CHAPTER 21

“Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to talk, think, and act for myself— and I will obey every law or submit to the penalty.” —Chief Joseph, Nez Perce

Wounded Knee

The construction of the valley remained on schedule even though we had to halt progress during some of the winter months due to the cold weather and snow. The valley was coming alive and taking shape just as Michael and I had planned. It was 1973 when something else drew our attention away from the valley. That something else was Wounded Knee. It was happening all over again.

We as Americans cannot forget our history that has brought us this far. We mustn’t forget all the wars that were fought to pre[1]serve our freedoms even though some of our American brothers do not seem to yet have those freedoms. We mustn’t forget all those young boys and women who gave up their lives in those wars. And some of those wars were a waste of precious lives. We can’t forget the assassinations of great leaders during the 1960s. There was John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Bobby Kennedy. We can’t forget the racial riots and the dream of one Black man. And we can’t forget the siege at Wounded Knee then and now.

I have already shared with you the history of the first siege at Wounded Knee in 1890. This chapter will focus on the seventy-three day armed takeover at Wounded Knee in 1973. I wasn’t there, but Michael was. I had the responsibility of a worldwide empire and a new community springing up in a valley in the majestic Rocky Mountains in Colorado. My work is best done behind the scenes, and that is exactly what I had to do when the siege ended.

Michael had received a letter and pamphlet from Russell a couple of years before the siege at Wounded Knee. Russell wanted Michael to join him in various Indian demonstrations. Michael did go to Mount Rushmore for a week in the fall of 1970 and on to Plymouth Rock during November to demonstrate the 350th year anniversary of the Pilgrims.

Over the next couple of years, Michael got involved with AIM, the American Indian Movement, and traveled to various demonstrations—such as the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) takeover in Washington, DC, in November of 1972.

On March 11, 1824, The Office of Indian Affairs was established. This department of the government was renamed the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1947.

Then it was on to Wounded Knee. I saw a fire in Michael’s eye that I hadn’t seen in a long time—a larger fire than what I saw after he had first visited the valley years ago and his dream of participating in the Tokyo Olympics in 1964.

My only word to him was, “Go!” And as he left the room, I yelled after him, “And may God be with you!”

The path to Wounded Knee began with the terrible beating and intimidations inflicted by Dick Wilson’s “Goon Squad” (Guardians of the Oglala Nation). Dick Wilson was head of the tribal council, and many wondered why he had turned against his people. He controlled the jobs and money and abused his power. That is why he had many followers and why AIM had trouble recruiting people.

After much discussion on heartfelt frustrations and righteous anger, it was Frank Fools Crow who said, “Go to Wounded Knee. There, you will be protected.”

Wounded Knee would always remain the haunting symbol of the white man’s murderous treachery and one of our nation’s most tragic events of that time.

It was February 27, 1973, at 6:00 p.m. when the siege of Wounded Knee began. It was bitterly cold as people entered the Church of the Sacred Heart. This is Michael’s story, and only he could tell it since he was there. I am thankful to have found his journals to share with you what he experienced.

 * * *

January 25, 1970—I met up with Russell in Denver at the National Indian Conference on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. It was at this conference I met other friends and activists of Russell’s.

March 7, 1970—I received a letter from Russell with an AIM (American Indian Movement) pamphlet. He said for me to read it and meditate upon the quotation from Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce.

It said, “Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to talk, think, and act for myself—and I will obey every law or submit to the penalty.”

I was already aware of this creed, and this pamphlet from Russell was all I needed to become involved. I’ll call Russell tomorrow. I think it’s time to stand up in what I believe in and continue as an activist in Indian rights and be more politically outspoken.

March 8, 1970—The following article is where I had learned of the creed. The article is on Chief Joseph from the North American Review. This is what Chief Joseph had to say:

“I cannot understand how the government sends a man out to fight us, as it did General Miles, and then breaks his word. I do not understand why nothing is done for my people. I have heard talk and talk, but nothing is done. Words do not pay for my dead people. They do not pay for my country, now overrun by white men. They do not protect my father’s grave…Good words will not give me back my children. Good words will not give my people good health and stop them from dying. Good words will not get my people a home where they can live in peace and take care of themselves. I am tired of talk that comes to nothing. It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and all the broken promises…

“If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian, he can live in peace. Treat all men alike. Give them all the same law. Give them all an even chance to live and grow. The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it. You might as well expect the rivers to run backward as that any man who was born free should be contented penned up and denied liberty to go where he pleases.

“We ask to be recognized as men. We ask that the same law shall work alike on all men. Let me be a free man—free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to think and talk and act for myself—and I will obey every law.”

I will fight where Chief Joseph and the others have left off!

April 4, 1970—Matt and I turned thirty today. Our lives are growing increasingly busier and busier. I promised Russell I would try to be as much involved with AIM as I possibly could. Matt kept reminding me of the duties we had due to the newly formed Matlin[1]Michael Empire the colonel had left to us.