Native artist and activist passes away

THERMOPOLIS –American Indian activist, artists, and aerospace engineer Rodney C. Skenandore was laid to rest in Montana earlier this month, after falling ill and dying in the Harz Mountains of Northern Germany in August, where he lived with his wife Gudrun.

The 78-year-old native artist, a great-grandson of Shenandoah and born on the Crow Agency in Montana on June 9, 1939, was a survivor of Vietnam, 10 children and 11 heart attacks, Skenandore had logged a uniquely American collection of experiences along the way. Invested in politics and activism in the 1970s, Skenandore was one of many occupiers of Wounded Knee with the American Indian Movement.

"I was flying into Wounded Knee to drop off some supplies for the boys [Russell Means, Dennis Banks and others] when somebody started shooting at the plane. I was like 'man, are those bees?'" and the pilot told me no, those were bullets," laughed Skenandore during a recent interview from his home in Thermopolis. "I dropped off the stuff and got back on the plane and got out of there. I told the other guys, 'I came here to live, not die, man'."

As an artist and activist, Skenandore had the opportunity to meet influences as broad as the Dhali Llama and Bob Dylan. One of his pieces of art is on display at the White House.

Starting out as a soldier before gaining a degree in engineering and working for NASA, Skenadore soon found himself wrapped up in Native politics, and used his position as a shaman to help advance the American Indian Movement.

Afterward, Skenadore found success as a speaker and author, before branching out into the arts, in a variety of mediums.

WORK HIGHLIGHTS

Some highlights of his work include:

1966-1968: He became involved with 'War Bonnet Enterprise', an all Indian owned and operated business in Los Angeles, California, which produced silk-screened textiles.

1977: Knox Campbell Gallery Arizona: A copper life sized sculpture 'Osasala - Woman of the Circle' was exhibited. Museum of Natural History, Phoenix, Arizona: a collection of wood carvings and stone sculptures was shown.

1978-1987: He produced his designs on ceramic tiles plus other items while running a studio 'Red Rainbows, Costum Architectural Ceramics' starting out in Bisbee, Arizona, eventually moving it north to Colorado. His works were featured in France, Germany and Italy.

1982 Browning, Montana, Plains Indian Museum: Exhibition of his tile work.

1994: Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia purchased work to be installed in his Aspen, Colorado home. The same year 'Architectural Digest' featured his designs, western furniture with either carvings or tiles on them.

1995: Western Design Conference in Cody, Wyoming, honored his carvings and recognized him again with a 'Best of Show' award.