Events And Effects Ofwounded Knee

During the Spring of 1973 in an act of protest, around 200 Native Americans occupied the village of Wounded Knee on the Indian Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Those among the occupiers included over 60 tribal descendants who were either members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) or supporters of traditional Native American belief and practice. In 1890, Wounded Knee had been the site of a tragic massacre in which approximately 300 Indians had been killed. This fact, along with the new protest attracted world-wide attention and support.

And the reason for this 71-day act of rebellion? The members of AIM were demanding certain rights granted to their past relatives by the American Government, such as the right to self-govern as well as to the land surrounding the Black Hills. These rights were given to the Lakota in a series of treaties in 1890. In addition to this, they were calling for an end to government-supported brutality and intimidation against members of AIM on the reservation.

Armed with few guns and little ammunition, the Indians fought against American Armed forces, including the FBI, US ARMY, and the state police. Two natives were killed in this exchange and many more were injured. The battle lasted long enough to gain support from all over, giving much praise to the courageous underdogs. Finally, a "peace pact" was signed between the two sides, which garunteed fair treatment of the activists as well as a review and reconsideration of past treaties. Unfortunately, these promises were never fully carried out, and much persecution of these people ensued during the following years. Although this may be considered some what of a diplomatic failure, the incident did have an international symbolic message that has risen question to the social, economic, and political aspects of the Native Americans today.

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