM. Means grew up in the Bay area graduating in 1958 from San Leandro High School in San Leandro California. After recovering from the infection Means worked for a year in the Office of Economic Opportunity where he came to know several legal activists who were managing legal action on behalf of the Lakota people.

Russell Charles Means (November 10 1939 – October 22 2012) was an Oglala Sioux activist for the rights of Native American people and libertarian political activist. He was active in politics at his native Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and at the state and national level.