American Indian Movement Leonard Crow Dog
the atmosphere on pine ridge indian reservation, borders rosebud, became increasingly tense. tribal chairman dick wilson, believed opponents have been fraudulently elected, had accrued power. created personal police unit, known guardians of oglala nation (goons), used suppress political opposition. residents of pine ridge tired of corruption in tribal government , mistreatment whites gathered protest. in 1973 oglala lakota of pine ridge took on village of wounded knee demand justice federal government , end wilson s tenure.
the takeover of wounded knee had special meaning crow dog because great-grandfather, jerome crow dog, had been ghost dancer. after receiving vision, jerome warned several dancers stay away large gathering of tribes in 1890; saved them being victims of wounded knee massacre. when leonard crow dog went wounded knee in 1973, moved , later said:
standing on hill many people buried in common grave, standing there in cold darkness under stars, felt tears running down face. can t describe felt. heard voices of long-dead ghost dancers crying out us.
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