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A Dark Day

SDPB A Dark Day: Wounded Knee Massacre
A Dark Day: The Wounded Knee Massacre

A Dark Day: The Wounded Knee Massacre There is no darker day in South Dakota History than December 29, 1890, the day of the Wounded Knee Massacre. On this dark day, eighty-four Minneconjou men, forty-four women, and eighteen children died on the frozen plains of South Dakota.

Thirty-one of the 470 Cavalry soldiers at the scene also died. What led up to this horrible day? Why were so many women and children slaughtered in what was at first called a battle and later called a massacre? This episode examines both sides of the story and tries to make sense of it all. It also looks at what this incident has meant to the Lakota people for the past one hundred-plus years. It does not take sides but rather tries to explain the causes and effects of this dark day in our history.

Related Resources

Additional videos, activities, and more are below.

YouTube Playlist with a variety of episode-related topics.
On Nov. 13, 1990, SD historian Rex Allen Smith recorded an interesting audio account of the events from 1890.
Oscar Howe created a powerful, disquieting masterpiece
Takuwe is an educational art exhibit centered on reimagining the senseless slaughter of the innocent.
On February 27, 1973, 200 Native Americans occupied Wounded Knee, South Dakota.

In 1973, Native American protesters successfully used the press to promote their cause — and found major support from celebrity Marlin Brando.
A rich array of educational content such as Oceti Sakowin: The People of the Seven Council Fires.

Learn how the federal government violated the Fort Laramie Treaty with the Lakota by forcing them onto remote reservations.
History 605 host Dr. Ben Jones talks with author Jerome Greene about his book All Guns Fired at One Time.
Learn about Sitting Bull's military and spiritual leadership.
A facsimile of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie recognizing the Black Hills as part of the Great Sioux Reservation.

Learn about Sitting Bull, the charismatic leader of the Lakota Sioux Nation.
A little known fact - there was an Army survivor of "Custer's Last Stand."

Madonna Thunder Hawk was there in 1973 during the 71-day standoff at Wounded Knee. She shared her story with In the Moment.

For more information about

SDPB's educational resources and services,

contact Steven Rokusek at [email protected]

(605)222-3422

(K-12 E&O Staff)

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