Early life and education
Despite being Cherokee, Russell was raised in the Muscogee Creek Nation in Oklahoma.Cherokee politics
Russell was frequently critical of "wannabe" Indians - that is to say, people who claim falsely and without tribal recognition to have a Native Americans in the United States, Native American identity. He was one of the earliest critics of Andrea Smith (academic), Andrea Smith, calling her out in a 2008 editorial in the major American Indian new outlet, Indian Country Media Network. He has also long documented corruption and bullying within Cherokee tribal politics. The Native American Journalists Association twice recognized Russell's work, honoring his op-ed columns "Full-Blooded Indians—Face the Most Anti-Indian Racism" in 2013 and "Blacks and Indians Should Stand Together Against a Common Oppressor" in 2014 as the best Native op-eds in those years.Academic writing
Russell's ''Sequoyah Rising: Problems in Post-Colonial Tribal Governance'' is probably his best-known work. Described by the American Indian Quarterly as being concerned "with the bases of tribal citizenship," the book discusses the problems of Indian identity in the context of continuing US occupation and encroachment. Tom Holm wrote in Wíčazo Ša Review that "Russell's concise and insightful presentation of the course of American Indian policy is exceptional and should immediately be adopted by all who teach courses on Native American history and law," while the European Journal of American Studies noted that "Although clear that much of the blame for this must lie with a combination of federal government attempts to destroy Native control over Native affairs and a colonial culture of welfare dependency, nonetheless Russell argues that the power to self-organize means that many of the solutions lie in Indian hands." Books * ''World War ISIS: How to Kill a Death Cult and Avoid the End of Days'' (Dog Iron Press 2016). * ''Ray Sixkiller’s Cherokee Nation: U.S. Election 2012'' (Dog Iron Press 2014). * ''American Indians Dream: A Movement of Our Own'' (Dog Iron Press 2014). * ''Wicked Dew'' (Dog Iron Press 2012). * ''Ceremonies of Innocence: Essays from the Indian Wars'' (Dog Iron Press 2012). * ''Sequoyah Rising: Problems in Post-Colonial Tribal Governance'' (Carolina Academic Press 2010). Book Chapters: * “Chains and Circles: Hierarchy and the Status of Animals,” (with Sara M. Walsh), in ''Issues in Animal Rights and Ethics'' 151-167 (M. Vyas, ed. 2011). * “Indigenous Individual Rights: Theory, Praxis and 'Special Privileges',” in ''Tribal Rights—A Praxis'' 1-31 (R. Satyanarayana, ed., 2009). * “Law and Bones and What the Meaning of ‘Is’ Is,” in ''Kennewick Man: Perspectives on the Ancient One'' 73-82 (Heather Burke, Claire Smith, Dorothy Lippert, Joe Watkins and Larry Zimmerman, eds., 2008). * “Globalization of Criminal Justice in the Corporate Context” (with Michael J. Gilbert), in ''Global Criminology and Criminal Justice: Current Issues and Perspectives'' 115-139 (Nick Larsen and Russell Smandych, eds., 2008). * “The Cherokee Nation: A Colonial Morality Play in Three Acts,” in ''Eating Fire, Tasting Blood: Breaking the Great Silence of the American Indian Holocaust'' 128-145 (Marijo Moore, ed., 2006). * “Levande Indianer” and “Döda Indianer” in ''De Kallar Oss Indianer'' 93-117 (Annika Banfield, ed., 2004). * “Apples are the Color of Blood,” in ''Race and Ethnicity Across Time, Space and Discipline'' 19-30 (Rodney D. Coates, ed., 2004). * “The Jurisprudence of Colonialism,” in ''American Indian Thought'' 217-228 (Anne Waters, ed., 2004). * “Invisible Emblems: Empty Words and Sacred Honor,” in ''Genocide of the Mind'' 211-227 (Marijo Moore, ed., 2003). * “The New Outlawry and Foucault’s Panoptic Nightmare,” in ''We Who Would Take No Prisoners'' 70-79 (Brian D. MacLean & Harold E. Pepinsky eds. 1993), reprinted in ''Before the Law: An Introduction to the Legal Process'' 266-270 (7th ed. John J. Bonsignore, Ethan Katsh, Peter d’Errico, Ronald M. Pipkin, Stephen Arons and Janet Rifkin, eds. 2002). * “Rent-a-Judge and Hide-a-Crime: The Dark Potential of Private Adjudication,” in ''Privatization of Criminal Justice: Past, Present and Future'' 113-122 (David Shichor & Michael J. Gilbert, eds. 2000). * “Undercurrents of Judicial Policy: Demystifying the Third Branch of Government and the O.J. Simpson Case,” in ''Representing OJ: Murder, Criminal Justice & Mass Culture'' 178-182 (Gregg Barak, ed., 1996). * “Native American Reburial Issues in State Courts,” Vol. 1, No. 11 in ''Indian Law Summaries'' (National Judicial College 1995). * “Trials Before the Municipal Court,” “Plea Bargaining in Municipal Court,” “Jury Trials in Municipal Court,” all in ''Travis County Practice Handbook'' (Austin Young Lawyers Association 1982). Journal Articles *Poetry and fiction
Russell's first book of poetry, ''Wicked Dew'', won the First Book Award from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas. * “Honor Rap,” ''Pulse'', (Heartsounds Press, May 4, 2004). * “Indistinguishable Color,” ''Coloring Book: An Eclectic Anthology of Fiction and Poetry by Multicultural Writers'' 289-290 (boice-Terrel Allen, ed., 2003). * “Disruption, 1997,” ''Hypatia: A Journal of Feminist Philosophy'' Vol. 18, No. 2 at 1-2 (2003). * “What Indians Want,” ''Gatherings: The'' ''En'owkin Journal of First North American Peoples'', Vol. 13, 81-82 (2002). * “Donna’s Potsherds,” “How to Succeed as an Indian Poet,” and “Chitto Harjo,” ''Messenger Journal of Cherokee Literature'', Vol. 1, No. 1 at 3-5 (2001). * “Six O’Clock News,” in ''Hozho: Walking in Beauty'' 97-103 (Carolyn Dunn and Paula Gunn Allen, eds. 2001). * “The Year They Drilled for Oil,” “Eleven Mile Hill,” and “Bison Bones,” ''South Dakota Review'', Vol. 38, No. 1 at 15-21 (2000). * “Repatriation,” ''Moccasin Telegraph'', Vol. 6, No. 6 at 13 (1996).Op-ed columnist
''The Daily Texan'', 1972-1973. ''The American Reporter'', 1995-1999. ''IMDiversity.com'', 1999-2008. ''Indian Country Today'', 2008-2013. ''Indian Country Media Network'', 2013-2017. Numerous other publications in the ''Austin American-Statesman, The Texas Observer, Newsweek, Philadelphia City Paper, Harper’s Magazine,'' and too many members of the Underground Press Syndicate to list.See also
* List of Native American juristsReferences
External links