Page A8 • October 31, 2013 • Inland Empire Community Newspapers John Trudell helped launch Native American spiritual rebirth, activism from SBVC

By Harvey M. Kahn computers back then and I lost track of him. I looked him up and saw all the turns his life has taken. an Bernardino Valley Some brought him great promi - College had many students nence; others to hardship and trad - go on to prominence but egy. I thought many times to dash none grabbed the media attention out a line and tell him that so many liSke a 22-year-old Santee Sioux people remembered him from the American-Indian from Nebraska. old days. He has done so much for John Trudell had just completed the Indian cause, but at a huge cost a four-year stint in the Navy in to himself." 1969 when he enrolled at San In 1974, Trudell often appeared Bernardino Valley College. at causes with noted Native Amer - Trudell had his eye's set on a ca - ican rights leaders and fellow AIM reer in radio and television. In the members Russell Means and midst of his education, Trudell re - Dennis Banks . Trudell and Mar - alized that an opportunity was lon Brando spoke together to raise funds for the Wounded Knee present whereby he could help PHOTO COURTESY RADIOVAULT .COM II KE HARTMANN make an immediate impact to help Defense Fund at the University of his Native American colleagues. Nebraska. Trudell worked in a By November 1969, Trudell and John Trudell left SBVC in 1969 to help Native Americans recapture Alcatraz. number of capacities with Robert his wife and two children were liv - Redford, , John ing on Alcatraz as part of a Native American spokesperson. back." Penny Anchales stating that the Denver, Bonnie Raitt, Neil American effort to reclaim the is - Trudell became the national pres - The camera continued to find SBVC student council gave the Young, and . He land they considered ancestral ident of the American Indian Trudell and his message. His nat - Alcatraz Relief Fund $400 for the spoke with former land. Movement (AIM) and during most ural acting ability and experience Trudell talk. Ebel recalled that Senator John Tunney at the 1970 The occupation of Alcatraz cap - of the 1970's felt numerous sacri - as a singer had landed him in mo - Trudell worked to improve condi - inaugural Earth Day in San Diego. tured national headlines for 19 fices while helping to bring about tion pictures and TV; at Willie Nel - tions for all under presented seg - Trudell aide Faye Brown said months until U.S. forces removed opportunities for his people. His son's Farm Aid; public speaking ments of society. that he was currently on the road the 200 Inhabitants that repre - wife and two children died in a fire dates with ranking elected offi - "John was a cool guy. Spiritual. and was meeting with the National sented about 40 Indian tribes na - of suspicious nature; then he was cials; and at environmental rallies. The nicest friend a person could Congress of American Indians in tionwide. Trudell served as a tribal allegedly in gun battles with the "I totally lost track of John and have," said Ebel. "There weren't Oklahoma. spokesman during the event. FBI; eventually serving time in didn't know what happened until I Everyday fielding media queries jail; and resumed the staging of spotted him in the (movie) Thun - and broadcasting live from Radio protests across the country. derheart. I thought, 'That's my old Free Alcatraz he set up on the is - On Thanksgiving of 1970, friend.'" said Diane Ebel, who land. Trudell helped coordinate a protest was editor of the SBVC newspa - The stay on Alcatraz served as an by 200 Indians at the monument of per in 1969, the Warhoop. enormous rallying point for future Plymouth Rock. It was tabbed the Ebel was the Warhoop editor Native American causes. For the "National Day of Mourning" when Trudell came back to give a next 10 years Trudell would be at and made an impact before hun - speech at SBVC in the midst of the the forefront of landmark occupa - dreds of tourists. Trudell was Alcatraz occupation in early 1970. tions like those at Wounded Knee quoted by the Associated Press, She recalled that Trudell lived near and the BIA headquarters in Wash - saying, "We cannot stop fighting 7th and D Street in San Bernardino ington. He was the leading Native until an American Indian is presi - with his family. Ebel presented a dent and we seize our country news article written by reporter St. Bernardine Medical Center, Community Hospital of San Bernardino to Host ACA Insurance Coverage Seminars

f all the talk about the Afford - Community Hospital of San – Matich Conference Center able Care Act (ACA) is con - Bernardino – Henderson Audito - 2101 N. Waterman Avenue, San fusing, as a public service, St. rium 1800 Western Avenue, San Bernardino CA 92404 www.st - Bernardine Medical Center and Bernardino, CA 92411 bernardinemedicalcenter.org/en - CIommunity Hospital of San www.chsb.org/enroll roll Bernardino, members of Dignity • Saturday, November 2 (2:30- Health, are hosting informational • Saturday, November 9 (2:30- 3:30 p.m.) seminars about the ACA and health 3:30 p.m.) •Wednesday, November 6 (6:30- insurance coverage. The free semi - 7:30 p.m.) nars are open to the public and will St. Bernardine Medical Center be presented by insurance brokers certified by Covered California, the state’s health insurance exchange. Individuals attending St. Bernar - dine’s or Community Hospital’s seminars will get information about new, affordable insurance coverage and financial assistance opportuni - ties available through Covered Cal - ifornia, as well as about non-exchange plans. Certified en - rollment agents will be available to address individual questions and concerns. Each hospital will host seminars through November 9, with presen - tations in Spanish on October 24 and November 2. As space is lim - ited, individuals are encouraged to reserve their spot by calling (909) 806-1730 or going online at www.stbernardinemedicalcenter.or g/enroll or www.chsb.org/enroll.

Affordable Care Act Coverage Seminar Schedule: