The Last of the Mohicans is a 1992 American historical drama, set in 1757 during the French and Indian War. It was directed by Michael Mann and based on James Fenimore Cooper’s novel of the same name and George B. Seitz’s 1936 film adaptation, owing more to the latter than the novel. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, and Jodhi May, with Russell Means, Wes Studi, Eric Schweig, and Steven Waddington in supporting roles. Released on September 25, 1992, in the United States, The Last of the Mohicans was met with nearly universal praise from critics as well as commercial success during its box-office run. (More from Wikipedia)
In 1973, Redbone recorded the politically oriented “We Were All Wounded at Wounded Knee”. The Wounded Knee Massacre was the last major battle between American Indian tribes and the U. S. Cavalry; the battle had gained a higher profile in the American consciousness with the 1970 publication of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Dee Brown’s acclaimed overview of American history (particularly the Old West) from a Native American perspective.
Also, earlier in 1973, members of the activist group American Indian Movement (AIM) occupied the Pine Ridge Reservation near Wounded Knee, South Dakota. Russell Means (Oglala) – who died in October 2012 – is the best-known member of AIM and is arguably the most famous Native American of the past 100 years. Means was also an actor – he appeared in the 1992 film, The Last of the Mohicans – and released several albums in a variety of musical genres, including his version of hip-hop that he called “Rap-aho”.
(August 2013)
