One year later future of Wounded Knee sacred belongings still undecided

In November 2022, after decades of negotiations, confusion, and delays, sacred belongings stolen from Lakota who died at the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890 returned to South Dakota. The belongings had been displayed at the Founder’s Museum in Barre, Massachusetts, since 1892. At a special ceremony at the museum on November 5, 2022, the belongings were returned to the care of the South Dakota Lakota.

At the time the decision to repatriate the belongings was announced, Lakota Chief Henry Red Cloud of the Oglala Lakota Nation, said, “I’m really happy today. My spirit is happy. My most inner spirit, which we all carry, each of us — that spirit is very happy within me.”

Manny Iron Hawk (Titunwan Okowozu) and his wife Renee Iron Hawk (Tituwan Oohenumpa) have been active members of the HAWK 1890 Wounded Knee Descendants Group on the Cheyenne River Reservation since it started 20 years ago. Manny’s great grandmother was 10 years old when U.S. Army Calvary ambushed her people at Wounded Knee. Also, Manny’s grandfather Ghost Horse and Ghost Horse’s son died at Wounded Knee.

On December 29, 2022, the anniversary of the massacre, Manny Iron Hawk said, “This is a beginning. The artifacts are coming home. Our (deceased) relatives are happy to come home and be free now to go on their journey (into the Spirit world). This is a positive thing. Our hearts are happy.”

Cedric Broken Nose (Oglala Lakota) of the Pine Ridge Reservation is an active member of the Sitanka Takini Wounded Knee Descendants Group. He personally received the belongings into his care and drove them back to Pine Ridge in his automobile.

The belongings have since been stored at the Oglala Lakota College Pine Ridge Center while descendants from the Oglala, Standing Rock, Rosebud, and Cheyenne River Lakota tribes met seasonally in various locations to discuss and decide the final disposition of the belongings.

All meetings to discuss the belongings have reportedly been announced in advance, publicized, and open to the public. All meetings included traditional ceremonial prayers and songs. In late 2022, Broken Nose said that the goal is to reach a consensus decision. Manny Iron Hawk said in late 2022, “We’ll take our time and have discussions and follow all proper protocols” in deciding what to do with the belongings.

Sources say that there has been no clear consensus among the descendants of the Wounded Knee massacre as to whether the sacred belongings should be ceremonially burned or buried or given some alternative disposition. In a recent personal interview, Manny Iron Hawk said he would like to see the descendants reach a consensus before any final action is taken.

However, Broken Nose says that the traditional one-year time of wasitla, or mourning, has been observed and it is time for the descendants to take action. In a personal interview, Broken Nose said that he and others are planning to burn the sacred belongings at a special ceremony at the Wounded Knee burial ground and cemetery on December 29, 2023, on the anniversary of the massacre. Other descendants disagree and object.

Calvin Spotted Elk of Scotts Valley, CA, provides documentation of his direct descendancy from Chief Spotted Elk, a revered Lakota treaty signer, who died at Wounded Knee and who has erroneously been called “Big Foot” by many European historians. Calvin’s grandfather was born on the Cheyenne River Reservation. Calvin’s father was Oglala Lakota and his mother was Lakota born on the Rosebud reservation.

Calvin Spotted Elk is married to Michelle Spotted Elk, who is Shawnee and Caucasian (European). They have a daughter Lily. Michelle often acts as the spokesperson for the couple as Calvin has not fully recovered from a stroke several years ago. Michelle says he struggles at times with speaking English, although he is still fluent in several Lakota dialects. On behalf of her Lakota husband and daughter, Michelle is obviously passionate about justice for Wounded Knee descendants.

In a recent personal interview, Calvin and Michelle say that they have been researching Wounded Knee history and advocating for descendants for over twenty years. They contend that during the past year they have been excluded from discussions about the disposition of the sacred Wounded Knee belongings.

In a letter dated November 17, 2023, and delivered to tribal chairmen Ryman LeBeau (Cheyenne River Lakota), Frank Star Comes Out (Oglala), Scott Herman (Rosebud), and Chairwoman Janet Alkire (Standing Rock), to the tribal councils and cultural preservation officers, Calvin expressed his concerns about plans for burning the belongings in December 2023.

Calvin and Michelle expressed their belief that there has not been appropriate outreach to Wounded Knee descendants living in cities and even those living on South Dakota reservations who are not aware of the current status of the Wounded Knee belongings. They believe that the sacred belongings brought back to South Dakota should be returned to the descendant families after proper verification of descendancy. Then the families should be allowed to decide the final disposition of the belongings.

Also, they feel that there has been misinformation and confusion about two Lakota leaders called “Big Foot,” one being the revered Chief Spotted Elk who died at Wounded Knee and the other being a contemporary of Chief Spotted Elk who was not at Wounded Knee.

Their letter states, “Our primary concern is the potential destruction of these artifacts and the exclusion of legal heirs from decision-making processes, a violation of NAGPRA laws, (the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act, the federal law under which tribes recover what was taken from them by archaeologists and museums.)  This exclusion not only goes against legal principles but risks erasing the true history and cultural significance of these artifacts and the legacy of Chief Spotted Elk, a treaty signer himself. The imminent threat of artifact burning adds urgency to our plea.”

The letter also states “…we intend to file an injunction to prevent the exclusion of rightful heirs and open a dialogue among tribal councils on this crucial matter…” Among other requests, they ask for an emergency on-line meeting “…to address the situation promptly…”

As of press time, the Spotted Elks have not received any response from their letter.

Reportedly, the Crazy Horse Memorial near Hill City, SD, has expressed a willingness to house the belongings until a consensus can be reached. Iron Hawk asks, “Why are we hurrying?” and said he thinks it would be best to wait at least until springtime of 2024 before taking any final action.

He added, “Hopefully we can settle this decision amicably in the ‘wolakota way’ (the way of peace and harmony). There will be other items coming home. We need to learn from this experience.”

Marlis Afraid of Hawk (Mnicoujou, enrolled in the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe), is a respected elder and key member of the HAWK 1890 Descendants Group. Afraid of Hawk agrees that families should be located and items should be returned to the families. If given the opportunity, she would vote to delay the destruction of the sacred belongings.

Afraid of Hawk’s grandfather survived the massacre as a 13-year-old. He became a life-long activist for the revocation of Medals of Honor given to 20 soldiers who participated in the killing.

Afraid of Hawk says, “I’m the voice (for my father and grandfather). I took that role upon myself to honor all my relatives. I do not want my children to have to take my place (in fighting for justice for Wounded Knee casualties and descendants). I want justice (in my lifetime).”

 

Sources:

Personal interviews and personal correspondence with Calvin and Michelle Spotted Elk

Personal interviews with Manny and Renee Iron Hawk, Cedric Broken Nose, Marlis Afraid of Hawk

 

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