Battle of Wounded Knee

Introduction

The Wounded of Wounded Knee took place in December 29.1890, near Wounded Knee Creek of the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, USA. The day before a detachment of U.S. seventh Cavalry Regiment commanded by Major Samuel M. Whiteside intercepted stained (Big Foot) band of Miniconjou Elk Lakota Hunkpapa Lakota and 38 near Porcupine Butte and escorted to five miles to the west (8 km) to the Wounded Knee Creek, where they camped. (Brown, pp. 190-200)

Gold discoveries continued to trigger violent conflict with prospectors and indigenous peoples. Since 1858, the Fraser Canyon gold rush in British Columbia points to a large number of miners, many of Washington, Oregon and California, culminates in the Fraser Canyon War. While this conflict occurred in what is now Canada, involved militias were formed in most Americans.

The Nez Perce War of 1877 is particularly known for the Chief Joseph and the fight against the withdrawal of three months of a band of about 800 Nez Perce. As with other wars in the Pacific Northwest, the Nez Perce War was caused by an influx of settlers, the appropriation of indigenous lands, and the gold rush, this time in Idaho. The Nez Perce were pressured into a new treaty in 1863, establishing a new reservation, smaller in Idaho that did not include the traditional tribal lands in the Wallowa Valley. Bannock War erupted the following year, for similar reasons. (Winkler, pp. 13-19)

Background

In December 1890, a catastrophic event shook the Native American community, and might well have been the final act that resulted in the eventual decline of the indigenous population and culture. In a little lonely hill at Wounded Knee, South Dakota, are a memory and the burial of some of the victims of the incident simply known as Wounded Knee? (Brown, pp. 190-200)

In a simpler time, a holy man from Nevada Piaute conceived, or was illuminated by a new religious tradition called the Ghost Dance. Although government soldiers thought the Ghost Dance was a dangerous attempt by indigenous tribes to regain lost tribal lands and rebellion against his new government, the Ghost Dance was much less than that. A peaceful religion is thought certain dances, songs and prayers to bring back to life their dead ancestors, buffalo herds disappeared again and restore the customs and traditions of the old ways, before the arrival of the "white man ". (Brown, pp. 190-200)

In an effort to quell the "rebellion", the soldiers were sent to stop all activities Ghost Dance, causing many tribes and people to flee their homelands in search of a place where cherished practices could still be used. Thus, around December 1890, a group of Sioux Miniconjous, lead by Chief Big Foot, fled the Cheyenne River reservations, travel about 150 miles across the plains and Badlands to a shelter in the hope of the Pine Ridge Reservation where Chief Red Cloud was committed to welcome them. (Winkler, pp. 13-19)

Since the government had banned the Ghost Dance and all related activities, the ...