For this post I have chosen to talk about the Wounded Knee film. I found the movie really interesting, I knew AIM had been one of the more militant movements during that era, but I did not realize how big of an impact they had on the American public. I realize that AIM was big, maybe not as big as the MLK and Malcolm X, but still pretty important. And I totally agree with their tactics. During that era, people wanted to be heard, and the corruption at Pine Ridge was getting out of the control of the citizens. And it was the Oglala Sioux who were suffering the most, it was unfair. I thought that standoff was similar to the First Wounded Knee. Although it was not a massacre the cause was kinda similar. The people of Wounded Knee I were unhappy with being pushed into the reservation, they were not able to get the resources that they needed, so they turned to spirituality as an outlet (the Ghost Dance). Unfortunately the settlers, the white men, believed that this was a form of rebellion, all because of a few unruly members. I totally think they were over reacting. But of course I cant really have a good ol opinion of how it was back in the day. But for Wounded Knee II, I give them props! Not only did they get Dick Wilson (total jerk, reminds me of Hugo Chavez) out of there, but they also did a cultural revitalization! Thats what I liked the best, they were once again the people, connected to their ancestors. I kinda wish some thing like that had happened in El Salvador, where my family is from. A lot of the natives were obliterated, and the ones who remained were fearful for their lives. They left their culture to assimilate into mestizo culture, language and traditions were forgotten. Some times you can catch the fragments of our peoples past, but thats rare. So I am glad the Lakota are closer to their old ways. :D yay for them! well this has been my rant for the night!
Hagone!
P.S. Yaateh means hello in Dine and Hagone means good bye.
After watching the video I thought that the cultural revitalization was the best outcome of the entire movement. There are many people in the world who have lost touch with who they really are and experience a huge identity crisis. Even though the goal of taking over Wounded Knee was to receive more rights, the by product of this entire ordeal was even better!
ReplyDeleteInteresting point you make about the unintended consequences of the Wounded Knee uprising in '73. I believe the reason it succeeded so much during that time is because many native Americans had longed for projecting what they truly felt they wanted to be. They wanted to project who they are as a race, not just as a group who have assimilated in "white mans" society. The uprising in '73 gave them that chance and that's why it succeeded so much, and provided renewed hope for survivance of the native American cultures of the past.
ReplyDeleteThe growth of their culture was a great outcome of their movement, but the most important outcome was the message they sent. The Indians told the government that they were done adhering to their rules and were going to be treated with respect from now on.
ReplyDeleteI thought the film's portrayal of AIM and the other Indians that occupied Wounded Knee was inspiring. I thought Dick Wilson was a jerk too!! He was like the boss of the Indian Mafia. He literally said that they have their own way of taking care of things, like a hit man or something.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the militant ways. At first, I was a little hesitant because I thought there was a less combative way to get what they wanted. However, if they didn't have guns they never would have made it that long at Wounded Knee, and the demonstration wouldn't have had the same impact it did.
By the way, it's cool that you relate your own experience to that of the Native American. And yay for foreign language!
What's Dine though?
The connection between the two events (Wounded Knee 1890 and Wounded Knee '73) is interesting. I think it shows how nothing is ever really over or no cause is ever lost. The idea of a land or blood memory could be a cool paper topic.
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