NOVEMBER 17, 2023:
The Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act unanimously passed the US Senate Committee on Indian Affairs last week (Nov. 15, 2023). This is the identical Senate companion, led by U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), to U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson’s (R-S.D.) bill that passed the House unanimously in September 2023.
“The events that happened at Wounded Knee on December 29, 1890, should not be forgotten,” said Johnson. “I’m thankful for the Senate Committee following the House’s lead. This progress brings us closer to properly memorializing and remembering the lives lost and securing lasting protection for the land.”
Read full bill text here. Find the Covenant between both tribes here. Find the map here.
Wounded Knee Massacre Background:
In the late 1880s, a movement called the Ghost Dance swept across the nation. Indians believed that this dance would give stolen land back to the Indians, bringing about a renewal of Native society. Indians would join together, wearing shirts they believed would protect them from bullets, to dance for this renewal, all at the protest of the federal government.
On December 29, 1890, a group of Lakota Indians led by Chief Spotted Elk had made camp near Wounded Knee Creek on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. There, U.S. Army 7th Calvary troops were sent to disarm the Lakota. A struggle occurred between the U.S. Army and some of Chief Spotted Elk’s band – a majority of which consisted of women and children. A shot rang out, and the U.S. Army opened fire on the largely unarmed group, massacring an estimated up to 350-375 Lakota Indians. Twenty-five U.S. soldiers also died.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2023:
The Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act passed the U.S. House by unanimous consent this week (Sept. 20, 2023). This bill preserves a section of the land where hundreds of Lakota Indians were massacred by the U.S. Army. U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced the bill in May 2023 after months of working in coordination with the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. The bill unanimously passed the House Natural Resources Committee in June.
“What happened at Wounded Knee is a stain on our nation’s past that cannot be washed away,” said Johnson. “But passage of this bill is a step closer to properly memorializing the lives lost and protecting the land forever.”
“In the dead of winter, December 29, 1890, the United States’ 7th Cavalry massacred our People, old men, women, and children. We stand as a united voice for our ancestors who suffered the pain of the Wounded Knee Massacre and our countless generations who continue to suffer from the historical trauma. We, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, extend our strong support for the passage of the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act. We thank Dusty Johnson and the House for taking this important step,” said Chairman Ryman LeBeau, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
“We are pleased the House of Representatives acted quickly to pass this important legislation. This bill will protect our sacred land at Wounded Knee. It also continues the healing process for the descendants of victims and survivors of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre,” said President Frank Star Comes Out, Oglala Sioux Tribe.
Read full bill text here. Find the Covenant between both tribes here. Find the map here.
Wounded Knee Massacre Background:
In the late 1880s, a movement called the Ghost Dance swept across the nation. Indians believed that this dance would give stolen land back to the Indians, bringing about a renewal of Native society. Indians would join together, wearing shirts they believed would protect them from bullets, to dance for this renewal, all at the protest of the federal government.
On December 29th, 1890, a group of Lakota Indians led by Chief Spotted Elk had made camp near Wounded Knee Creek on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. There, U.S. Army 7th Calvary troops were sent to disarm the Lakota. A struggle occurred between the U.S. Army and some of Chief Spotted Elk’s band – a majority of which consisted of women and children. A shot rang out, and the U.S. Army opened fire on the largely unarmed group, massacring an estimated up to 350-375 Lakota Indians. Twenty-five U.S. soldiers also died.
JUNE 7, 2023:
U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) testified before the House Natural Resources Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee this week (June 7, 2023) on his bill, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act.
Johnson introduced the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act in May 2023 after six months of working with both the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe to place the land of the Wounded Knee Massacre into trust-like status.
Johnson’s written testimony (as prepared for delivery):
“Chair Hageman, Ranking Member Leger Fernández, and Members of the Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee,
Thank you for the opportunity to testify before the subcommittee today. I am here to speak on my bill, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act. On December 29th, 1890, in the final armed conflict of the Indian Wars, the 7th Calvary of the U.S. Army committed one of the most heinous atrocities against Indians.
In the late 1880s, a movement called the Ghost Dance swept across the nation. American Indians believed that this dance would bring about a renewal of Native society, putting a stop to being pushed off ancestral lands, starvation, and a decline of Native society. In 1883, Secretary of Interior Henry Teller referred to similar dances as ‘a great hindrance to the civilization of the Indians.’
On December 15th, 1890, Sitting Bull and some of his followers, a few of which were believers in the Ghost Dance, were killed in an armed conflict with the Standing Rock Indian Reservation police, when they attempted to arrest Sitting Bull. Several members of Sitting Bull’s band fled for the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation and joined Chief Spotted Elk’s band, headed for the Pine Ridge Reservation.
On December 28th, 1890, Spotted Elk’s band – largely consisting of women and children – were stopped by the Army’s 7th Calvary and made camp at Wounded Knee Creek. The next morning, troops began to disarm the Lakota. A struggle occurred between some of the Lakota and troops and a shot rang out. The troops then fired on the largely unarmed group, resulting in the deaths of approximately 350-375 Lakota Indians.
On the 100th anniversary of this massacre, Congress issued a formal apology to the Lakota and expressed deep regret for what happened at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. In October 2022, the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe jointly purchased 40 acres of land where an old trading post was located, which was previously privately-owned. This land lies in the boundaries of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and is believed to be the killing field.
It is my great honor to assist these South Dakota tribes in placing these 40 acres in restricted fee status through the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act. This bill allows both tribes to protect the land by prohibiting any development, taxation by any state or local government, and prevents the land from being sold without the consent of Congress and both tribes.
We have an obligation to acknowledge our nation’s mistakes and to work with Indian nations to right the wrongs of history. For the past six months, I have worked together with both tribes to introduce this legislation.
I would like to express my gratitude to Former President Kevin Killer of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Former Chairman Harold Frazier of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe for their leadership in the purchase of this land last year. Without their efforts, we would not be able to have this important discussion today.
I would also like to recognize a representative of the Wounded Knee descendants, Mr. Cedric Broken Nose of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, who is here today.
Finally, thank you to Wounded Knee descendants, President Frank Star Comes Out of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Chairman Ryman LeBeau of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, for their teamwork and dedication to these efforts. I appreciate them being here today to speak on this bill and look forward to their testimony.
Thank you again for holding this hearing. I look forward to working with the committee on passing my bill to protect this sacred land for future generations.”
MAY 20, 2023:
South Dakota U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act to preserve a section of the land where hundreds of Lakota Indians were massacred by the U.S. Army.
“The Wounded Knee Massacre is a stain on our nation’s history,” said Johnson. “The Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act provides greater tribal sovereignty to this sacred tribal land. Memorializing the Lakota lives lost will ensure this site remains sacred for generations to come.”
Specifically, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act places the purchased land into restricted fee status to be held by the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Restricted fee status allows the tribes to own the land outright, while also keeping protections in place, such as a restriction on alienation and taxation from any state or local government. In September 2022, both tribes purchased the field where an old trading post was located. On October 21st, 2022, the tribes signed a covenant, stating that this property shall be held and maintained as a memorial and sacred site without any development.
This bill states that the land will continue to be owned by both tribes, subject to civil and criminal jurisdiction of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, may not be sold without the consent of Congress and both tribes, and is not subject to taxation by any state or local government. This land currently resides within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation’s boundaries.
“We the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe view the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre as one of the most atrocious acts of genocide against the innocent 350 Lakota children, women, and men who were brutally attacked and murdered after being disarmed by the United States Seventh Calvary. It is with great respect to those that came before us and those that will come after us that fuels our work to continue to create a stronger Lakota Nation. We are proud descendants of our Lakota ancestors, and we will never forget their sacrifices for us to be here today. We extend a heartfelt thank you to Congressional Representative Johnson and Staff for diligently working to bring the truth to light in honor of the original stewards of the sacred lands. We stand in strong solidarity in memorializing this sacred site, that will be honored as such forever more,” said the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Chairman Ryman LeBeau, Manny & Renee Iron Hawk (Hawk 1890) Wounded Knee Survivor Descendants.
“We must remember the sacrifices our ancestors have suffered for us. What happened at Wounded Knee is a reminder that we as a Oyate (people) have succumbed incredible odds to survive, so we must honor our ancestors by preserving the land for future generations to come,” said Ogalala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out.
Read full bill text here. Find the Covenant between both tribes here. Find the map here.
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