1. The Massacre at Wounded Knee
Prejudice against Native Americans
By Robert Hutton
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2. Introduction
The term, “Native American” applies to a variety refers to dozens of unique societies, each with its own history and cultural heritage
Native Americans include Eskimos, Cherokee, Sioux, Mohawk, Incan, Apache, Aleuts, and Zuni to name but a few
It is estimated that before European settlers arrived, Native Americans may have numbered as many as 112 million
Today about 1.9 million people in America identify themselves as Native Americans...

3. Fall of the Lakota Sioux
The Lakota Sioux Indians were nomadic plains dwellers who followed herds of Buffalo
By the year 1860, the American government had built roads and forts on the Sioux land
In the Sioux Indians were subjugated by the U.S. government
By 1890 the Sioux Indians found their previous life destroyed, the Buffalo gone, themselves cramped in minute reservations
Sioux hunting buffalo

4. Wovoka-founder of the Ghost Dance movement
In 1888 an Indian holy man called Wovaka began the Ghost Dance Religion
The Ghost Dance touched upon elements of traditional Native American culture and Christianity
It foretold of freedom for all Indians from white domination
Members of the Ghost Dance movement included Chiefs Sitting Bull and Big Foot
Wovoka-founder of the Ghost Dance movement

5. The Ghost Dance (cont)
During the fall of 1890, the Ghost Dance spread to the Sioux villages in the Dakota reservations
Members of the Ghost Dance wore shirts emblazoned with eagles, which they believed could deflect bullets
White officials became alarmed and in December banned the practice of the Ghost dance on Lakota reservations
Sioux Ghost Dance

6. The death of Sitting Bull
The order was sent out to capture Chief Sitting Bull, one of the leaders of the Ghost Dance
Sitting Bull attempted to seek sanctuary in the South
Before he could leave Standing Rock Reservation, an attempt was made to arrest Sitting Bull on December 15th
Sitting Bull and 7 of his warriors, as well as 6 policeman, were killed in the ensuing scuffle
Chief Sitting Bull

7. The flight of Big Foot
When he heard the news of Sitting Bull’s death, Chief Big Foot rallied his followers and attempted to flee to the protection of Chief Red cloud
Sitting Bull fell ill from pneumonia during the trip, and was forced to ride in the back of a wagon
A detachment of the 7th U.S. Cavalry under Major Samuel Whitside were tasked with intercepting Chief Big Foot
Chief Big Foot

8. Indian camp at Wounded Knee Creek
Capture
On December 28th, the 4 troops of cavalry intercepted the Indians, who surrendered
Major Whitside almost attempted to disarm the Indians on the spot, but was dissuaded by one of his staff
In a moment of compassion, Whitside ordered a field ambulance to transport Big Foot
The Indians were escorted to a temporary camp on the banks of Wounded Knee Creek
Indian camp at Wounded Knee Creek

9. A map of Wounded Knee camp
When the Indians reached the camp at dusk, they were counted and given rations and shelter
In total the Indians numbered about 120 men, and 230 women and children
To ensure the Indians did not escape, Whitside placed two Hotchkiss guns on a ridge overlooking the Indian lodges
During the night, more cavalry and Hotchkiss guns arrived under Colonel Forsyth who assumed command, bringing the number of soldiers up to 500
A map of Wounded Knee camp

10. Disarming the Indians
The next day, Colonel Forsythe called all the Indian men to the center of the camp
Informing the Indians that they were to be disarmed, he ordered them to surrender their weapons
The Colonel ordered the camp searched for hidden weapons, but he only found two rifles
When attempting to take a rifle from a deaf Indian, Black Coyote, The soldiers accidentally discharged the weapon
Another view of the camp

11. U.S. cavalrymen open fire
The Massacre begins…
The cavalrymen immediately opened fire with their carbines
Most of the casualties were in the first minutes of fighting
The Indians then attempted to attack the soldiers at close quarters
Few of the Indians had weapons, and soon they had to flee
The Hotchkiss guns opened fire, systematically destroying the Indian encampment
U.S. cavalrymen open fire

12. A grim view of the death toll at Wounded Knee
Aftermath
When the slaughter had ended, Chief Big Foot and 153 of his tribesman lay dead in the snow, many more died of their wounds
About 300 of the original 350 Indians had died as a result of the massacre
The 7th Cavalry suffered 25 dead and 37 wounded, mostly caused by ‘friendly fire’
The surviving Indians were rounded up, spending the freezing night in a Church
A grim view of the death toll at Wounded Knee

13. A group photo of some of the cavalrymen who took part in Wounded Knee
Medals of Dis-Honor
23 soldiers were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their role in the massacre
The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest award in the military, given for uncommon valor and bravery in battle
To this day the government has not rescinded the medals honoring the cavalrymen who took part in the Massacre
A group photo of some of the cavalrymen who took part in Wounded Knee

14. “Remember Wounded Knee”
Until 1990 when it was changed by Congress Wounded Knee was officially touted as a ‘battle’
The U.S. Army still has battle streamers commemorating the ‘victory’ of Wounded Knee
In 1973 American Indian Movement activists occupied Wounded Knee and were besieged by the government for 8 days before a compromise was made
The insignia of the 1973 AIM

15. American Indians Today
Data gathered indicates that Indians are victims of violent crime more than twice the national average
60% of these crimes are perpetrated by white people
3.4% of Indians rely on welfare
On some Indian reservations unemployment is as high as 70%
The 1997 arrest rate among Indians for alcohol related offences was more than double any other race
Former AIM supporter visits Wounded Knee gravesite

16. American Indians Today: Indian Mascots
Indians suffer a more subtle type of prejudice in the form of Indian team Mascots or names
In 1998 a newspaper headline in the city of Cleveland covered its front page with the headline, “Take the Tribe and Scalp 'Em.”
Some examples of Indian mascots include Chief Wahoo of Cleveland and the Washington Redskins
Chief ‘Wahoo’ of Cleveland, Ohio

17. Conclusion Black Elk-one of the survivors of Wounded KneeB
“I did not know then how much was ended. When I look back now from this high hill of my old age, I can still see the butchered women and children lying heaped and scattered all along the crooked gulch as plain as when I saw them with eyes still young. And I can see that something else died there in the bloody mud, and was buried in the blizzard. A people's dream died there. It was a beautiful dream the nation's hoop is broken and scattered. There is no center any longer, and the sacred tree is dead” Black Elk