Wounded Knee Siege,1973
Location and Time
Occurred at Wounded Knee, South Dakota; February 27-May 8, 1973
Leaders and Goals
Dennis Banks, Russell Means, and other Indians Rights activists founded AIM(History). AIM was founded to address discrimination, against Native Americans especially in the job market and from the police force (libcom). President Nixon appointed Louis Bruce, a Mohawk-Sioux, as commissioner of Indian affairs; he promised increased federal aid and support for the Indians (Brinkley, 79). Throughout the Wounded Knee Siege Russell Means advocated the release of the Oglala Indians who were surrounded by the US Marshalls. He pointed out the treaties that the US had broken with the Indians, and called for a peaceful settlement (History). AIM, and its warriors were the leaders of the siege, and they identified themselves as the Lakota Indians. Their goals were to reclaim the lands at Wounded Knee and traditionalists wanted to obtain the "Black Hills" in South Dakota. They believed that they were entitled to these lands based on the 1869 Sioux treaty (libcom)
Summary
In the summer of 1969 nearly 400 American Indian tribal leaders came together to discuss the mistreatment that native Americans has been receiving, and what to do to stop it. These issues included police brutality, and high unemployment rates for Native Americans (libcom). From this meeting emerged the American Indian Movement (AIM), which gained support from urban areas and reservations (Brinkley, 794). The Indians of the Lakota origin, were in despair because of Tribal government corruption, and a deteriorating culture. They reached out to AIM for help, and in February 27 they reclaimed Wounded Knee in name of the Lakota Tribe. The day after the siege began the US government sent Marshalls to surround the territory. Gunfire was exchanged nightly for the entire duration of the siege (History). This was the first time that the Oglala people had been free to rule themselves in a hundred years. As time passed there emerged a difference in belief amongst the Oglala people. Some were more progressive minded while traditionalists wanted to reclaim all of their native territory. There was also concern because Chemicals were filtering into the water from strip mines. Although tensions between progressives and traditionalist increased, AIM warriors invigorated the Indians. Conflicts increased due to mistrust of other people and believed monetary corruption, while the Marshalls continued to shoot at people, surround the territory, and prevent anything from coming or going. Eventually their electricity was cut, and the tribe was left starving. At last the US ended the siege, which had lasted 71 days (libcom).
Impact
The Indian Civil Rights movement followed the Civil Rights movement, and it was similar in the regard that both movements represented a push for equality from minorities that has been previously been discriminated against. Many Americans viewed people of any color beside white to be in superior, and therefore the movement for Indian rights only created more strife and conflict as some Americas worked to maintain racial segregation in the 1960s and 70s.
Significance
Although the Wounded Knee Siege was ultimately a failure for the Oglala people, it revitalized the efforts to recognize and stop discrimination against Native Americans. For over 200 years Indians had been discriminated against by the whites, and this siege represented a major challange to what seemed to be a dying Indian population (Annals). The Indian civil rights movement fell short of its ultimate goals of achieving equality with whites, but did result in major laws that significantly improved their lives. The Indian Civil Rights act, although prior to the siege, recognized tribal rights, and guaranteed reservation Indians the rights in the Bill of Rights (Brinkley 794). This siege helped to cement the need of reforms such as the Indians Civil Rights act, in favor of Indian equality.
Consequences
Although the Wounded Knee Siege signified a renewed effort for Native American equality, a great price had to be paid in the parts of the Indians. By the time the siege had totally ended the government had made about 1,200 arrests (libcom). Violence continued on the Pine Ridge Reservation. In 1975 there was a shootout in which two FBI agents dies and one Indian. AIM member, Leonard Peltier was sentenced to tow life terms in prison (History). This also resulted in a, "Reign of Terror". In the following years 64 tribal members were accused or murder, 300 Indians were beaten, and 562 arrests were made. This increased violence was a large price to pay for the short siege they had (libcom).
Works Cited
"AIM occupation of Wounded Knee begins." History. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2016. <http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/aim-occupation-of-wounded-knee-begins>.
Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation. New York: McGraw Hill, 2010. Print.
Encyclopedia Britannica. The Annals of America. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, 1976. Print.
Ed. "Siege at Wounded Knee, 1973." Libcom. N.p., 19 Sept. 2006. Web. 18 Mar. 2016. <https://libcom.org/history/1973-siege-at-wounded-knee>.
http://www.dickshovel.com/AIMIntro.html
http://libguides.mnhs.org/aim/images
https://sites.google.com/site/eklund6lopeztapia/civil-rights-movement-of-african-americans-1