wounded knee: the american indian movement
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Wounded Knee: The American Indian Movement. Dr. Stacey Robertson Bradley University. Introduction. 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 - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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