Floyd Westerman, also known as ''Kanghi Duta'' ("Red Crow" in

Dakota Dakota may refer to: * Dakota people, a sub-tribe of the Sioux ** Dakota language, their language Dakota may also refer to: Places United States * Dakota, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Dakota, Illinois, a town * Dakota, Minnesota, ...

) (August 17, 1936 – December 13, 2007), was a

Dakota Sioux The Dakota (pronounced , Dakota language: ''Dakȟóta/Dakhóta'') are a Native American tribe and First Nations band government in North America. They compose two of the three main subcultures of the Sioux people, and are typically divided into ...

musician, political activist, and actor. After establishing a career as a country music singer, later in his life he became an actor, usually depicting Native American elders in American films and television. He is also credited as Floyd Red Crow Westerman. As a political activist, he spoke and marched for Native American causes.

Early life

He was born Floyd Westerman on the

Lake Traverse Indian Reservation The Lake Traverse Indian Reservation is the homeland of the federally recognized Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, a branch of the Santee Dakota group of Native Americans. Most of the reservation covers parts of five counties in northeastern South Dakota ...

, home of the

Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation ( dak, Sisíthuŋwaŋ Waȟpéthuŋwaŋ oyáte), formerly Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe/Dakota Nation, is a federally recognized tribe comprising two bands and two subdivisions of the '' ...

, a federally recognized tribe that is one of the sub-tribes of the Eastern Dakota section of the

Great Sioux Nation The Great Sioux Nation is the traditional political structure of the Sioux in North America. The peoples who speak the Sioux language are considered to be members of the Oceti Sakowin (''Očhéthi Šakówiŋ'', pronounced ) or Seven Council Fire ...

, located in the U.S. state of

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state in the North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes, who comprise a large porti ...

. His

Indigenous Indigenous may refer to: *Indigenous peoples *Indigenous (ecology), presence in a region as the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention *Indigenous (band), an American blues-rock band *Indigenous (horse), a Hong Kong racehorse ...

name ''Kanghi Duta'' means "Red Crow" in the

Dakota language Dakota (''Dakhótiyapi, Dakȟótiyapi''), also referred to as Dakhota, is a Siouan language spoken by the Dakota people of the Sioux tribes. Dakota is closely related to and mutually intelligible with the Lakota language. It is critically endan ...

(which is one of the three related Siouan languages of the Great Plains). At the age of 10, Westerman was sent to the Wahpeton Boarding School, where he first met

Dennis Banks Dennis Banks (April 12, 1937, in Ojibwe – October 29, 2017) was a Native American activist, teacher, and author. He was a longtime leader of the American Indian Movement, which he co-founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1968 to represent urb ...

(who as an adult became a leader of the

American Indian Movement The American Indian Movement (AIM) is a Native American grassroots movement which was founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota in July 1968, initially centered in urban areas in order to address systemic issues of poverty, discrimination, and police br ...

). There Westerman and the other children were forced to cut their traditionally long hair and forbidden to speak their native languages. This experience would profoundly impact Westerman's development and entire life. As an adult, he reclaimed his heritage and became an outspoken advocate for Indigenous cultural preservation. Westerman graduated from

Northern State University Northern State University (NSU) is a public university in Aberdeen, South Dakota. NSU is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents and offers 45 bachelor's degrees, 53 minors, six associate degrees, 16 pre-professional programs, 23 certif ...

with a B.A. degree in secondary education. He served two years in the

US Marines The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

, before beginning his career as a country singer.

Career

Before entering films and television, Westerman had established a solid reputation as a country-western music singer. In his songwriting he explored and critiqued the European influences on Native American communities. In addition to several solo recordings, Westerman collaborated with Jackson Browne,

Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album '' Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of '' Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and '' Stardust'' (1 ...

, Bonnie Raitt,

Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927) is an American singer, activist, and actor. As arguably the most successful Jamaican-American pop star, he popularized the Trinbagonian Caribbean musical style with an interna ...

, Joni Mitchell,

Kris Kristofferson Kristoffer Kristofferson (born June 22, 1936) is a retired American singer, songwriter and actor. Among his songwriting credits are " Me and Bobby McGee", " For the Good Times", " Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and " Help Me Make It Through the ...

, and

Buffy Sainte-Marie Buffy Sainte-Marie, (born Beverly Sainte-Marie, February 20, 1941) is an Indigenous Canadian-American ( Piapot Cree Nation) singer-songwriter, musician, composer, visual artist, educator, pacifist, and social activist. While working in these ...

. In the 1990s, he toured with Sting to raise funds to preserve the endangered

rain forests Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainforest, ...

. After years performing as a singer, Westerman became interested in acting. His film debut was in '' Renegades'' (1989), in which he played "Red Crow", the

Lakota Lakota may refer to: * Lakota people, a confederation of seven related Native American tribes *Lakota language, the language of the Lakota peoples Place names In the United States: * Lakota, Iowa * Lakota, North Dakota, seat of Nelson County * La ...

Sioux father of Hank Storm, played by

Lou Diamond Phillips Louis Diamond Phillips ( born Upchurch; February 17, 1962) is a Filipino-American actor and film director. His breakthrough came when he starred as Ritchie Valens in the biographical drama film '' La Bamba'' (1987). For ''Stand and Deliver'' (19 ...

. Additional film roles include "Chief Ten Bears" in ''

Dances with Wolves ''Dances with Wolves'' is a 1990 American epic western film starring, directed, and produced by Kevin Costner in his feature directorial debut. It is a film adaptation of the 1988 novel '' Dances with Wolves'' by Michael Blake that tells the ...

'' (1990), and the "shaman" for the singer

Jim Morrison James Douglas Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971) was an American singer, poet and songwriter who was the lead vocalist of the rock band the Doors. Due to his wild personality, poetic lyrics, distinctive voice, unpredictable and err ...

in Oliver Stone's ''

The Doors The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most controversial and influential rock acts ...

'' (1991). Westerman appeared as Standing Elk, alongside his long-time friend

Max Gail Maxwell Trowbridge Gail Jr. (born April 5, 1943) is an American actor who has starred on stage, and in television and film roles. He is best known for his role as Detective Stan "Wojo" Wojciehowicz on the sitcom ''Barney Miller'' (1975–1982), ...

, in the family film, ''

Tillamook Treasure ''Tillamook Treasure'', also known as ''The Legend of Tillamook's Gold'', is a 2006 American independent family film directed by Jane Beaumont Hall. It is set in the city of Manzanita, Oregon. Based on a Native American legend about a treasure bur ...

'' (2006). He appeared in ''

Hidalgo Hidalgo may refer to: People * Hidalgo (nobility), members of the Spanish nobility * Hidalgo (surname) Places Mexico * Hidalgo (state), in central Mexico * Hidalgo, Coahuila, a town in the north Mexican state of Coahuila * Hidalgo, Nuevo Le� ...

'' (2004), as Chief Eagle Horn in Buffalo Bill's circus. In September 2007, Westerman finished work for the film '' Swing Vote'' (2008). Television roles included playing "George" on

Dharma & Greg ''Dharma & Greg'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on ABC from September 24, 1997, until April 30, 2002, for 119 episodes over five seasons. The show starred Jenna Elfman and Thomas Gibson as Dharma and Greg Montgomery, a ...

, "Uncle Ray" on ''

Walker, Texas Ranger ''Walker, Texas Ranger'' is an American action crime television series created by Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis. It was inspired by the film '' Lone Wolf McQuade'', with both this series and that film starring Chuck Norris as a member of the ...

'' (in the pilot and first regular seasons), "One Who Waits" on '' Northern Exposure'', and multiple appearances as " Albert Hosteen" on ''

The X-Files ''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction drama television series created by Chris Carter. The series revolves around Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), who ...

''. Westerman also did numerous Public Service Announcements for television including for the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio in 1992.

Death

Westerman died from complications of

leukemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia and pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or ...

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a nonprofit, tertiary, 886-bed teaching hospital and multi-specialty academic health science center located in Los Angeles, California. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over 2 ...

in Los Angeles on December 13, 2007. He was survived by his wife Rosie, four daughters, and a son.

Selected filmography

*''

Powwow Highway ''Powwow Highway'' is a 1989 comedy-drama film from George Harrison’s Handmade Films Company, directed by Jonathan Wacks. Based on the novel ''Powwow Highway'' by David Seals, it features A Martinez, Gary Farmer, Joanelle Romero and Amanda ...

'' (1989) - CB Radio Voice (voice) *'' Renegades'' (1989) - Red Crow *''

'' (1990) - Ten Bears *''The Making of 'Dances with Wolves'' (1990) - TV Short documentary - Himself *''

Son of the Morning Star ''Son of the Morning Star: Custer and the Little Big Horn'' is a nonfiction account of the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876, by novelist Evan S. Connell, published in 1984 by North Point Press. The book features extensive portraits ...

'' (1991, TV Mini-Series) - Sitting Bull *''

'' (1991) - Shaman *''

Clearcut Clearcutting, clearfelling or clearcut logging is a forestry/logging practice in which most or all trees in an area are uniformly cut down. Along with shelterwood and seed tree harvests, it is used by foresters to create certain types of forest ...

'' (1991) - Wilf *''The Broken Chain'' (1993, TV Movie) - Tribe Elder *'' Jonathan of the Bears'' (1994) - Chief Tawanka *'' Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee'' (1994, TV Movie) - Mary's grandfather *'' 500 Nations'' (1995, TV Mini-Series) - (voice) *''

Buffalo Girls ''Buffalo Girls'' is a 1990 novel written by American author Larry McMurtry about Calamity Jane. It is written in the novel prose style mixed with a series of letters from Calamity Jane to her daughter. In her letters, Calamity describes hersel ...

'' (1995, TV Mini-Series) - No Ears *'' Dusting Cliff 7'' (1997) - Indian Bob *'' The Brave'' (1997) - Papa *'' Naturally Native'' (1998) - Chairman Pico *''

Grey Owl Archibald Stansfeld Belaney (; September 18, 1888 – April 13, 1938), commonly known as Grey Owl, was a British-born conservationist, fur trapper, and writer who disguised himself as a Native American man. While he achieved fame as a co ...

'' (1999) - Pow Wow Chief *''Graduation Night'' (2003) - Old Man *'' Atlantis: Milo's Return'' (2003) - Chakashi (voice) *''

Dreamkeeper ''Dreamkeeper'' is a 2003 film written by John Fusco and directed by Steve Barron. The main plot of the film is the conflict between a Lakota elder and storyteller named Pete Chasing Horse (August Schellenberg) and his Lakota grandson, Shane Chas ...

'' (2003, TV Movie) - Iron Spoon *''

'' (2004) - Chief Eagle Horn *''

'' (2006) - Standing Elk *''

Comanche Moon ''Comanche Moon'' (1997) is a western novel by American writer Larry McMurtry. It is the fourth and final book he published in the ''Lonesome Dove'' series. In terms of chronology, it is the second installment of the narrative. A Comanche Moon ...

'' (2008, TV Mini-Series) - First Old Comanche *'' Swing Vote'' (2008) - Chief Running Bear (final film role)

Selected television appearances

*''

MacGyver Angus "Mac" MacGyver is the title character and the protagonist in the TV series ''MacGyver''. He is played by Richard Dean Anderson in the 1985 original series. Lucas Till portrays a younger version of MacGyver in the 2016 reboot. In both p ...

'' (1988, TV series) - Two Eagles *''

Captain Planet and the Planeteers ''Captain Planet and the Planeteers'' is an American animated environmentalist superhero television series created by Barbara Pyle and Ted Turner and developed by Pyle, Nicholas Boxer, Thom Beers, Andy Heyward, Robby London, Bob Forward and Ca ...

'' (1990, TV series) - Indian Chief (voice) *''

L.A. Law ''L.A. Law'' is an American legal drama television series that ran for eight seasons on NBC, from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994. Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it centers on the partners, associates and staff of a Los ...

'' (1991, TV series) - Judge William Gainser *'' Northern Exposure'' (1991-1993, TV series) - One-Who-Waits *'' Murder, She Wrote'' (1992, TV series) - Uncle Ashie Nakai *''

'' (1993-1994, TV series) - Uncle Ray Firewalker; 26 episodes *'' 500 Nations'' (1995, TV Mini-Series) (voice) *'' Roseanne'' (1995, TV series) - Floyd *''

'' (1995-1999, TV series) - Albert Hosteen *'' The Pretender'' (1997, TV series) - Ernie Two Feathers *''

Baywatch Nights ''Baywatch Nights'' is an American police and science-fiction drama series that aired in syndication from 1995 to 1997. Created by Douglas Schwartz, David Hasselhoff, and Gregory J. Bonann, the series is a spin-off from the television series, '' ...

'' (1997, TV series) - Indian Guide Wahote *'' Poltergeist: The Legacy'' (1997, TV series) - Ezekial *''

Millennium A millennium (plural millennia or millenniums) is a period of one thousand years, sometimes called a kiloannum (ka), or kiloyear (ky). Normally, the word is used specifically for periods of a thousand years that begin at the starting point (ini ...

'' (1997, TV series) - Old Indian *''

'' (1997-2001, TV series) - George Littlefox *'' Judging Amy'' (2001, TV series) - Mr. Wheeler

Discography

* ''Custer Died for Your Sins'' (1969) * ''Indian Country'' (1970) * ''Custer Died for Your Sins'' (re-recording; 1982) * ''The Land is Your Mother'' (1982) * ''A Tribute to Johnny Cash'' (2006)

References

External links

* * *
In Memoriam: Floyd Red Crow Westerman
at TillamookTreasure.com
Audio profile
at Tjwestern.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Westerman, Floyd Red Crow 20th-century Native Americans Native American male actors Native American musicians Native American activists Members of the American Indian Movement Activists from South Dakota American country singer-songwriters American male singer-songwriters American male film actors American male television actors 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American male singers Male actors from South Dakota Singers from South Dakota Northern State University alumni People from Sisseton, South Dakota South Dakota Independents Sioux people Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Native American United States military personnel United States Marines Deaths from cancer in California Deaths from leukemia 1936 births 2007 deaths