wounded knee: the american indian movement

Dr. Stacey Robertson

Bradley University

American Indians developed a movement for social justice amidst a time period full of social movements

Theme of Native Americans similar to African Americans: exploitation, oppression

Two issuesLandAssimilation

ResistanceFocus on Lakota “Sioux” because leaders of

AIM

AutonomyTreaty ignored“Civilize”

Church, educators

Gold discoveredCuster at Little

Big HornDeclared illegalWounded Knee,

1889 200 dead No traditional

ceremonies White schools

Sitting Bull, General Custer, Crazy Horse

John CollierTraditional ceremoniesSome self government

Bureau of Indian AffairsAssimilation still focus

Tribal CouncilsBIA-influenced

DivisionsAssimilationists vs.

traditionalists

John Collier, 1884-1968

Fishing rightsNational Indian

Youth Council and Clyde Warrior

Marlon Brando, 1964 “fish in”

Land protestsIroquois of NY

Red powerInspired by Black

PowerRelocation

programsReservations to

citiesUnemployment,

alienation

Provide jobs, housing, education, protection from police brutality

Opposition to Tribal Councils

Upside-down flagUpside-down flag

Dennis Banks, Clyde Bellecourt, Russell Means

Compared this former prison to Indian reservations (isolated, no industry, high unemployment, no running water or electricity)

Conflict on islandCompromise?Other occupations

Alcatraz, in the San Francisco Bay

To Washington DCProtest against

brutal treatment5 days before

presidential electionBIA had no

accommodationsTook over the BIA for

seven daysTook documents

Floyd Young Horse

Pine Ridge, SDOglala LakotaViolence,

conflictRaymond Yellow

Thunder, 1972Beaten and

killed2nd degree

murderAIM organizes

1400 people

Internal DivisionsDickie Wilson

Bootlegger and embezzler

Head of Tribal Council

GoonsEconomic fears

Unemployment, no health care or education

Wesley Bad Heart Bull, Jan. ‘73

Stabbed Involuntary

manslaughterAIM

organizes mtg

MeleeSiege at Wounded Knee, 1973

Symbolic protest Site of massacre

80 years earlierSurrounded

FBI, State troopers, military

71 DaysNightly gunfire

Food

National attentionRadicalized urban

IndiansArrested

185 indicted by FBI

Accused of arson, theft, interfering with a federal officer

Leaders put on trial in Minneapolis, June ‘74 No fair trial possible in SD

Support from Indians Thousands traveled to trial

FabricationsFinal witness

Communist ties

Judge criticizes FBI

Russell Means

Strip-miningKerr-McGee in

Montana; Wyoming, Colorado, NM, Arizona, SD

RepressionFBI infiltrationDouglas

Durham

Wilson’s terror campaign 100 Indians murders

Shoot-out at Pine Ridge Two FBI agents murdered

Wilson & landFBI

Misrepresentations Harrassment

Four indictments Innocent Leonard Peltier Support for Peltier

Cultural prideRecognitionImageBut problems

persist

1992 SF march