Floyd Westerman, memories of Indian pride, dignity and humanity

Remembering Floyd Westerman
by Lenny Foster, Dine'
Photos by Larry Smith, Lumbee Nation, American Indian Airwaves
Floyd Westerman performing at the Mint in Los Angeles, Oct. 10, 2007. Floyd sang Krist Kristofferson's songs that night. Charlie Hill was the master of ceremonies and in the middle (below) is Coyote Radio's Corey Dubin. The former keyboardist for Jefferson Airplane is on keyboards.

By Lenny Foster, Dine'
I am sadden and grief stricken to hear of the passing of our brother and comrade Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman into the spirit world. He was a good friend, a good will ambassador and diplomat and a magnificent musician who inspired the Movement and the natural world with prophetic songs such as "Custer Died for Your Sins, Wounded Knee, The Land is Your Mother and Here Come the Anthros" and many, many other songs. I met Floyd in Denver, Colorado in the fall of 1969 when my friend Harold Iron Shield introduced us while he was playing in the Diamond Inn lounge in the capitol hill area of Denver and we became friends. He introduced me to his brother Chris who later was in Wounded Knee with us. Floyd was the Minister of Culture for the International Indian Treaty Council and a veteran of the American Indian Movement and he represented the Indigenous Peoples throughout the world with his strong words and music. It was always good to see him portray the American Indian in movies and television with pride, dignity and humanity. We will all truly miss him and remember him in our daily lives. My deepest condolences to his family and relatives and we grieve for him. Rest in peace my friend, my brother and my comrade. Lenny Foster (Dine')

Wednesday, 12-19-07, American Indian Airwaves, "In Memory and Honor of Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman" Today's entire show is dedicated to indigenous musician, actor, and activist Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman. Wednesday from 3 pm to 4 pm (PCT) on KPFK FM 90.7 in Los Angles, FM 98.7 in Santa Barbara, and by Internet: http://www.kpfk.org or on the KPFK web site "audio archives" for American Indian Airwaves. http://www.myspace.com/aiairwaves