Reuben Snake, Jr. passed away in the early morning hours of June 28th, 1993. Reuben was a founding trustee and the spiritual advisor for the American Indian Ritual Object Repatriation Foundation, and a good friend. He served on the Board of over fifteen national Native American organizations and took an active leadership role in shaping national and international perceptions regarding American Indian and Alaska Native cultures.
His absence has been deeply felt in many communities and in the hearts of many individuals.
On June 29, 1993 - the day after his death - Reuben Snake, Jr. was publicly mourned in the United States Senate in a statement read by Senator Inouye. At that time, the Senate ordered that a speech recently given by Reuben Snake be entered into the Congressional Record. The Congressional Record for that day is available here.
Click on the picture if you would like to view a brief video clip of Reuben Snake, Jr.
Reuben Snake's story as told to Jay C. Fikes is available: Reuben Snake: Your Humble Serpent, by Jay C. Fikes. Clear Light Publishers, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1996.
A video portrait of Reuben Snake, directed by Gary Rhine, is available from Kifaru Productions. Click here to reach Kifaru Productions.
"Reculturalization of Sacred Objects," an interview with Reuben Snake by Elizabeth Sackler, appears in Akwe:kon Journal, Fall 1993, p14-15.
