President Two Bulls’ Statement on Incident in Wounded Knee on May 1st, 2010

[The Straight Story]

His statement is below. I looked for more info on this story after seeing a letter in a local small town paper:

"Star Burdick
Aim Santa Barbara May 2 at 10:35am Reply
To the Original Peoples of the Fourth World and all International Press Services:

At high noon today US Army helicopters of the US Seventh Cavalry air division attempted to land their Blackhawk aircraft upon Lakota Sacred Burial grounds in South Dakota. The presence of military aircraft from this unit... See More is a sad and insulting reminder of the slaughter of more than 300 American Aboriginals on December 29,1890 when soldiers of the US 7th Cavalry gunned down more than 300 Aboriginal Minneconjou Lakota refugee children, women, infants and the elderly at what is now called Wounded Knee in South Dakota Indian Country. The military then left the bodies of their victims to decay unburied in the driving snow.

According to reports from Indigenous Rights Movement Radio host Wanblee this afternoon, Lakota resident Theresa TwoBulls was given less than 24 hrs notice that three US Army 7th Cavalry helicopters would make a landing on the sacred burial grounds at Wounded Knee. As of this writing, the US military was confronted by angry but peaceful and steadfast community resistance as the Aboriginal people of the area have so far, according to reports from Lakota people on the ground, managed to prevent the aircraft from touching Indigenous ground."

http://www.daily-jeff.com/news/simple_article/4823582

Indigenous Rights Movement Radio covered it:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/wanbli/2010/05/01/indigenous-rights-movement-radio-live-from-wounded-knee-emergency

Here is the real story:

President Two Bulls’ Statement on Incident in Wounded Knee

on May 1st, 2010 - Press Conference Photos & Information

Tribal Council Chambers, Red Cloud Building

Pine Ridge, South Dakota


Thursday, May 13, 2010


A MESSAGE TO THE DESCENDANTS OF THE VICTIMS OF THE WOUNDED KNEE MASSACRE FROM OGLALA SIOUX TRIBAL PRESIDENT THERESA TWO BULLS.


So. DAKOTA, Pine Ridge - The recent incident at the Wounded Knee Massacre burial site on May 01, 2010, in which the Colorado National Guard requested tribal permission to hear the stories from the perspective of the descendants, sparked a firestorm of communication from tribal members across the United States. While it is unclear whether the controversy surrounds the issue of the helicopters, the interest of the military, or miscommunication with the descendants, these conversations indicate the critical need for change. This incident opens the door for descendants to come together to develop a plan to address long standing issues at the Wounded Knee Massacre site. The issues that often ignite conflict related to tourism, protection of visitors, cultural misappropriation and maintenance of the area.


History tells us that many Miniconjou band members turned settled in and around Wounded Knee and other districts on the Pine Ridge Reservation after the Massacre while others returned to their families on other reservations. The descendants residing on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation have historically been strongly opposed to any type of development. Personnel from the Oglala Sioux Tribal law enforcement agency, the Oglala Sioux Parks and Recreation office and the Fifth Member’s Office are often called upon to settle disagreements among the local vendors around the massacre and burial site and to maintain safety for the protection of tourists. The tribal administration offices are often questioned about the misappropriation of cultural property via the internet. Among other issues, certain families claim ownership of the burial site and certain individuals with ties to the Wounded Knee community solicit funds on the internet using the Wounded Knee Massacre as a backdrop. The above referenced tribal agencies are often called upon to monitor these individuals; however, these situations are unique and must be resolved based on the cultural teachings of our people.


In summary, the tragic events that culminated in the Wounded Knee Massacre on December 29, 1890 shattered the spirits of the many men, women and children who traveled with Chief Big Foot’s band from the Cheyenne River Reservation seeking safety.


The pain, suffering and grief still affect the descendants and the entire Great Sioux Nation. This condition is often referred to as historical trauma and is identified as the root cause of the depression, frustration, anger and hopelessness in many native communities. For healing to occur it is critical that the families of the victims come together to renew their focus on the care taking responsibilities of this sacred location. I strongly encourage all descendants of the victims of the Wounded Knee Massacre, regardless of where you live, to organize for the purpose of developing a plan for maintenance and monitoring of this site.


http://www.oglalalakotanation.org/Wounded_Knee_2010_Press_Conference.html

[RagAss]

1. Thanks for sharing this.

[The Straight Story]

2. I try to keep up on Native news but only have 2 good sources so far

and they don't update all that often (Indian Country and Reznet).

If any one has good links please pass along.

(I do check other places but not many have a lot of news on them)

[dana_b]

3. The Seventh Cavalry - what a surprise

:sarcasm:

So disrespectful and wrong. Can you imagine if another nation decided to land it's helicopters on the Arlington National Cemetary (if they could make it into our air space)? Between this and what Duke energy has been trying to do to Kituwah in No. Carolina it feels like the 1800s again for the native nations. It never ends.