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Prelude and Events of Wounded Knee Siege

May 7, 2025

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