Mad Bear Wallace Anderson: Tuscarora Activist 1927-1985

From ‘Akwesasne Notes’, Mid Winter 1986, Mohawk Nation territory

Wallace “Mad Bear” Anderson, the Tuscarora activist, was a man whose dedication to his people was as big as his 300 pound body. Mad Bear was the most widely known native leader of the 1950s and early 60s. He could be found wherever there was a fight between native people and the “government”, whether it be in the Pacific Northwest, the California desert or on his own home territory. He was a brilliant orator who had the ability to fire an audience into action or carry it to the highest spiritual levels.

Mad Bear was a sailor by profession. He had travelled around the world and spoke with enthusiasm of his visits to China, India, Africa and Europe. Perhaps it was this wealth of experiences about the world’s peoples that made him such a determined fighter in North America.

One of his most notable achievements was his recognition of the efforts of Fidel Castro to liberate his people from the exploitation of a few wealthy families and for the first time give the Cuban people real power. Mad Bear went to Havana to examine Castro’s revolution and found out that it was more than a one man rebellion but a true people’s movement. He returned from his discussions with Castro with an offer of friendship between the Cuban people and the Haudenosaunee.

Mad Bear found out early that being a recognized leader of native people was not without it’s hazards. He was harassed by the U.S. government, assailed by the press and suffered assaults on his person. He did not waver however and only seemed to grow in stature.

Mad Bear was here at Akwesasne in 1968 and 1969 when our people needed the words of encouragement he spoke. He was a witness to the birth of NOTES and remained one of its main supporters over the years. In the 50s Mad Bear used a protest tactic, the sitdown, before most people knew what it was. When the Unity Caravans took the roads in the late 60s Mad Bear was there. He led the fight against the New York Power Authority when that body took parts of his home territory (Kinzua Dam). He also did battle with the New York Thruway and when many Haudenosaunee faced fines and jail because of nonpayment of federal and state taxes Mad Bear was there to force the government to back down. He knew his native rights and fought for them. He was a dedicated supporter of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and was often seen at Onondaga attending political or ceremonial gatherings.

In a year when Native People suffered the loss of some of it’s most creative leaders, including Mad Bear, we are left to abide by their example of what it means to be truly Indian. Mad Bear was as his name suggests, a fighter.

—Kanentiio