Wounded knee is the name given to a site in Dakota where the 1890 massacre left some 150 - 300 Native Americans dead. The white settlers originally went to the natives to try to remove them from their land. The tribe was in the middle of a religious ceremony but nonetheless, the troops surrounded them and historians are not sure what happened next. This event was originally seen as a battle but is now categorized as a massacre due to the fact that the Natives most likely did not provoke the soldiers and it was almost entirely women and children who were slaughtered, not native soldiers. This battle was seen as the last clash between the federal troops and the Sioux.
This massacre went on to be a symbolic moment in the relationship between Native Americans and White Settlers, it sets the tone for how Natives would perceive white settlers' intention for the next couple of decades. This moment in history was the last straw, this event led to the push for more rights and protection of Native Americans in the future. Steps were finally starting to be taken to make sure massacres like this do not happen again. Although despite the outrage it wasn't until 1968 that the American Indian Movement was founded. This group fought for the protection of Native Americans from police brutality which seemingly mirrored the brutality they had endured from the U.S army for so long. Although soon the American Indian Movement or AIM was seen as too radical by prominent Indian leaders. In protest against disagreeing Indian leaders, 200 AIM members occupied the site of wounded knee. This siege of wounded knee began in February 227 1973 and lasted a total of 71 days. Federal officers and AIM members exchanged gunfire every night of the siege. This resulted in the death of two Native Americans and the critical condition of one federal officer. Finally, on May 8th, the AIM members surrendered to the federal troops. A court trial took place and the AIM members came out victorious.
I like how in the first paragraph you establish that the battle of Wounded Knee wasn't actually a battle, but a massacre. It gives the reader a lens to look through while reading the rest of the post. I also thought it was good how you emphasized how it was a turning point for Native Americans in regards to how they viewed white settlers. It might have been interesting to highlight the symbolism more, including the events that played out after the "the last straw".
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ReplyDeleteThis was a really interesting read! I feel like this blog post further shows how disrespectful white Americans were to Indian traditions and the little regard they showed to other people. I like how you stated that it was originally seen as a battle, but people have now recognized it was clearly a massacre. I think it might be interesting to explain how this last massacre has led to not only protests in the 20th century, but even push for new laws today.
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