John Trudell was a political activist and the major voice for the American Indian Movement "AIM" in 1968. In 1969 he was involved with the occupation of Alcatraz Island as they wanted the prison to be used as a school for their children. In 1973 he became chairman of the group. When his wife, mother-in-law, and three daughters were burned in a fire, some say the FBI was responsible. For earlier that year, he was involved in a protest that burned an American flag on the doorsteps of the FBI building. The FBI devoted over 17,000 pages labeling him "extremely eloquent, therefore extremely dangerous".After his families death he turned once again to his writings as a poet. Musician Jackson Browne read some of these lyrics and encourages to song. This gave him another avenue to express his political and personal concerns.
This documentary was made while Native American filmmaker Heather Rae followed Trudell and interviewed his friends for over 12 years. Trudell still has an active voice in AIM today.
Appaloosa PicturesDirector: Heather Rae
Producer2: Heather Rae, Elyse Katz
I viewed 10/07
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