February 1st is he anniversary of declaration of a war too often ignored or not considered as such. February 1, 1876, the Minister of Interior of the United States of America declared war on the “hostile” Sioux, those that had not agreed to move in the reserves, after it was discovered gold in the Black Hills, the heart of Lakota territory. Many Indians seem not even had received the order, as engaged in their hunting activities, away from their residence.
That declaration of war of February 1st was the beginning of the massacre of American Indians, culminating with the massacre at Wounded Knee. At the end of December 1890, the tribe of Miniconjou led by Big Foot, hearing the news of the assassination of Sitting Bull, left the camp on the creek Cherry, hoping in Red Cloud protection. On December 28 they were intercepted by the Seventh Regiment, which had orders to lead them in a camp on Wounded Knee: 120 men and 230 women and children were taken on the bank of the stream, surrounded by two squadrons of cavalry and slaughtered.
Red Cloud went to Washington more times than any other Indian chief and remains the most respected leader of his people, along with Black Elk, known for his strong spiritual influence. The latter was 13 years old in 1876 and was already committed to the cause, so that a year later he went to London to meet Queen Elizabeth. So he tells the massacre at Wounded Knee, “The sun shone in the sky. But when the soldiers left the field after their dirty work, began a heavy snowfall. In the night came the wind. There was a storm and the icy cold penetrated into the bones. What was left was one huge graveyard of women, children and infants who had not done any harm except for trying to run away.”
The Sioux, who prefer to call themselves Lakota or Dakota, are the main tribe in the United States, with 25,000 members. Now they are living in reserves in their old territories. Keep telling their story (a few days after Memorial Day) is a way to remember what the man has been capable to do throughout history and ensure that similar episodes do not happen again.
All whose perpetrated barbarity says that it was for some
development, but all absurdities was born -ever, in the name of
money.
Unfortunately, only writes the History who won the war!
We can see how evolved is a nation by the way the justice is done, not by the amount of gold.
You’re so right. Barbarity must be tackled in all its forms.