Wounded Knee ‘73, Photograph by: Owen Luck
The 50th Anniversary of Wounded Knee '73 will be celebrated with four days of events and ceremonies to commemorate the 71-day occupation of Wounded Knee that began on February 27, 1973.
Led by members of the Oglala Lakota Nation and the American Indian Movement, Native Peoples and allies from the four directions of Turtle Island came together at Wounded Knee to make a stand against injustice and tribal corruption at the hands of the U.S. government.
Events include the 40th Anniversary of KILI Radio (The voice of the Lakota Nation), a day honoring the Women Warriors of Wounded Knee ‘73, an Anniversary Wacipi, and a four-direction walk ending at the mass gravesite of the 1890 Wounded Knee massacre.
The 71-day siege ignited an invincible Indigenous-led resistance from Wounded Knee to Washington D.C. and Hollywood to the United Nations, reconstructing foreign relations with Indigenous Peoples; Wounded Knee '73 changed everything.
Photography by Cindy Karn
“They found out we weren’t afraid. We told them go ahead and shoot us if they wanted to. We wanted our rights for the people.”
Friday, February 24, the 40th anniversary of KILI Radio, will be celebrated with a meal, a recognition and awards ceremony, a hand drum competition, a poetry slam, and social dancing at Oaye Luta Okolakiciye culture center in Rapid City.
Saturday, February 25, Honoring the Women of Wounded Knee '73, Saturday, February 25, 11am - 5pm, Porcupine, South Dakota, Pahin Sinte Owayawa School Cafeteria & Gymnasium.
The Warrior Women Project has created an interactive exhibit honoring the Women of the Wounded Knee occupation. The exhibition features never-before-shared oral history clips and media from their archival collection and question-and-answer sessions about the history of Wounded Knee '73. The Sounds of Resistance concert will be held in the evening at Porcupine School.
Sunday, February 26, the 50th Anniversary Wounded Knee Wacipi will take place at Porcupine School. Grand entries are at 1 and 7pm, with meals at noon and 5pm. The documentary film "Wounded Knee to Standing Rock" will be screened at 2:00pm at Nupa Theater in Kyle, South Dakota, and the book "Voices from Wounded Knee" will be presented at 4:00pm at Porcupine School.
Monday, February 27, a Four Direction Walk will end at the Wounded Knee mass gravesite, followed by prayers, ceremonies, and a meal. The four days of remembrance and celebration will wrap up at Wounded Knee District School in Manderson Monday evening with dinner, honoring, and a giveaway.
“Many of the women’s interviews and voices in the archives, they passed on; they’re gone. And if it wasn’t for the archives, a lot of their stories wouldn’t be known.”