I've been working on our original website The American Experience segment – Wounded Knee is coming up soon, and I thought it might be a good time to listen to a documentary on WK that we did in 1993 – 20 years after the takeover.
This piece, A Song For Wounded Knee, won a Golden Reel from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters. It was produced by Milt Lee and Jamie Lee for PRI, KILI Radio in Porcupine SD, and aired on AIROS. The hour long documentary looks at the background surrounding the takeover and goes deeply into the tribal politics that served as the stew that AIM ( the American Indian Movement) was brought into. Gerald One Feather, tribal Chairman from 1970 to 1972, remarked that in 20 years, we were the first people who had ever done an interview with him, which I found amazing since it was the actions of his administration that led to the 71 day siege at Wounded Knee.
Very objective! Haven’t seen the TV series yet, but this seems to be an authentic account.
This was wonderfully produced. It is amazing how so many people have so many views of the events. I quess it is true. There are two sides to every story. I was 19 years old at the time of the siege and remember it very well. I am ashamed of how the white man has and still treats the American Indian to this day. It is an american atrocity and genocide on a nation of people because of the so called cause of manifest destiny, another word for the white man’s greed for riches and land, which they still want today. I am an American Indian at heart. The white man decimated your people for their own selfish gain. The earth is not for sale and who made them the owner. God they said then, but they were not speaking for the God I serve. So many have died in the name of GOD, when he had nothing to do with it. What is the opinion of John Trudell in the Indian Nation today. I heard his poetry, but there was no mention of him specificly. I thought he was the man in a leadership position during this time, both at Wounded Knee and at Alcatraz. I have a lot of intense feelings about all the injustices that have been dealt to your people. There is not room or time to elaborate on them. I study American Indain Culture and history as much as I can. I am deeply sorry for what we as a nation have done. The sins of many will be addressed in the ages to come. I wish you all well in Indian Country everywhere. My kindest regards, Don Pendleton
this event changed my life i am whitite but sweat every week alll my relations
I am a mixed blood of Lakota/cherokee,this is the story of my life, I was born in barren co. ky. My parents always talked of returning to their home rez,but later divorced and we were left to fend on our own in a place we should have never been left to. I am very proud of my heritage even though here I have contended with being called half-breed all my life,now I am grown,I am teaching my children about the Lakota way and to stand proud. SPRINGWATER My mom was the Lakota,her name was Annie Decker.