Richard Twiss
Encyclopedia
Richard Twiss is a Native American educator and author. He is a member of the Sicangu Lakota Oyate from the Rosebud Lakota Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. He is the Co-Founder and President of Wiconi International (Wee-choe'-nee is Lakota for "life") .
In 1972, Twiss was a participant in the forced occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Building in Washington, D.C., with the radical political group, the American Indian Movement
or "AIM." Twiss later became a Christian minister, author, and public speaker.
His vision is, "Serve as a bridge builder and consultant, nationally and internationally, to develop understanding, respect and mutual appreciation for one another, especially among Native American/First Nations people."
He and his wife Katherine (married 1976), have four grown sons, and they currently have been residing in Vancouver, Washington
since 1981.
Richard's father, Franklin "Buster" Twiss was an enrolled member of the Pine Ridge Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. He was a SFC
Army veteran, was born on May 7, 1927. He died on August 17, 1999 in Hot Springs
and was buried on August 23, 1999 at Black Hills National Cemetery
.
His mother, Winona LaPointe is from the Sicangu Lakota from the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. She was born Winona M. Larvie from Norris, South Dakota on the Rosebud Reservation. She attended the St. Francis Indian Mission School as a young girl through high school graduation.
Twiss is a Board Member of the Christian Community Development Association, founded by John M. Perkins in 1989.
In 1972, Twiss was a participant in the forced occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
Building in Washington, D.C., with the radical political group, the American Indian Movement
American Indian Movement
The American Indian Movement is a Native American activist organization in the United States, founded in 1968 in Minneapolis, Minnesota by urban Native Americans. The national AIM agenda focuses on spirituality, leadership, and sovereignty...
or "AIM." Twiss later became a Christian minister, author, and public speaker.
His vision is, "Serve as a bridge builder and consultant, nationally and internationally, to develop understanding, respect and mutual appreciation for one another, especially among Native American/First Nations people."
He and his wife Katherine (married 1976), have four grown sons, and they currently have been residing in Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
since 1981.
Richard's father, Franklin "Buster" Twiss was an enrolled member of the Pine Ridge Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. He was a SFC
Sergeant First Class
Sergeant First Class is the seventh enlisted rank in the U.S. Army, above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant and First Sergeant, and is the first senior non-commissioned officer rank...
Army veteran, was born on May 7, 1927. He died on August 17, 1999 in Hot Springs
Hot Springs, South Dakota
Hot Springs is a city in Fall River County, South Dakota, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,711. It is the county seat of Fall River County...
and was buried on August 23, 1999 at Black Hills National Cemetery
Black Hills National Cemetery
Black Hills National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located south of the city of Sturgis in Meade County, South Dakota. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2005, had 19,147 interments.- History :...
.
His mother, Winona LaPointe is from the Sicangu Lakota from the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. She was born Winona M. Larvie from Norris, South Dakota on the Rosebud Reservation. She attended the St. Francis Indian Mission School as a young girl through high school graduation.
Twiss is a Board Member of the Christian Community Development Association, founded by John M. Perkins in 1989.
Publications
- One Church Many Tribes - Serving Jesus the Way God Made You (Regal Books)
- Dancing Our Prayers
- Culture, Christ, & Kingdom Study Guide