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Robert Free and Sid Mills lead the escort of the attorney general into Wounded Knee, for one of the rounds of negotiations. The Independent Oglala Nation asked for a referendum for a new form of government and had gathered 1,400 signatures, but the U.S. only wanted to talk about disarmament. From 'Voices from Wounded Knee 1973,' by Akwesasne Notes, fourth printing in 1976.
In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Wounded Knee, honoring those who gave their lives. Pedro Bissonette had long been targeted as an organizer of the Oglala Sioux Civil Rights Organization. After Wounded Knee, he was shot in the chest at close range, in his car, by a BIA police officer serving a warrant on Oct. 17. The warrant was for charges during Wounded Knee. Photo: Voices from Wounded Knee 1973.
"During the siege at Wounded Knee, Pedro Bissonette, Vice President of the Oglala Sioux Civil Rights Organization, and Gladys Bissonette looked back on the impeachment proceedings and described their frustration at Richard Wilson's manipulation of his own hearing and trial, on February 22 and 23.
"Pedro: So then we, the Civil Rights group, were gathering a pow-wow at Calico Community Hall six miles north of Pine Ridge. We left Calico that morning of the 22nd at 9 o'clock - the impeachment was scheduled for 10 o'clock. We had a caravan of 150 cars, 350 members, at Billy Mills Hall. We circled Billy Mills Hall three times, we parked there and then we walked in. We had our drummers and singers with us, and we were singing. We had our peace pipe and our spiritual leaders with us. I was notified that the impeachment was going to be held under closed doors, and piped out through TV to the public. But I told them that the Civil Rights group members were demanding a public hearing. So they voted on it and gave it to us because there were so many of us. Six hundred and fifty were seated on our side. In the meantime, they postponed the impeachment until 2:00 and they showed a movie [Anarchy, USA, produced by the John Birch Society] about the colored people rioting and burning houses down. The only ones that were interested were the Council members. We were singing and doing our thing." -- Voices from Wounded Knee 1973, published by Akwesasne Notes.
Buddy Lamont, local Oglala, shown in the center, was shot in the back of the head by a federal sniper. "During the lull, a warrior had come in from Last Stand bunker. He brought word that Buddy Lamont had been killed early that morning. He had been hit from behind by a sniper and died instantly. Security notified the Government that Wounded Knee wanted to bring its dead warrior down into the village. At this point, the Government agreed to a cease-fire. Gradually the shooting died down, and Buddy's body was brought to the clinic. It was only now, too, that the man injured so many hours before could be brought in by the medics." -- Voices from Wounded Knee 1973.
Frank Clearwater, Cherokee and Apache, who had hitchhiked from North Carolina with his wife, was shot in the back of the head by a federal sniper. Credit: 'Voices from Wounded Knee 1973' published by Akwesasne Notes.
"The nightly meeting at the trading post." In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Wounded Knee. Credit: "Voices from Wounded Knee 1973," published by Akwesasne Notes. The U.S. government later admitted that it fired a half million rounds into Wounded Knee.
In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Wounded Knee. 'Voices from Wounded Knee 1973' published by Akwesasne Notes.
Oglalas meeting with the Wounded Knee Legal Defense Offense Committee lawyers on March 25 to discuss the new court order. From left: Tom Bad Cob, Frances Mesteth, Phyllis Mesteth, Ellen Moves Camp, Gladys Bissonette, and Lou Beane. In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Wounded Knee. Credit: 'Voices from Wounded Knee 1973,' published by Akwesasne Notes.
Oglala leadership meets with the government on March 4. 'Voices from Wounded Knee 1973' published Akwesasne Notes. Fourth printing 1976.
Angela Davis came to Wounded Knee in support but was prevented from entering by the federal government at the roadblock. It was the same day the Iroquois delegation was leaving, and she supported them at the roadblock. Credit 'Voices from Wounded Knee 1973' published by Akwesasne Notes. Fourth printing 1976.
'Voices from Wounded Knee 1973' published by Akwesasne Notes. Fourth printing 1976. Photo: Wounded Knee 1973.
Lakota Spiritual Leaders, Traditional Chiefs, and Holy Men met with local Oglala at Wounded Knee and made the decision to become an Independent Sovereign Nation. They seized the moment and became a sovereign independent nation and asked the American Indian Movement to effect this change. The traditional leaders decided this was probably the only time in history they would have to regain their sovereignty as a nation. Credit: 'Voices from Wounded Knee 1973.'
Lavetta Yeahquo, Kiowa, was young when she went to Wounded Knee. She returned this weekend and shared her memories of the bullets whizzing around her head. In an earlier interview, Yeahquo gave incredible details about being in the bunker where Frank Clearwater was shot in the back of his head by a federal sniper through the wall. It was the same bunker that Lavetta was in. There was also another person in their bunker, who went by the name of Frank Black Horse, who they later learned was an Italian FBI informant who had dyed his hair and posed as Indian. They didn't know until Leonard Peltier was extradited from Canada that Frank Black Horse was an informant. Black Horse was with Peltier, but Black Horse remained protected in Canada, she said. Photo from the book 'Voices from Wounded Knee 1973' honoring those who gave their lives Frank Clearwater, Buddy Lamont and Pedro Bissonette.
Read more: 'Inside the Bunkers, Remembering Wounded Knee' at Censored News.
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| The U.S. government later admitted firing more than a half million rounds into Wounded Knee. |
(Above) Roadblocks were manned by Oglala Chairman Dickie Wilson's GOONS (Guardians of the Oglala Nation hired by Wilson), to prevent supporters from entering Wounded Knee.
Honoring the Matriarch of Wounded Knee: Fourteen Minutes of Power
by Censored News
Matriarchs of Wounded Knee honored at the 50th Anniversary of Wounded Knee in Porcupine
on Pine Ridge
1 comment:
“The US Government later admitted firing more than a half million rounds into Wounded Knee”.
In the wake of Lee Brown and Alcatraz, in the midst of an unpopular war in Viet Nam, the resistance at Wounded Knee resonated with the many in settler communities. Even if by way of the mainstream corporate media of the day. As a young man, I recall how friends and coworkers in New York City were troubled by the ongoing standoff, by the government's militaristic response which at best seemed absurd and at worst threatened violence and bloodshed. Nothing new, of course, for First Nations peoples, but a powerful spark of enlightenment for all who live on Great Turtle Island and cared enough to take it to heart.
That said, thanks for featuring photos and recollections from “Voices of Wounded Knee 1973”.
Also, for the companion post that features warrior women who contributed behind the scenes: “Inside the Bunkers: Remembering Wounded Knee.”
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