Around 1968 he co-founded the American Indian Movement (AIM), & established it to protect a traditional ways of Indian population & to locate inside legal suits protecting pact rights of Indigene, like hunting & camping, housing, and untamed rice farming.

He participated in the occupation of Alcatraz Island. Inside 1972 he assisted in the organization, as section of AIM, of the Trail of Broken Treaties' caravan through a U.S. to Washington, D.C. point out to the plight of Indigen Americans. A caravan members anticipated meeting sustaining Congressional leaders about related issues; but, government officials refused to meet by having delegates of this class action which resulted in the seizure & occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office.

He besides spearheaded a progress Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in 1973 to oust corruption and a U.S. appointive chair. These activities led to the occupation of Wounded Knee and a siege of 71 years which received national attention. Banks was a primary treater & leader of the Injured Knee forces.

Under his leadership, AIM led the protest inside Custer, South Dakota an 1973 against judicial process that witnessed the white human guiltless of murdering an Indian. Following of his involvement inside Maimed Knee & Custer, Banks & 300 others were arrested and faced trial. He was acquitted of the Wounded Knee charges, however was convicted of riot and assault stemming from the confrontation at Custer. Refusing a time, Banks went underground, later getting amnesty in California by then Governor Jerry Brown, along with pecuniary help from either actor Marlon Brando.

When you took this instance inside California, from either 1976 to 1983, Banks earned an Associates degree at Davis University and taught at Deganawida Quetzecoatl (DQ) University (an all Indian-controlled institution), where he became a foremost Western Indian chancellor. He likewise established a foremost spiritual run from Davis to Los Angeles in 1978 (now an annual event). In the Spring of 1979 he taught at Stanford University. When Governor 'last left professional, Banks received sanctuary on the Onondaga Nation in upstate New York in 1984. when around NY, Banks organized a Nifty Jim Thorpe Longest Run from either Just released York to LA, in which a goal was to restore a gold decoration Thorpe experienced won at a 1912 Olympics to the Thorpe family.

Around 1985 Banks left Onondaga to surrender to law enforcement officials around South Dakota & served Xviii months in prison. Once freed, he worked as a drug & alcohol counselor on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. When you took 1987 graverobbers in Uniontown, Kentucky were halted within their digging for artifacts in Our contries Indian grave web sites. Banks was known as inside to organize a reburial ceremonies. His activities resulted around Kentucky & Indiana passing nonindulgent legislation against grave profanation.

He has experienced roles in the motion-picture show War Party, The Last of the Mohicans, and Thunderheart. The musical cassette "STILL STRONG" featuring Banks' original act also when traditional Native Our contries songs was completed within 1993. He can likewise become heard in more musical Video's: Peter Gabriel's "Les Musiques duMonde", Peter Matthiessen's "No Boundaries".