Dawn : Relocation and Occupation

Episode 5 of our series focuses on the 1973 Occupation of Wounded Knee by the American Indian Movement(AIM). It starts with a segment about how Wounded Knee, a place of incredible historical importance, got its name.

We then turn to a discussion of Termination policy which “eliminated much government support for Indian tribes and ended the protected trust status of all Indian-owned lands.” The focus here is the process of Relocation where it was hoped our relatives would assimilate into mainstream American society.

The next three parts of this episode look at the event that some people call Wounded Knee II, a tense affair that pitted AIM against Tribal President Dick Wilson and the U.S. government. First, we hear about some of the important factors and events leading up to the 71-day Occupation. Next, we hear about the Occupation itself from individuals who were both inside and outside Wounded Knee. Lastly, we hear about the extremely volatile years following the Occupation which were depicted to us as both “a civil war” and “a revolution” on the Pine Ridge Reservation.