On December 28, 1890 at Wounded Knee, South Dakota, the final great battle of the Indian Wars took place. A group of Lakota Sioux had joined up peacefully with a detachment of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment commanded by Major Samuel M. Whitside. Shortly after, the rest of the Regiment arrived and camped outside the original group. The next morning, some troops from the outer portion of the Regiment went into the camp to disarm the Sioux. For some unclear reason, one of the tribe refused to give up his weapon and a struggle ensued, during which a shot was fired. Subsequently, the Regiment opened fire and effectively slaughtered virtually all Sioux there; those who managed to escape were chased down and shot. 150 men, women and children were killed and 51 injured, (some estimates were as high as 300 dead).
Today, the Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe has had an opportunity to purchase the 40-acre site as a memorial. Owner James Czywczynski has said if the tribe did not agree to the $4.9 million asking price for that parcel and another parcel, he would open up bidding to outside investors. Like most tribes, the Oglala Lakota Sioux was decimated by invading U.S. Calvary regiments. Much of their land was stolen from them and they ended up in destitute living conditions for decades.
The two lots involved have been appraised at a total value of $14,000, but the owner refuses to accept less than $4.9 million and says he will sell it off to developers if the Tribe doesn't cough up the money.
How would YOU like some ritzy-tooty commercial development sitting in the middle of YOUR sacred site? How would YOU like a Muslim Temple at the site of the World Trade Center? This is an outrage and an injustice that someone needs to set straight before the fait accompli. The Secretary of Interior needs to get involved in this, big time.
That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.
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