Wounded Knee 1973 by Gabriel H Siegel

April 1972

gsiegel8 — 2023-12-01 22:56:21 UTC

Richard "Dick" Wilson was inaugurated as the tribal chairman for the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council which resided over the Pine Ridge Reservation. His opponents began accusing him of corruption and nepotism. He silenced his critics and even prevented them from getting tribal jobs under his control. He supported assimilation with the U.S government, a very controversial opinion for those who wanted to go back to "the old ways". His corruption and support of the government "failed to keep the people living on the impoverished reservation unified".

February 6 1973

gsiegel8 — 2023-12-01 22:57:02 UTC

The American Indian Movement went to Custer, South Dakota, a place in very close proximity to the Pine Ridge reservation. They went outside the town courthouse to protest the fact that a person who murdered a Native American was only charged for involuntary manslaughter and then had the charges dropped. The protest turned violent when the mother of the victim was beaten by police and became a riot. Dick Wilson who was against AIM, responded by requesting and getting US Marshall's to strongly garrison Pine Ridge Reservation. This move ended up being a major part of setting the stage for Wounded Knee 1973 with the added federal presence on the reservation.

February 8 1973

gsiegel8 — 2023-12-01 22:57:41 UTC

Three Oglala Sioux tribal members announced they were bringing articles of impeachment towards Dick Wilson. The Charges included Corruption, Embezzlement, and violations of the tribes constitution. A petition supporting this was signed by 1,450 residents in a reservation where the population was less than 3,000. There would be a hearing but Dick Wilson was ultimately not impeached

February 27 1973

gsiegel8 — 2023-12-01 22:57:59 UTC

A town Hall meeting was held by AIM and Oglala Sioux elders. They decided that Wilson needs to go. The elders choose Wounded Knee as the site, stating the significance of the the original massacre in 1890. "the spirits of Big Foot and his martyred people would protect us".

February 28 1973

gsiegel8 — 2023-12-01 22:58:18 UTC

250 Native Americans led by the activists of AIM arrived in a caravan of fifty four cars at the hamlet of Wounded Knee. They seized control of a Church, Trading Post, and Museum. The FBI responded by arranging APCs in a circle around the valley. They also set up roadblocks. There were 250 FBI agents and U.S. Marshalls at Wounded Knee. AIM formulated their demands. They would shift over time, but the initial version was that the US government abide by the 371 broken treaties, that it investigated Lakota Tribal governments, and that it fix the corruption in the BIA. The BIA was the Bureau of Indian Affairs that was in charge of residing over reservations.

March 9 1973

gsiegel8 — 2023-12-01 22:59:08 UTC

Milo Goings, one of the Native Americans who occupying the church, was shot as the official first casualty of the siege. He was wounded it was not fatal.

March 11 1973

gsiegel8 — 2023-12-01 22:59:21 UTC

The government called for a ceasefire due to public sentiment in support of the liberation. It did not last for long as the FBI intercepted a van of liberators that were trying to get back into pine ridge. This lead to a firefight that resulted in one wounded FBI soldier

March 16 1973

gsiegel8 — 2023-12-01 22:59:34 UTC

The Independent Oglala Nation was founded by the AIM as an autonomous nation for the Oglala Sioux. It is complete with ambassadors, passports, and citizenry cards. 365 people are sworn in.

March 26 1973

gsiegel8 — 2023-12-01 22:59:48 UTC

Considered one of the "fiercest firefight[s] of the struggle" and a major turning point. US Marshall Loyd Grimm was wounded and permanently paralyzed, the greatest casualty received by the government throughout the standoff. Following this the government greatly altered their tactics. The FBI had not previously been authorized to use military weapons on the occupants, but they began "firing day and night". The electricity and water lines were also cut, leading to food and medicine quickly running low.

April 17 1973

gsiegel8 — 2023-12-01 23:00:10 UTC

Frank Clearwater was struck in the head with a bullet while he was sleeping and was killed. It is the first death of the siege. He was a Cherokee who had just arrived at pine ridge to join the struggle

April 26 1973

gsiegel8 — 2023-12-01 23:00:32 UTC

Buddy Lamont was shot in the chest and killed. He was an Oglala Sioux who had originally been a part of Dick Wilson's administration but switched sides to join the struggle. According to a photojournalist and medic that was in Pine Ridge, this was a significant blow because "Buddy was liked, respected, and now he was dead".

May 5 1973

gsiegel8 — 2023-12-01 23:00:42 UTC

The Occupiers officially surrendered and laid down their weapons

May 8 1973

gsiegel8 — 2023-12-01 23:01:14 UTC

The 71 day occupation officially ended. Many occupiers were able to escape using the cover of night. According to Arlene Means, a Oglala Sioux elder, "the spirits had a lot do do with it. the one that brought us out was the owl. And every time he would hoot in one direction... we would go that way, and did it right under the Marshall's noses.

1974

gsiegel8 — 2023-12-01 23:01:21 UTC

Russell Means and Dennis Banks stood trial in Minnesota after it was deemed by the court they could not get a fair trial in South Dakota. Means and Banks were two of the heads of AIM who led the occupation of Wounded Knee. They were acquitted after discovering numerous illegal measures taken by the government, during the occupation when the FBI illegally wiretapped the only phone line into wounded knee, and during the trial where the government was charged with "prosecutorial misconduct including witness tampering".