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This month marks 125 years since the massacre at Wounded Knee Creek. Estimates put the number of men, women and children killed at nearly 300. The U.S. government awarded 20 Medals of Honor to soldiers who participated in the massacre. For 25 years the Chief Bigfoot Band Memorial Ride retraces Chief Bigfoot’s steps, ending at the Wounded Knee massacre site. This year the ride will include a ceremony to end all massacres. Did you learn about the Wounded Knee massacre in your history class? How can communities heal such trauma from the past?
Guests:
Leonard Little Finger (Mnikȟówožu and Oglála Lakota) – a descendant of survivors of the Wounded Knee Massacre
Basil Brave Heart (Oglala Lakota) – Oglala Lakota elder, member of the Grey Eagle Society and the Red Feather Society
Break Music: Encouragement Pipe Song (song) Joseph Shields, Jr. (artist) Wahancanka [Remember Me Grandfather] (album)
My grandfather was Chippewa, so I think I can speak out. Wounded Knee was unforgivable, but Native American suppression began much earlier in the Eastern U.S.. Land-ownership was not understood by Native Americans then, but now, there is opportunity to take back BLM lands and National Park lands if someone will stand up and fight.
How do we take it back what should we do. I’m tired of seeing natives pushed around. This is 2015
YES!!!!
Stand up and take back what rightfully yours.
Actually nobody is native here.If past mistakes are to be corrected.Why not create park from Topeka too Omaha for Bison NO HUMANS ALLOWED.
I think native migration routes planning would strengthen all animal habitat. Instead of isolating deer and bison in tiny local parks where they cannot breed with other healthy specimans. Ensuring animal health and diversity. Combined with Native American reservations.
I do sympathize with you all. This is ashame what happened then.
My grandfather was part Cherokee. He gave me the book to read when I was aboit 12 or 13 uears old. I will never forget! The story will never be told or taught in public schools. I was never informed of these atrocities during my early education.
It is terrible it was not a part of American History…… I’m only about a 1/16th Chippewa, but I claim it.
what book please tell me and where can i find it… i am 1/4 indian
Probably talkin’ about “Bury My Heart @ Wounded Knee”; I know when I was trying to read it in the 80’s, I could only read a little bit& then cry too much…
Of course this was a great eye opener to all Native Americans of that time-it was and ultimatum for all who resisted the White Government. The choice was your either conform to White Man’s ways or be wiped of the face of this earth. To an extent Natives conformed with which Native cultures and Native language was jeopardized for the English tongue and Religion. It’s a slap in Native Americans face that Spanish is a required language for most work places and religion is opposed on colored skins for salvation. The occurrence of Wounded knee still has a ripped effect on all tribes that exists today emotionally, physically and spiritually. All my respect to the descendants of Wounded Knee and their ancestors.
I could never finish the book it hurt me to much, I cried and cried. Of course the story should forever more be told.
Did u live in tioga, n. dak.
Leave a fire burn through the night in remembrance of those who were murdered. Light their path, warm their spirit. A’ ho
What about all the natives that murdered other natives from other tribes over land ? Over enslaving others native tribes women and children for sex ? What about the rapes natives did to the white women ….its not always as clear as oneside or the other makes it
Others need not be perfect before we require human decency abd moral behavior from our political and military leaders.
Yes, this is outrageous that the public school system fails to teach our children about these things of our past. It simply goes to show how ashamed and embarrassed about their actions on how this country became america.
This is for Chad wildthunder, I don’t think this site is saying these things did not happen, it’s simply saying this is sad and why isn’t it taught in the public school system. That the U.S, really should acknowledge the U.S did kill a horrendous number of our people, that it was a MASACRE!!! I don’t know why this article offended you in particular, but you obviously have issues to post something like that, have a little sympathy, a huge number of our people was masacred, have some RESPECT, don’t attack us by pointing the finger back at us!!!!
I wish I could put it in words so much has been said on both side’s the heart will only heal if we let the Great sprit in. How we do that I’m not sure but my Grand Mother said Life is about change like the river and the season, ad night to day do not stay the same life is to short for the hatred in the heart
Dear Mary,
My name is Maria and I come from a county far far away called Cyprus. A small island country that throughout the history has been captured by many and been raded many times. Still halh the islan is under occupation and even if we are in peace now, the attrocities from both sites are not yet placed in a common history book…
Your answer to this gentleman is accurate and to point! Also we should not judge by todays standards what ancient tribes like native american tribes did way back when.
Also when in war both sides commit autrocities in the extend of thier means at the time. So it is only natural to have killings and rapes etc on both sites of the war.
Unfortunately as we have seen through the ages it is the winner that writes the history… But after so many years and all the education we curry on us some people cannot still accept that things like genosites and masacures are things that we should remember and talk about.
We should remember and talk about them not to blame one site or the other but to heal the open wounds and especually prevent them from happening ever again!
Dear Maria:
Thank you for saying what i could not find words for. All war is an atrocity, atrocities are committed on all sides. and the winner writes the book. Thank you for speaking what I could not see or find. I love your last line. Remember and speaking about the past to heal, not to find more reasons to hate. that is wonderful, thank you for that gift.
Unspeakably horrible attrocities were committed by BOTH sides during the development of the entire Americas, be it Canada, U.S., Mexico and all of South America. It is right and just to grieve the loss at Wounded Knee. As it should be to grieve everyone on both sides who had to pay the ultimate sacrifice so that the rest of us could end up here living the lives that, given many other part of the world, are admired and covetted! So, personally, I encourage days of remembrance no matter which ‘side’ you are on. It does a disservice to those who paid the price for our freedoms and privileges by not acknowledging their sacrifice!
I certainly do not covet or admire the US nor the UK where I live. The governments always have been and always will be corrupt and greedy. America/Uk still at it today with their inhuman ways and murdering of innocents in the middle east. History repeats itself.
Still their land. We’re technically living on the soil of a conquered people.. It can never belong to Europeans. This is the fact that needs to be argued in a world court. I think the Native Americans could win that suit too.. It doesn’t mean any of the assholes will abide by the courts decision but it would be interesting.
How could this earth belong to any man being white or native and so fourth cause if all mankind were to dissapear the earth would still be here.the earth is alive and belongs to no one.
Mother earth belongs to NO one.
Why do you try to hide those crime behind those of others??? It does not make it any better and make you look like a complete hypocrite!
I have been drawn to read this book for a Long Time, but I know it will hurt me. I must read it now.
Native Americans were not the first inhabitants of American soil. As a Meso-American, my ancestors spread far North beyond what is modern day Mexico.
I will never forget !
Neither will Mother Earth !
Up most Respect.
I could never finish the book. And what was taught, had me angered by the loss, and why? I would so love to participate if allowed.
I am not a native american, but I visited the Wounded Knee Memorial in 1976 when I lived in Rapid City SD. It is the saddest place I have ever been. The feeling is visceral. It just reaches out & grabs your heart. Even today, almost 40 years later, that feeling still comes over me and I still cry when I think of the lives lost in such a treacherous way. The souls and spirits of those murdered is still strong.
I had a similar experience when I visited Wounded Knee in 1982, Trish. The feeling IS visceral, you are right. I was overcome with such sadness that I could barely walk and tears flowed from my eyes as they do now when I think of it. I have been haunted by Wounded Knee since I was a young girl and as long as I breathe I will not forget…,
karma has already begun for the white man…..for all his atrocities to all of mankind. He has no peace of mind. he lives in fear. he cannot trust others. there is no joy in his life. he has abandoned his own soul. in the darkness , he sees the truth and it fills him with an unknown dread. so be it.
I was never taught this in school but it should be taught to our children and teach them the ways of the Native American ancestry!
The America’s have never really took full responsibility for their actions. They took land and then shoved Indians on the “res” and never really said sorry or tell the truth
I have cousins that are Native American I don’t think I have that much. I have alway tried to watch as many Native American docoumentries as possible I feel what hitler did to Jewish people and what history states as the badest act in history to ever befalls any one people maybe Germany but not America As a white man. I know this don’t mean much to you. But to all the different tribe out there and that are gone. I’m so sorry theres know way to repay you. Or get your land back. And for that I’m also sorry. Also you had a lot of great Chiefs they were brave and great leaders. I really don’t know what to say. I’m a shamed of my people and of my government I’m truly sorry. Please try to forgive us.
Mother Patricia Marie Pascoe LeBeau Belsky Garrick Nafziger always talked about the Bàttle of Wounded Knee
Hi ! I come from Innu Nation of the Cold windy North and went last year visiting my friend in Oglala Nation … My first attending to Sundance !!! Went praying for those who suffered there and lost their lives ! What a fighting Nation, real proud of being Native !
We all know nowhere outside of were we were born. Second hand and Third and book then youtube knowledge is your perception of something you did not experience. Get to know the land you live on and treat it with the utmost respect.
Take back …. you cannot take back something you never had. Your ancestors are only those small pieces of your genome. Your experience through the space and time of your life is what you have to honestly work with.
Spread honest awareness and keep an open mind. People migrated. People still migrate. Its part of what humanity is. The genocidal aspect of the American and Canadian and Mexican governments in their formation and expansion and retraction with conflicts amongst eachother was buried with the ‘spoils to the winner’ rule. Honesty is due but dwelling is for memorials and chapels. Then you can spend as much time as you need to reflect.
The land has been altered and the wildlife and domestic animals have too. Forests removed and soil eroded. It can never be the same … constant change is the only thing that’s the same.
There is no going back. We can only go forward.
Let’s make that forward more environmentally friendly.
What occurred at Wounded Knee, unfortunately has happened all over Our World
Even in my Homeland here in Wales (part of the United Kingdom now) in the 13th Century
Lot’s of ‘Tribes’ have been massacered, even in the 20th Century. Look at what Hitler did to the Jews etc
I have Family (white people) who now reside and love North America in the Regions mentioned
We (Us Welsh people) suffered the same sufferance that you people have done. It is ‘Tradgic” as ypu say.Unfortunately the White Man, specifically the Spanish and the ‘English’ invaded the Americas for plunder and gain and eventually took control. It is now History. Just keep your Language like we have done. Plus keep telling the Stories. Your Tradition of keeping . Peace Guys and I thank you for your Language is so important to keep that Language going
Hitler was envious of the US ability to move out the natives and invaded Poland and Ukraine for food production
Tejon Indian say let the heart heal as the river that change so do the fish in it, let your Sprit find you with the season’s that change, from death of all things to green and alive, to dark then alive with a new sun. The Great Sprit will put use were we need to be…
All Natives are “resurrecting” today-Generation Indigenous included as we make up 50% of population. Phoenix rising. Amazing telling of Grandfather’s (Leonard Little Finger’s grandpa) truth. Pine Ridge bears the scars today.