Aaron Huey: America's native prisoners of war

Summary

The speaker shares a poignant photographic journey of the Lakota tribe, detailing their forced relocation to reservations and the historical injustices they've faced. From the creation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1824 to the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, the narrative underscores the broken treaties and the ongoing struggles of the Lakota people, including extreme poverty, lack of basic amenities, and health crises. The speaker, identifying as 'wasichu' or non-Indian, calls for the honoring of treaties and the return of the Black Hills, urging reflection on the responsibility of the dominant society in rectifying historical wrongs.

Takeaways

• 📸 The speaker shares their photographs and experiences with the Lakota people, highlighting the historical and ongoing struggles of indigenous tribes in the United States.
• 🏞️ The Lakota were forcibly relocated to reservations, with the Pine Ridge Reservation being a significant site of historical and current Native American issues.
• 🏳️‍🦱 The term 'wasichu', used by the Lakota to describe non-Indians, carries a double meaning of 'greedy', reflecting the speaker's self-reflection on privilege.
• 🗓️ A timeline of treaties and broken promises is presented, starting from 1824 with the creation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, illustrating a pattern of aggression and deceit.
• 🛤️ The Homestead Act and the Transcontinental Railroad led to the invasion of Native lands and the disregard for treaties, causing significant disruption to the Lakota way of life.
• 🔫 The Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890 marked a brutal end to the Indian wars, with US troops killing hundreds of Sioux, including women and children.
• 🏆 The US government's response to the Wounded Knee Massacre was to award medals for valor, despite the massacre being a slaughter of innocents.
• 🏡 Post-colonization, the Pine Ridge Reservation faces extreme poverty, with high unemployment, poor housing conditions, and lack of basic amenities like electricity.
• 🏥 Health issues are rampant, with significantly higher rates of tuberculosis, cervical cancer, and diabetes among the Native population compared to the national average.
• 📚 Education is severely impacted, with high dropout rates and teacher turnover, contributing to a cycle of poverty and lack of opportunities.
• 🙏 The speaker concludes with a call to action, urging the honoring of treaties and the return of the Black Hills to the Lakota, as a step towards addressing historical injustices.

Q & A

Who are the Lakota and what is their relationship to the Sioux?

The Lakota are one of the many tribes that make up the larger group known as the Sioux. They are a Native American tribe that has a history of displacement and resistance against the encroachment of settlers on their lands.

What is the significance of the Pine Ridge Reservation in the context of Native American history?

The Pine Ridge Reservation is significant as it is often referred to as Prisoner of War Camp Number 334 and is where the Lakota now live after being moved off their land. It is also considered ground zero for Native issues in the US due to its association with the American Indian Movement and historical events like the standoff at Oglala.

What does the term 'wasichu' mean in the Lakota language and how is it used in the script?

In the Lakota language, 'wasichu' means 'non-Indian.' It is also used to describe someone who is greedy, taking the best part of the meat for themselves. In the script, the term is used to highlight the historical and ongoing exploitation of Native American resources by non-Native people.

What was the purpose of the Bureau of Indian Affairs when it was created in 1824?

The Bureau of Indian Affairs was created within the War Department in 1824, setting an early tone of aggression in dealings with Native Americans. It was responsible for overseeing relations and policies concerning Native American tribes.

What was the impact of the Homestead Act on the Lakota Nation?

The Homestead Act, signed by President Lincoln, led to a flood of white settlers into Native lands, including those of the Lakota Nation. This resulted in the violation of the first treaty of Fort Laramie and the eventual displacement of the Lakota people.

How did the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad affect the Lakota?

The construction of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 led to the appropriation of Lakota lands for trails and trains, effectively bypassing the treaties that had been established. This resulted in the loss of land and resources for the Lakota people.

What was the significance of the second Fort Laramie Treaty in 1868?

The second Fort Laramie Treaty guaranteed the sovereignty of the Great Sioux Nation and the Lakotas' ownership of the sacred Black Hills. It also promised land and hunting rights in the surrounding states, marking a significant victory for Red Cloud and the Sioux.

What was the Dawes Act of 1887 and how did it impact Native American reservations?

The Dawes Act ended communal ownership of reservation lands, dividing them into individual plots of 160 acres. This led to the loss of millions of acres of land for tribes, as the surplus was often sold or taken by non-Native individuals, further dividing and weakening the reservations.

What happened during the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890 and why is it significant?

The Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890 saw US troops surround a Sioux encampment and massacre Chief Big Foot and 300 prisoners of war. This event is significant as it marked the end of the Indian wars and is considered a grave for all indigenous peoples, symbolizing the end of their dreams and way of life.

What was the outcome of the Sioux Nation versus the United States court case in 1980?

In 1980, the US Supreme Court ruled that the Black Hills were illegally taken from the Sioux Nation, and that the initial offering price plus interest should be paid to the Sioux. However, the Sioux refused the money, stating that the Black Hills are not for sale.

What are some of the current challenges faced by the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation as mentioned in the script?

The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation faces numerous challenges including high unemployment rates, inadequate housing, lack of electricity, high rates of tuberculosis and cervical cancer, low life expectancy, and a legacy of poverty and social issues stemming from historical injustices.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Exploring Lakota Life and History

The speaker introduces their photographic journey into the life of the Lakota tribe, a group that has faced historical injustices and displacement. They discuss the Pine Ridge Reservation, known as a 'Prisoner of War Camp,' and its significance as a focal point for Native American issues. The speaker's personal connection with the Lakota people is highlighted, along with the term 'wasichu,' which denotes a non-Indian or a greedy person, reflecting on the audience's privileged status. A timeline of historical events is presented, starting from the establishment of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1824, through various treaties, acts, and massacres, illustrating the complex and often tragic relationship between the US government and the Lakota people.

05:04

🏰 The Legacy of Broken Treaties and Land Seizure

This paragraph delves into the historical events that led to the erosion of the Lakota's sovereignty and the seizure of their lands. It starts with the end of treaty-making in 1871, moves through the discovery of gold in the Black Hills and the subsequent influx of settlers, and discusses the coerced treaties that undermined the Fort Laramie Treaty. The paragraph also covers the Dawes Act of 1887, which led to the fragmentation and loss of reservation lands. It culminates in the tragic Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890, a pivotal event that marked the end of the Indian Wars and the beginning of a new era in Native American history, characterized by the US government's forceful assertion of dominance over indigenous rights.

10:06

🏛️ The Ongoing Struggle of Native Americans

The speaker presents a stark picture of the current state of Native American communities, particularly focusing on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. They discuss the high rates of unemployment, poor housing conditions, lack of basic amenities, and health crises that plague the reservation. The paragraph also touches on the historical context of these issues, including the 1980 Supreme Court case that ruled in favor of the Sioux Nation but was met with refusal by the tribe, who considered the Black Hills non-negotiable. The speaker calls for a deeper reflection on the audience's part, questioning their responsibility and connection to this history, and ends with a call to action to honor the treaties and return the Black Hills to the Lakota people.

15:07

🙌 A Call to Action: Honoring Treaties and Returning the Black Hills

In the concluding paragraph, the speaker issues a direct call to action, urging the audience to honor historical treaties and advocating for the return of the Black Hills to the Lakota people. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of recognizing and rectifying past injustices as a step towards reconciliation and healing. It encapsulates the speaker's wish for a more just and equitable future for indigenous peoples, suggesting that such actions are not only a moral imperative but also a necessary step towards true social progress.

Keywords

💡Lakota

The Lakota are a Native American tribe who are part of the larger Sioux group. In the video, the Lakota are central to the discussion of historical injustices and the ongoing challenges faced by indigenous peoples in the United States. The script mentions the Lakota's forced relocation to reservations, highlighting their struggle for land rights and cultural preservation.

💡Reservations

Reservations refer to the lands that were set aside for Native American tribes by the U.S. government, often after their original lands were taken away. The term is used in the script to describe the areas where the Lakota and other tribes were forcibly relocated, which are likened to 'prisoner-of-war camps,' indicating the harsh living conditions and the loss of autonomy.

💡American Indian Movement (AIM)

The American Indian Movement (AIM) is a group mentioned in the script that advocates for the sovereignty, treaty rights, and a better quality of life for Native American communities. The script connects AIM to key figures like Russell Means and Leonard Peltier, emphasizing the organization's role in fighting for Native rights and raising awareness about their struggles.

💡Wounded Knee Massacre

The Wounded Knee Massacre is a significant event in Native American history, where U.S. troops killed hundreds of Lakota people in 1890. The script uses this event to mark a turning point in the relationship between Native Americans and the U.S. government, symbolizing the extreme violence and oppression indigenous peoples faced.

💡Treaties

Treaties in the context of the script refer to the formal agreements made between the U.S. government and Native American tribes. The speaker discusses how these treaties were often broken or violated, leading to the loss of land and rights for tribes like the Lakota, which is a central theme in the discussion of historical injustices.

💡Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny is a belief in the 19th century that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent. In the script, it is mentioned as a driving force behind the displacement of Native Americans and the seizure of their lands, reflecting a broader narrative of American expansionism at the expense of indigenous populations.

💡Wasichu

Wasichu is a Lakota term used in the script to describe non-Native Americans, but it also carries a negative connotation meaning 'greedy.' The speaker uses this term to reflect on their own identity as a white person and the historical actions of those who have taken the 'best part of the meat,' or the most valuable resources, from indigenous peoples.

💡Black Hills

The Black Hills are a region that holds significant cultural and spiritual importance to the Lakota people. In the script, the Black Hills are highlighted as an example of land that was promised to the Lakota in treaties but was later taken by the U.S. government, leading to ongoing disputes over land rights and cultural heritage.

💡Crazy Horse

Crazy Horse was a respected Lakota war chief who resisted the U.S. government's attempts to take Lakota lands. His surrender and subsequent death, as mentioned in the script, symbolize the tragic fate of many Native American leaders who fought for their people's rights and land.

💡Dawes Act

The Dawes Act, passed in 1887, is a law that broke up communally held Native American reservation lands into individually owned parcels. The script discusses how this act led to the loss of millions of acres of land for tribes, further dispossessing them and contributing to the ongoing struggles faced by indigenous communities.

💡Genocide

Genocide refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group. In the script, the term is used to describe the cumulative effects of policies and actions by the U.S. government that led to the decimation of Native American populations, including the loss of culture, language, and life.

Highlights

The Lakota tribe, part of the Sioux, were relocated to reservations historically referred to as prisoner-of-war camps.

The Pine Ridge Reservation is known as 'Prisoner of War Camp Number 334' and is central to Native American issues in the US.

The speaker, despite being white, has developed close relationships with the Lakota, being welcomed as 'brother' and 'uncle'.

The term 'wasichu' refers to non-Indians, with a connotation of greed, highlighting the historical exploitation of Native lands.

The speaker contrasts the privileged setting of the presentation with the hardships faced by indigenous peoples.

A timeline of treaties and broken promises is presented, starting with the creation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1824.

The first Fort Laramie Treaty in 1851 established the Lakota Nation's boundaries as a sovereign nation.

The Homestead Act of 1862 led to white settlers flooding Native lands, violating treaty agreements.

The largest mass execution in US history involved the hanging of 38 Sioux men in 1863.

The Transcontinental Railroad's construction in 1866 led to land appropriation and the violation of Lakota treaties.

The second Fort Laramie Treaty in 1868 was a rare US government concession, acknowledging Sioux sovereignty.

The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 brought hunters who nearly exterminated the buffalo, a critical resource for the Sioux.

The Indian Appropriation Act of 1871 marked the end of treaty-making and the beginning of federal control over Native Americans.

The discovery of gold in the Black Hills in 1874 led to a surge of white settlers and pressure to end treaties with the Lakota.

The Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876 was a significant defeat for the US army by the Lakota.

The Dawes Act of 1887 ended communal land ownership, leading to the fragmentation and loss of millions of acres of reservation land.

The Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890 marked a devastating end to the Indian wars with the US government.

The US Supreme Court in 1980 ruled that the Black Hills were illegally taken from the Sioux, but the Sioux refused monetary compensation.

Contemporary statistics reveal the lasting impact of colonization, with extreme poverty, poor health, and lack of basic services on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

The speaker concludes with a call to action: to honor the treaties and return the Black Hills to the Lakota people.

Transcripts

I'm here today to show my photographs of the Lakota.

Many of you may have heard of the Lakota,

or at least the larger group of tribes,

called the Sioux.

The Lakota are one of many tribes that were moved off their land

to prisoner-of-war camps,

now called reservations.

The Pine Ridge Reservation,

the subject of today's slide show,

is located about 75 miles southeast of the Black Hills in South Dakota.

It is sometimes referred to as Prisoner of War Camp Number 334,

and it is where the Lakota now live.

Now, if any of you have ever heard of AIM,

the American Indian Movement,

or of Russell Means,

or Leonard Peltier,

or of the standoff at Oglala,

then you know Pine Ridge is ground zero for Native issues in the US.

So I've been asked to talk a little bit today

about my relationship with the Lakota,

and that's a very difficult one for me,

because, if you haven't noticed from my skin color,

I'm white,

and that is a huge barrier on a Native reservation.

You'll see a lot of people in my photographs today.

I've become very close with them, and they've welcomed me like family.

They've called me "brother" and "uncle,"

and invited me again and again over five years.

But on Pine Ridge,

I will always be what is called "wasichu."

"Wasichu" is a Lakota word

that means "non-Indian,"

but another version of this word

means "the one who takes the best meat for himself."

And that's what I want to focus on --

the one who takes the best part of the meat.

It means "greedy."

So take a look around this auditorium today.

We are at a private school in the American West,

sitting in red velvet chairs

with money in our pockets.

And if we look at our lives,

we have indeed taken the best part of the meat.

So let's look today at a set of photographs

of a people who lost

so that we could gain,

and know that when you see these people's faces,

that these are not just images of the Lakota;

they stand for all indigenous people.

On this piece of paper

is the history the way I learned it from my Lakota friends and family.

The following is a time line of treaties made, treaties broken

and massacres disguised as battles.

I'll begin in 1824.

What is known as the Bureau of Indian Affairs

was created within the War Department,

setting an early tone of aggression

in our dealings with the Native Americans.

1851:

The first treaty of Fort Laramie was made,

clearly marking the boundaries of the Lakota Nation.

According to the treaty, those lands are a sovereign nation.

If the boundaries of this treaty had held --

and there is a legal basis that they should --

then this is what the US would look like today.

Ten years later.

The Homestead Act, signed by President Lincoln,

unleashed a flood of white settlers into Native lands.

1863:

An uprising of Santee Sioux in Minnesota

ends with the hanging of 38 Sioux men,

the largest mass execution in US history.

The execution was ordered by President Lincoln,

only two days after he signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

1866: The beginning of the Transcontinental Railroad --

a new era.

We appropriated land for trails and trains

to shortcut through the heart of the Lakota Nation.

The treaties were out the window.

In response, three tribes led by the Lakota chief Red Cloud

attacked and defeated the US army,

many times over.

I want to repeat that part:

The Lakota defeat the US army.

1868: The second Fort Laramie Treaty clearly guarantees

the sovereignty of the Great Sioux Nation

and the Lakotas' ownership of the sacred Black Hills.

The government also promises land and hunting rights

in the surrounding states.

We promise that the Powder River country

will henceforth be closed to all whites.

The treaty seemed to be a complete victory

for Red Cloud and the Sioux.

In fact, this is the only war in American history

in which the government negotiated a peace

by conceding everything demanded by the enemy.

1869: The Transcontinental Railroad was completed.

It began carrying, among other things, large numbers of hunters,

who began the wholesale killing of buffalo,

eliminating a source of food, clothing and shelter for the Sioux.

1871:

The Indian Appropriation Act

makes all Indians wards of the federal government.

In addition, the military issued orders

forbidding western Indians from leaving reservations.

All western Indians at that point in time were now prisoners of war.

Also in 1871,

we ended the time of treaty-making.

The problem with treaties is they allow tribes to exist as sovereign nations,

and we can't have that.

We had plans.

1874:

General George Custer announced the discovery of gold in Lakota territory,

specifically the Black Hills.

The news of gold creates a massive influx of white settlers

into Lakota Nation.

Custer recommends that Congress find a way

to end the treaties with the Lakota as soon as possible.

1875: The Lakota war begins

over the violation of the Fort Laramie Treaty.

1876:

On July 26th,

on its way to attack a Lakota village,

Custer's 7th Cavalry was crushed

at the battle of Little Big Horn.

1877:

The great Lakota warrior and chief named Crazy Horse

surrendered at Fort Robinson.

He was later killed while in custody.

1877 is also the year we found a way to get around the Fort Laramie Treaties.

A new agreement was presented to Sioux chiefs and their leading men,

under a campaign known as "Sell or Starve" --

sign the paper, or no food for your tribe.

Only 10 percent of the adult male population signed.

The Fort Laramie Treaty called for at least three-quarters of the tribe

to sign away land.

That clause was obviously ignored.

1887: The Dawes Act.

Communal ownership of reservation lands ends.

Reservations are cut up into 160-acre sections,

and distributed to individual Indians

with the surplus disposed of.

Tribes lost millions of acres.

The American dream of individual land ownership

turned out to be a very clever way

to divide the reservation until nothing was left.

The move destroyed the reservations,

making it easier to further subdivide and to sell

with every passing generation.

Most of the surplus land

and many of the plots within reservation boundaries

are now in the hands of white ranchers.

Once again, the fat of the land goes to wasichu.

1890: A date I believe to be the most important in this slide show.

This is the year of the Wounded Knee Massacre.

On December 29,

US troops surrounded a Sioux encampment at Wounded Knee Creek,

and massacred Chief Big Foot and 300 prisoners of war,

using a new rapid-fire weapon that fired exploding shells,

called a Hotchkiss gun.

For this so-called "battle,"

20 Congressional Medals of Honor for Valor

were given to the 7th Cavalry.

To this day,

this is the most Medals of Honor ever awarded for a single battle.

More Medals of Honor were given

for the indiscriminate slaughter of women and children

than for any battle in World War One,

World War Two,

Korea, Vietnam,

Iraq or Afghanistan.

The Wounded Knee Massacre is considered the end of the Indian wars.

Whenever I visit the site of the mass grave at Wounded Knee,

I see it not just as a grave for the Lakota or for the Sioux,

but as a grave for all indigenous peoples.

The holy man Black Elk, said,

"I did not know then how much was ended.

When I look back now from this high hill of my old age,

I can still see the butchered women and children

lying heaped and scattered all along the crooked gulch,

as plain as when I saw them

with eyes still young.

And I can see that something else died there in the bloody mud

and was buried in the blizzard.

A people's dream died there.

And it was a beautiful dream."

With this event,

a new era in Native American history began.

Everything can be measured before Wounded Knee and after,

because it was in this moment,

with the fingers on the triggers of the Hotchkiss guns,

that the US government openly declared its position on Native rights.

They were tired of treaties.

They were tired of sacred hills.

They were tired of ghost dances.

And they were tired of all the inconveniences of the Sioux.

So they brought out their cannons.

"You want to be an Indian now?" they said,

finger on the trigger.

1900:

the US Indian population reached its low point --

less than 250,000,

compared to an estimated eight million in 1492.

Fast-forward.

1980:

The longest-running court case in US history,

the Sioux Nation versus the United States,

was ruled upon by the US Supreme Court.

The court determined that when the Sioux were resettled onto reservations

and seven million acres of their land were opened up

to prospectors and homesteaders,

the terms of the second Fort Laramie Treaty

had been violated.

The court stated that the Black Hills were illegally taken,

and that the initial offering price, plus interest,

should be paid to the Sioux Nation.

As payment for the Black Hills,

the court awarded only 106 million dollars to the Sioux Nation.

The Sioux refused the money with the rallying cry,

"The Black Hills are not for sale."

2010:

Statistics about Native population today,

more than a century after the massacre at Wounded Knee,

reveal the legacy of colonization,

forced migration

and treaty violations.

Unemployment on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

fluctuates between 85 and 90 percent.

The housing office is unable to build new structures,

and existing structures are falling apart.

Many are homeless,

and those with homes are packed into rotting buildings

with up to five families.

Thirty-nine percent of homes on Pine Ridge

have no electricity.

At least 60 percent of the homes on the reservation

are infested with black mold.

More than 90 percent of the population lives below the federal poverty line.

The tuberculosis rate on Pine Ridge

is approximately eight times higher than the US national average.

The infant mortality rate is the highest on this continent,

and is about three times higher than the US national average.

Cervical cancer is five times higher

than the US national average.

The school dropout rate is up to 70 percent.

Teacher turnover is eight times higher than the US national average.

Frequently, grandparents are raising their grandchildren

because parents, due to alcoholism,

domestic violence and general apathy,

cannot raise them.

Fifty percent of the population over the age of 40

suffers from diabetes.

The life expectancy for men is between 46 and 48 years old --

roughly the same as in Afghanistan and Somalia.

The last chapter in any successful genocide

is the one in which the oppressor

can remove their hands and say,

"My god -- what are these people doing to themselves?

They're killing each other.

They're killing themselves

while we watch them die."

This is how we came to own these United States.

This is the legacy

of Manifest Destiny.

Prisoners are still born into prisoner of war camps,

long after the guards are gone.

These are the bones left after the best meat has been taken.

A long time ago,

a series of events was set in motion

by a people who look like me, by wasichu,

eager to take the land and the water and the gold in the hills.

Those events led to a domino effect that has yet to end.

As removed as we, the dominant society, may feel

from a massacre in 1890,

or a series of broken treaties 150 years ago,

I still have to ask you the question:

How should you feel about the statistics of today?

What is the connection between these images of suffering

and the history that I just read to you?

And how much of this history do you need to own, even?

Is any of this your responsibility today?

I have been told that there must be something we can do.

There must be some call to action.

Because for so long, I've been standing on the sidelines,

content to be a witness,

just taking photographs.

Because the solutions seem so far in the past,

I needed nothing short of a time machine to access them.

The suffering of indigenous peoples is not a simple issue to fix.

It's not something everyone can get behind

the way they get behind helping Haiti,

or ending AIDS, or fighting a famine.

The "fix," as it's called,

may be much more difficult for the dominant society

than, say, a $50 check

or a church trip to paint some graffiti-covered houses,

or a suburban family

donating a box of clothes they don't even want anymore.

So where does that leave us?

Shrugging our shoulders in the dark?

The United States continues on a daily basis to violate the terms

of the 1851 and 1868 Fort Laramie Treaties with the Lakota.

The call to action I offer today --

my TED wish -- is this:

Honor the treaties.

Give back the Black Hills.

It's not your business what they do with them.

(Applause)