American Indian Activist Dennis Banks Dies at Age 80

Dennis Banks (Facebook)

(AP) – The family of American Indian activist Dennis Banks says he has died. He was 80.

Banks, who lived on the Leech Lake Reservation in Minnesota, was a co-founder of the American Indian Movement and a leader of the Wounded Knee occupation in 1973.

Banks’ family wrote on his Facebook page that he died Sunday night. He had developed pneumonia following heart surgery this month. His family says he did not want to be put on life support.

The family says that as Banks took his last breaths, one son sang to him four songs for his journey. Family members also sang him the American Indian Movement song as his final send-off.

Daughter Arrow Banks told The Associated press the family would have move to say after a family meeting Monday.