Wounded Knee 1973

Last Friday night, "Wounded Knee," the fifth in a five-part PBS series entitled "We Shall Remain," was previewed locally at Sinte Gleska University. It documented the American Indian Movement's 1973 standoff with the FBI in the village of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Reservation. AIM members Russell Means, Carter Camp, Leonard Crow Dog, and other veterans of the 71-day incident spoke at the event.

It was a fascinating night for me. To be able to listen to those directly involved with what happened 36 years ago was a treat. I sat directly behind Means and Camp during the documentary. It was interesting listening to the comments they made to one another during the scenes with which they disagreed and the parts that made them laugh.

I didn't know much about Camp prior to Friday. As someone who is new to South Dakota with a general knowledge of AIM and the events of '73, Russell Means has always been the first name to come to my mind. Camp's telling of the events was done in a matter-of-fact style I liked. On the other hand, Means threw around wasicu a bit too much and spoke with an argumentative tone.

The issues plaguing Indian Country, including the recent lawsuit seeking settlement money compensating tribes for taking the Black Hills, are not easy to solve. The us-against-them ("them" being the wasicu, or the white man) mentality possessed by folks like Means does not help, in my opinion. (He stated, for example, the Lakota Oyate, or people, should not join the U.S. military.) Of course, what Native Americans have been subjected to over the centuries is horrible; however, righting the wrong is way too complicated to occur without cooperation.

Stepping off my tiny soapbox now... This was a special event for SGU and the entire reservation. If you have a chance, check-out the episode's premiere on PBS on Sunday.