Wounded Knee 1973 Prequel and Events Leading Up To The Siege

Background and Context (1960s)

• The 1960s were a tumultuous period in US history marked by:
  • The Vietnam War
  • Civil Rights Movement
  • Emergence of influential music
• Founding of the American Indian Movement (AIM) in 1968
  • Originated in Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Addressed issues of poverty, discrimination, lack of representation, and police brutality in urban Native American communities
  • Key figures: Clyde Bellecourt, Dennis Banks (Chippewa), Russell Means (Oglala Sioux)

Notable AIM Activities

• Trail of Broken Treaties (1972)

  • A protest march from Seattle and San Francisco to Washington, D.C.
  • Aimed to highlight Native grievances
  • Ended with the takeover of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) building
  • Resulted in an agreement to address injustices against Native Americans

• Other Incidents in 1972

  • Gordon, Nebraska: AIM took over a community hall following the death of Raymond Yellow Thunder
  • Buffalo Gap, South Dakota: Following the killing of Wesley Bad Heart Bull by Harold Schmidt, protests erupted, leading to confrontations

Prelude to Wounded Knee Siege

• Political Tensions on Pine Ridge Reservation

  • Oglala Sioux leaders and AIM opposed Tribal President Richard Wilson
  • Accusations of corruption and misuse of authority against Wilson
  • Failed impeachment led to increased federal surveillance

• AIM Takeover at Wounded Knee (February 27, 1973)

  • 200 AIM members took control of the village
  • Historical significance due to the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre
  • Goals: Reform tribal governance, highlight injustices, demand Congressional investigations

Siege of Wounded Knee

• Early Actions and Government Response

  • Set up roadblocks and observation points by U.S. Marshals and FBI
  • AIM fortified their position with defenses and relied on Vietnam veterans
  • Initial demands included dealing with injustices and setting up negotiations

• Negotiations and Proposals

  • Senators and representatives initiated talks
  • AIM proposed leaving if allowed to self-govern
  • Establishment of the "Independent Oglala Nation"
  • Government and AIM had various proposals rejected and accepted intermittently

• Conflict and Escalation

  • Sporadic gunfire and conflicts with Wilson's "GOON Squad"
  • Attempts to block supplies and support entering Wounded Knee
  • Formation of Wounded Knee Legal Defense/Offense Committee

Resolution and Aftermath

• End of Occupation (May 1973)

  • Agreement to leave Wounded Knee and disarmament
  • Collection of weapons and processing of remaining AIM members

• Impact and Legacy

  • Establishment of a proposal for a Senate joint resolution to review US-Native American relations
  • High murder rates on Pine Ridge in subsequent years
  • Russell Means’ political and legal challenges
  • Pine Ridge remains economically challenged

Continuing Issues

• Ongoing socio-economic difficulties on the Pine Ridge Reservation
• Historical grievances and legal proceedings continue to influence Native American policy discussions