John Trudell

John Trudell was an acclaimed poet, national recording artist, actor, and activist whose international following reflects the universal language of his words, work, and message. Trudell (Santee Sioux) was a spokesperson for the Indian of All Tribes occupation of Alcatraz Island from 1969 to 1971. He then worked with the American Indian Movement, serving as chairman from 1973 to 1979. In 1982, Trudell began recording his poetry to traditional Native music, and in 1983 he released his debut album, Tribal Voice. Since then, he has released ten more albums, including AKA Graffiti Man, which was dubbed the best album of the year by Bob Dylan. In addition to his music career, Trudell has played roles in a number of feature films, including a lead role in the Mirimax movie Thunderheart and a significant part in Sherman Alexie's Smoke Signals.