The Native American uprising that brought 300 FBI agents to a South Dakota hamlet

The Wounded Knee Occupation

On February 27, 1973, about 200 American Indian Movement activists took over Wounded Knee village on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Federal agents surrounded them within hours.

What followed was a tense 71-day armed standoff that made national news and changed how America saw Native rights. Two activists died. Dozens were wounded. The siege ended on May 8 when the last protesters walked out.

Here’s what happened at this historic site you can visit today.

The First Gunfire Exchange

Federal marshals surrounded Wounded Knee immediately after the occupation began. The first shots were fired between AIM members and government forces on February 28, 1973.

AIM members shot at vehicles and planes that came too close to their position. The government had already sent 50 U.S. Marshals to the reservation two days earlier, expecting trouble.

FBI agents joined the marshals and set up roadblocks on all roads to Wounded Knee.

The Demands For Treaty Recognition

AIM leaders Russell Means and Dennis Banks called for the U.S. Senate to investigate the Bureau of Indian Affairs and all Sioux reservations in South Dakota. They wanted the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to look into the many broken treaties with Native American nations.

Their main focus was the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie. This treaty had given the Sioux Nation large territories including the Black Hills.

The U.S. broke the treaty after finding gold in the Black Hills in the 1870s. Means said these lands still legally belonged to the Sioux.

Declaration Of The Independent Oglala Nation

On March 11, 1973, the occupiers declared themselves the “Independent Oglala Nation.” This bold move claimed they were a separate country from the United States.

They formed a warrior society to defend their new nation. The protesters wanted to return to the old way of making treaties between tribes and the federal government.

They planned to build a nation based on the traditional Lakota social system called tiospaye, which put extended families at the center of governance rather than the U.S. reservation system. This declaration made the standoff more intense.

The Federal Response And Military Blockade

The government sent about 300 FBI agents and U.S. Marshals with M-16 rifles and gas masks to surround the town.

They blocked all roads to cut off food, medicine, and help from reaching the protesters. This strategy aimed to wear them down through isolation.

The government brought in armored vehicles with .50-caliber machine guns and had over 130,000 bullets ready to use. The Justice Department banned journalists from entering Wounded Knee to control information about what was happening inside and limit public support.

The High-Profile Negotiations

Assistant Attorney General Harlington Wood Jr. walked into Wounded Knee without guards on March 13, 1973.

He was the first government official to meet directly with the occupiers. AIM leaders personally escorted Wood into the village as a peace gesture.

This meeting briefly lowered tensions during the standoff. Later, Assistant U.S. Attorney General Kent Frizzell met with Russell Means, Dennis Banks, and Carter Camp in April.

Despite these high-level talks, they couldn’t reach an agreement. Both sides refused to change their positions throughout the negotiations.

The Marlon Brando Oscar Controversy

Actor Marlon Brando refused his Academy Award for “The Godfather” on March 27, 1973. He sent Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather to reject the Oscar.

Littlefeather said Brando declined because of Hollywood’s poor treatment of Native Americans and the events at Wounded Knee. Her short speech brought worldwide attention to the occupation.

This happened when the government was keeping reporters away from Wounded Knee. Brando’s action kept the occupation in global news despite the media blackout. AIM members saw this as a major win for their cause.

The Death Of Frank Clearwater

Frank Clearwater, a Cherokee and Apache man, was shot in the head during a fight with federal authorities on April 17, 1973. He was lying down in a church when hit. He was flown to a hospital in Rapid City but died from his wounds on April 25.

Clearwater became the first person killed during the occupation. Reports said he had only arrived at Wounded Knee the day before being shot.

His death showed how dangerous the situation had become after nearly two months. Neither side was ready to end the standoff despite this tragedy.

The Death Of Buddy Lamont

Lawrence “Buddy” Lamont, a 31-year-old Oglala Lakota Vietnam veteran, was killed on April 26, 1973. Federal agents shot him during a heavy firefight at the edge of Wounded Knee.

Lamont grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation where everyone knew him and his mother. His local ties made his death especially painful for the community.

Tribal elders started calling for an end to the occupation after his death. They saw the growing danger as the government stood firm. Lamont’s death became the turning point that pushed both sides toward ending the increasingly deadly standoff.

The May 5 Agreement To Disarm

Both sides agreed to disarm on May 5, 1973, after 69 days of occupation. This breakthrough came after weeks of stalemate following Lamont’s death.

The agreement included a planned meeting at respected Lakota spiritual leader Chief Fools Crow’s land to discuss the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie. After the agreement, many Oglala Lakota began leaving Wounded Knee at night, walking past federal lines to return home after more than two months.

The U.S. government promised to look into AIM’s complaints about civil rights violations and broken treaties.

The Surrender And End Of The Occupation

The occupation officially ended on May 8, 1973, when the remaining AIM members gave up their weapons to federal authorities. The 71-day armed standoff ended peacefully.

U.S. Marshals took control of Wounded Knee once the occupiers surrendered. The town was badly damaged from gunfire and the long occupation.

Some AIM members escaped before the formal surrender while others were arrested as they turned themselves in. The government agreed to discuss Native American treaty rights as part of the surrender deal, giving the occupiers a small victory.

Visiting Wounded Knee, South Dakota

You’ll find the Wounded Knee historical site on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in southwestern South Dakota. A monument near the mass grave from the 1890 massacre marks the area where the 1973 occupation took place.

The Sacred Heart Church, which served as a medical facility during the standoff, remains in the community. The Wounded Knee Museum in Wall, South Dakota displays artifacts and exhibits about both the 1890 massacre and the 1973 occupation.

Respect tribal customs when visiting this sacred ground.

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