American Experience Season 21 Episode 9 We Shall Remain (Part 5): Wounded Knee

We Shall Remain (Part 5): Wounded Knee is an episode from the American Experience season 21. The episode follows the events leading up to the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, the final clash between the US Army and the Native American tribes of the Great Plains. The episode explores the underlying tensions between the tribes and the US government, including the forced relocation of tribes onto reservations, the imposition of US laws and values on Native American culture, and the stripping away of Native American lands and resources.

The Wounded Knee Massacre, which took place on December 29, 1890, was the result of a number of factors, including the Ghost Dance movement, which was seen as a threat to white settlers and the US government. The Ghost Dance movement, which originated with the Wovoka Paiute tribe in Nevada, promised that Native American lands would be returned to them and their dead would be brought back to life.

The episode follows the journey of Sitting Bull, a prominent Lakota chief, who was killed during an attempt to arrest him for his supposed involvement in the Ghost Dance movement. The killing of Sitting Bull and the subsequent massacre at Wounded Knee, which left more than 200 dead, marked the end of the Indian Wars and the beginning of a new era for Native Americans.

We Shall Remain (Part 5): Wounded Knee features interviews with historians, Native American activists, and descendants of those involved in the massacre. The episode also includes archival footage and photographs from the time.

Throughout the episode, viewers will learn about the complex relationship between the US government and Native American tribes, including the broken treaties, forced assimilation, and violence that marked the years leading up to the Wounded Knee Massacre. The episode also examines the lasting impact of the massacre on Native American communities and the ongoing struggle to preserve Native American culture and way of life.

We Shall Remain (Part 5): Wounded Knee is a powerful and thought-provoking episode that sheds light on a pivotal moment in American history and the ongoing struggle for Native American rights and recognition.