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Wounded Knee: The American Indian Movement

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

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Wounded Knee: The American Indian Movement

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  1. Wounded Knee: The American Indian Movement Dr. Stacey Robertson Bradley University

  2. 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 • Two issues • Land • Assimilation • Resistance • Focus on Lakota “Sioux” because leaders of AIM

  3. History--Laramie Treaty, 1868 • Autonomy • Treaty ignored • “Civilize” • Church, educators • Gold discovered • Custer at Little Big Horn • Declared illegal • Wounded Knee, 1889 • 200 dead • No traditional ceremonies • White schools Sitting Bull, General Custer, Crazy Horse

  4. Indian Reorganization Act, 1934 • John Collier • Traditional ceremonies • Some self government • Bureau of Indian Affairs • Assimilation still focus • Tribal Councils • BIA-influenced • Divisions • Assimilationists vs. traditionalists John Collier, 1884-1968

  5. Organization of AIM • Fishing rights • National Indian Youth Council and Clyde Warrior • Marlon Brando, 1964 “fish in”

  6. Organization of AIM • Land protests • Iroquois of NY • Red power • Inspired by Black Power • Relocation programs • Reservations to cities • Unemployment, alienation

  7. Focus of AIM • Provide jobs, housing, education, protection from police brutality • Opposition to Tribal Councils • Upside-down flag Upside-down flag

  8. Leaders of AIM Dennis Banks, Clyde Bellecourt, Russell Means

  9. Alcatraz Occupation, ‘69-’71 • Compared this former prison to Indian reservations (isolated, no industry, high unemployment, no running water or electricity) • Conflict on island • Compromise? • Other occupations Alcatraz, in the San Francisco Bay

  10. Trail of Broken Treaties Caravan, 1972 • To Washington DC • Protest against brutal treatment • 5 days before presidential election • BIA had no accommodations • Took over the BIA for seven days • Took documents Floyd Young Horse

  11. AIM & Wounded Knee • Pine Ridge, SD • Oglala Lakota • Violence, conflict • Raymond Yellow Thunder, 1972 • Beaten and killed • 2nd degree murder • AIM organizes • 1400 people

  12. AIM & Wounded Knee • Internal Divisions • Dickie Wilson • Bootlegger and embezzler • Head of Tribal Council • Goons • Economic fears • Unemployment, no health care or education

  13. AIM & Wounded Knee • Wesley Bad Heart Bull, Jan. ‘73 • Stabbed • Involuntary manslaughter • AIM organizes mtg • Melee Siege at Wounded Knee, 1973

  14. AIM & Wounded Knee • Symbolic protest • Site of massacre 80 years earlier • Surrounded • FBI, State troopers, military • 71 Days • Nightly gunfire • Food

  15. AIM & Wounded Knee • National attention • Radicalized urban Indians • Arrested • 185 indicted by FBI • Accused of arson, theft, interfering with a federal officer

  16. AIM & Wounded Knee • Leaders put on trial in Minneapolis, June ‘74 • No fair trial possible in SD • Support from Indians • Thousands traveled to trial • Fabrications • Final witness • Communist ties • Judge criticizes FBI Russell Means

  17. AIM & Wounded KneeEnvironmental & Corporate Issues • Strip-mining • Kerr-McGee in Montana; Wyoming, Colorado, NM, Arizona, SD • Repression • FBI infiltration • Douglas Durham

  18. Reservation Murders, June 1974 • Wilson’s terror campaign • 100 Indians murders • Shoot-out at Pine Ridge • Two FBI agents murdered • Wilson & land • FBI • Misrepresentations • Harrassment • Four indictments • Innocent • Leonard Peltier • Support for Peltier

  19. Conclusions • Cultural pride • Recognition • Image • But problems persist 1992 SF march

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