The Battle of Wounded Knee Massacre of 1973: The Backstory Behind The Bloody Encounter Of 'Wounded Knee'

^{Wounded Knee Massacre of 1973, image credit: Wikimedia Commons, Author: Frederic Remington, CC0 Public Domain}

The event of being a migrant in own country is quite old in the history of the world. Even it's not fancy incident. Since the beginning of civilization, heroical people have been encroaching the local inhabitants of the new territories until today. After the colonial era, new technologies, knowledge, and even philosophies have been used in this work. If the affected people try counter-resistance then they are completely destroyed. Describing Indigenous own culture as 'barbarous', have imposed on them The worst history of the 'civilized' mastery of the domination of the Western empire.

^{MB & Carter Camp at Wounded Knee, image credit: flickr, Author: Neeta Lind, CC0 Public Domain}

America's history is also a burning an example of the atrocities of Western civilization. Before the invention of the so-called America of Columbus in 1492, the continent had the indigenous population which was named after the 'Red Indians'. Aboriginal people have been forced to stay in inhumane conditions such as the day-to-day reservation through massacre, land-grabbing, etc. However, the tribal people of the struggling life did not accept all wrongdoing. In 1973, the 'Wounded-Knee-Incident' is such is the case of a protest.

On February 27, 1973, around 200 members of the indigenous Oglala Lakota people took control of the city in the Pine Ridge Indian Reserve of Wounded Knee Town, in the United States of South Dakota. This incident generated a huge response in the media. It's to be noted that 83 years ago, on December 29, 1890, the US government carried out the extensive massacre on indigenous Lakota people. In this extensive massacre, 300 people were killed, including elderly people, women, and children, apart from capable men. In 1973 the rebels became angry over the government and administration and they chose the same place for non-cooperation. Because this distraction was not created for one day.

^{Burial of the dead after the massacre of Wounded Knee, image credit: Wikimedia Commons, Author: Northwestern Photo Co. CC0 Public Domain}
There are some common issues with migrants and colonizers coming from Europe on the continent of America. Indigenous Americans were divided into many nations and tribes. By utilizing this cultural distinction and disintegration, colonial rulers have expanded the area of their own domination. Even after the United States became an independent state, this policy did not change, but it had increased more and more. The government's policy was, was to reduce the impact of Indigenous Americans influence and power so that they were compelled to live in a particular region.

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation was established in South Dakota Province on 2 March 1889. Its purpose was to restrict the passage of the people of Oglala Lakota. Since its inception, the region has become the poorest area in the United States. The Bureau of Indian Affairs was responsible for the maintenance of this reservation on behalf of the government. Richard Garratt Wilson was the indigenous leader of the Lakota group and he was elected as a president. The intermediary organization of the government and indigenous people was 'Guardians of the Oglala Nation'. These Guardians of the Oglala Nation worked as much as possible intermediaries but more than that, they worked as Richard Wilson's personal armed forces.

^{Wounded Knee officers, image credit: Wikimedia Commons, Author: Scott, Hugh Lenox, 1853-1934, collector, CC0 Public Domain}

In 1972, Richard Garratt Wilson was elected chairman of the Oglala Lakota tribe. His ancestors were not completely indigenous, and there was also a mixture of white blood. In addition, he was quite corrupt. For shameless nepotism, he became quite discussed person. While there were only a few available benefits available in the Indian Reserve, but Wilson used to save his vast majority for his closest people and attendants. The Bureau of Indian Affairs of the government organization also supported him for their own interests.

There were many smaller and larger caste groups in the reservation, and each party had its own leader and political activism. But the members of those groups did not participate in state cultural activities. Besides, the indigenous human rights organization the American Indian Movement was vocal about the demand for full state rights of indigenous people across the country. They constitute indirect and internal colonization of the federal government and intervention of the state in the reserve. So the support of the general exploited Oglala Lakota people was on the American Indian Movement. Later it will be seen that the active presence of this human rights organization in the incident will become a matter of concern for the federal government.

^{Native American, image credit: Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Public Domain}

Indigenous Americans people's problems were not only surrounded by the Reserve Chairman. Richard Wilson had a good relationship with the local White Ranchers. He was accused of selling reservation area's land at lower prices to the local White Ranchers and the big investors. Without importance to the opinion of reservations areas people's, he lefts many places to the private companies for hopes of potential mineral resources. In addition this time, due to the activities of the Guardians of the Oglala Nation and the white terrorists, the law and order situation in the reservation area also deteriorated. In 1973, a 20-year-old Lakota which name Wesley Bad Heart Bull, are killed by terrorists. The judiciary expresses the inability to investigate this killing. The local police administration was accused of involvement in these killings. Many such inhuman and discriminatory incidents prompted the 'Wounded-Knee-Incident'. On February 27, 1973, the presence of indigenous leaders and American Indian Movement member Russell Means and Dennis Banks, in historic Wounded-Knee areas, the decision of the public order was taken. They demanded that Richard Wilsons resignation and demanded that, the federal government should take effective measures to get rid of Inhuman life of the people of the reservation area.

^{US Congressional Committee at Pine Ridge Reservation, image credit: Wikimedia commons, CC0 Public Domain}

Suddenly The federal government's twist collapsed. Due to the fear of the recurrence of the American-Indian war nearly a hundred years ago, the government arranged roadblocks for every 15 miles in the Pine Ridge Reservation area.

Then Richard Garratt Wilson appointed his own armed forces members of the Guardians of the Oglala Nation. After 10 days the government lifted the roadblocks and ordered Richard to revoke the armed force. As a result, many new supporters and activists expressed their solidarity with the movement. The members of the American Indian Movement were publishing their claims in the media unabashedly. As a result, indigenous communities and organizations across the country have been hoping to be get rid of prisoners.

From the venue suddenly announcement the independent sovereign Oglala as a state. On behalf of the Movement, Frank Fools Crow was sent as a representative for the recognition of the United Nations in New York. Despite the recognition of the UN, the widespread encouragement of the international media was found.

^{Hotchkiss gun wounded knee, image credit: Wikimedia Commons, Author: John C. H. Grabill, CC0 Public Domain}

Then, The Federal Government approached, pursued the US Marshal Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI), and the National Guard armed forces of five states, following the importance of the incident. It is said that 1 lakh 33 thousand round bullets and ammunition, armored cars, rifles, grenade launchers, sniper, helicopter, flares, and aerial photography equipment were brought. On March 13, the United States Department of Justice Attorney Harlington Wood Jr. demanded the movement to go unarmed to the Undead area. Due to tiredness, the negotiation was incomplete, but his diplomacy was somewhat successful.

On April 12, the US Justice Department appointed American attorney Kent Frizzell. According to the government's strict and rigid policy, electricity, water, and food supply were declared closed in the "Wounded-Knee" area. Media inspections were announcements completely unwanted for a temporary period. The armed forces surrounded the area. The protesters were not completely disarmed. So the clash became inevitable.

US Federal Marshal Lloyd was seriously injured in the firing and later he leads a crippled life. On April 17, the Aboriginal tribe's evacuation Frank James Clearwater and his pregnant wife were killed. Researchers came under the shadow of mourning when local Oglala Lakota leader Lawrence Lamont was killed on April 26. Senior leaders of the tribe announced the end of the movement. On May 5, The federal government and the protesters have announced the surrender of arms to both sides.

^{Ghost Dance at Pine Ridge, image credit: Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Public Domain}

Soon after the announcement, members of the Oglala Lakota group started leaving the ground. The 71-day movement and active stand-off ended on May 8. The federal government takes full responsibility for the city. As a government, two people were killed and 14 wounded in the Oglala Lakota group. After, Journalist and activist, Ray Robinson were lost.

This movement has gained wide support and sympathy for the country and the world. Hollywood stars Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, Angela Davis, Johnny Cash, and John Wicker directly support this movement. Indigenous actress Marie Louise Cruz, who was known as Sacheen Littlefeather announced the solidarity with the movement by wearing indigenous clothing at the 45th Oscars Awards.

Image sources AND LICENCES:
All the images which I used in this post, they are free for commercial use and royalty free. Original images links also provided under them.

If You Want To Further Reading About This Article Don't Forget To Checkout These REFERENCES:

<sup>Wounded Knee Massacre

Massacre At Wounded Knee, 1890

Armed Indians Seize Wounded Knee, Hold Hostages

Wounded Knee

Occupy Wounded Knee: A 71-Day Siege and a Forgotten Civil Rights Movement

Siege at Wounded Knee, 1973</sup>

<sup>Native Americans Ride to Remember Wounded Knee Massacre

1890: U.S. Cavalry massacres Lakota at Wounded Knee</sup>