Vine Deloria Jr., giant in Indian Country, dies at 72 Tuesday, November 15, 2005 Vine Deloria Jr., a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe who was one the nation's most influential scholars, died on Sunday. He was 72. As best-selling author, Deloria spoke authoritatively on tribal sovereignty and self-determination. As a historian, he promoted Native science amid conflicting Western views. An…