In the heart of Turtle Island, among the people of the Sundance and Pipe, lies a rich tradition often misunderstood as mere “war stories.” This profound custom, deeply woven into the sacred ceremonies, honors the extraordinary deeds and ultimate tests of warriors. The essence of these narratives transcends a simple recounting of battles; they are "Warrior Stories," personal accounts delivered by the individuals who lived them, bringing their actions into the sacred circle of their community.
These stories are not simply tales of conflict. They are powerful narratives that exemplify the core virtues of a warrior: honor, truth, courage, fortitude, strength, and selflessness. These qualities imbue the stories with a unique power, allowing them to serve the spiritual and communal needs of the ceremonies in which they are shared.
The Sacred Context of Warrior Stories
Traditionally, these "Warrior Stories" were reserved for special dances and ceremonies within the Clans, Societies, and the Sundance. The leaders of these ceremonies meticulously selected the warrior to stand before the Nation and recount their deeds performed on behalf of their people. This was not a casual act; it was a solemn sacrament. A song was composed, every step, gesture, and word carefully chosen and offered to the circle of the People.
In an era before falsehoods, the Nation’s heart swelled with pride and power as the warrior gifted their words. A sense of unity enveloped them as the story unfolded, connecting them to the warrior’s experience and the values it embodied. The warrior chosen could be the leader of a significant battle or a young individual recounting their first act of bravery. Regardless of their rank or experience, each story was supported by the presence of comrades-in-arms, their assent, love, and respect validating and strengthening the narrative.
Modern Adaptations and Enduring Values
In contemporary times, this tradition continues, albeit in a modified form. Veterans of America’s wars now share their experiences, often recounting their service in foreign lands. While the context may have shifted, the underlying values remain. The community listens with pride, recognizing the continuation of a sacred tradition, even as the battlefields have moved far from the ancestral lands.
However, the core of this tradition is deeply rooted in the defense of the ancestral homeland. It has been several generations since warriors rose to defend their people while standing on the very soil of their ancestors. The last major conflict of this kind took place at Wounded Knee in 1890. Despite the tragic loss and the exposure of children to violence, warriors stood their ground, men and women alike embodying the spirit of defiance in defense of future generations. Courage, fortitude, strength, and honor were imprinted upon the land, an eternal blood sacrament freely offered to Mother Earth.
Wounded Knee 1890: A Crucible of Warrior Stories
Following the massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890, warriors fought from a Stronghold, seeking to avenge their relatives buried in a mass grave. This period of carnage gave birth to new and powerful "Warrior Stories," intertwining with the songs of the stronghearted and the lamentations of mourning. The Nation endured, sustained by the virtues passed down through generations of warriors. It required immense fortitude and courage to survive for eighty-three years, preserving the ceremonies and songs of those harrowing days until warriors rose again.
The 1973 Occupation: A Rebirth of Warrior Spirit
In 1973, another pivotal event unfolded on the sacred lands near Wounded Knee Creek. Warriors were once again compelled to rise in defense of their people, standing on hallowed ground and engaging in a struggle for their rights and way of life.
The events at Wounded Knee in 1973 involved the American Indian Movement (AIM) and their supporters occupying the town of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. This was a protest against tribal government corruption and the failure of the U.S. government to honor treaties with Native American tribes. The occupation lasted for 71 days, from February 27 to May 8, and involved armed standoffs with federal law enforcement.
Once again, warrior blood was shed, and lives were willingly sacrificed to revive the heartbeat of a Nation. Acts of bravery and selflessness became the defining characteristics of a community that declared itself the "Independent Oglala Nation." To those who were present, it was simply "the Knee." Over two thousand individuals, both men and women, stood shoulder to shoulder, embodying honor, courage, and fortitude. Eagle feathers were earned, and countless acts of valor were performed daily throughout the seventy-three-day occupation in 1973.
A Community Forged in Resistance
Out of this conflict, a community was reborn, striving to live according to the traditional ways of their ancestors. Wise medicine men and elders guided their paths as "Warrior Stories" were once again gifted to the circle in the ancient manner, reviving honor and truth to bring power to the Inipi (sweat lodge), Yuwipi (a healing ceremony), and Ghost Dance.
Veterans of the Viet Nam War, such as Stan Holder, Craig Camp, Russ Redner, Buddy Lamont, Luke Tenfingers, Rich, Tiger, Lance, Angel, and countless others, led the charge. Warriors ranging in age from sixteen to sixty formed a protective wall around their lands, daring any invader to trespass.
Every member of the Oyate (Nation) within the circle performed warrior duties, facing danger as one. Cooks were targeted by gunfire, as were veterans in the bunkers. Medics were sniped while tending to the wounded, and even the mailman was attacked while delivering mail. Each of these experiences became a "war story," contributing to the collective narrative.
Wounded Knee became a community of warriors empowered by the stories that had been etched into the land since 1890. Warriors from various Nations united by the selfless actions of their comrades-in-arms fought side by side. The essence of Traditional War Stories & Wounded Knee 1973 is about unity, courage, and sacrifice.
The Unspoken Stories and a Stain on Honor
However, the traditional, truthful, and honorable "War Stories" of the last great battle at Wounded Knee in 1973 have remained largely untold. For the first time in the history of these Societies, honorable and truthful warriors have silenced their braveheart stories, and the songs of their deeds have gone unsung.
This silence stems from a profound betrayal. For the first time in the memory of generations, the leaders of the battle allegedly abandoned their community while under attack. These self-proclaimed leaders, untested and lacking the virtues of a true warrior, were deemed to have their honor compromised by the allure of external influences.
The warriors left behind derisively referred to them as "the chickens of the knee." Stories circulated of leaders enjoying the fruits of celebrity while neglecting the needs of those they were supposed to protect.
A Loss of Integrity
Concerns were raised about leaders fundraising in the name of the cause while resources were scarce. Allegations of self-serving actions further tarnished their reputation, leading to disillusionment and resentment among the warriors who had risked their lives.
In contrast, the Independent Oglala Nation did not falter in the absence of these figures. Others stepped up to perform the essential work of the nation, fighting the battles, providing for the people, and protecting the elders and children from the relentless attacks.
Each night, pack trains of supplies were carried in under fire by dedicated warriors, arriving at daybreak to nourish the nation and share their stories. Each day, the warriors worked tirelessly to strengthen their perimeter and fortify their bunkers, preparing for the battles ahead.
The community lived the life of freedom they were fighting for, growing closer in their ceremonies and shared experiences. Every day was a "war story," and every warrior had tales to tell of honor, truth, and generosity, perhaps enough to help their people survive another eighty-three years in ceremony and song.
Despite the actions of those who allegedly fled, the nation endured, and the stories continued until peace was negotiated by the Oglala Council of the ION.
A Legacy of Resilience
While AIM as an organization may have suffered a moral blow in those sacred ravines when the leaders allegedly failed in dishonor, the pride of a Red Nation was reborn with the "Warrior Stories" lived among the spirits of those murdered in 1890.
AIM, too, became a spirit, its blood mingling with the earth at Wounded Knee. That spirit lives on, just as the spirits of Frank Clearwater and Buddy Lamont dwell alongside the spirits of Yellowbird, Bigfoot, and others who nourish that sacred ground.
Today, every aspect of Native American life has been touched by the proud legacy of the American Indian Movement, and the warriors stand at Wounded Knee.
Sovereignty has taken on a renewed meaning for both allies and adversaries, and all Native American people are united in its protection. During AIM’s brief existence as a warrior society, they fanned the dying embers of traditional fires, helping them to blaze back to life.
The Final Days and the Unfolding Truth
During the final week of Wounded Knee 1973, following the death of Buddy Lamont, the Oglala Council made the difficult decision to stand down the armed struggle and pursue the fight for treaty rights in the courts.
Despite the disappointment among the warriors, they prepared to obey. In the days that followed, an evacuation plan was devised, and warriors were sent out with the best weapons. In the last four days, unbeknownst to many, Wounded Knee lay almost unarmed and unprotected.
To deceive the surrounding forces, a plan was hatched to have the remaining warriors work in the open during daylight hours, carrying fake weapons and supplies to create an illusion of strength.
At night, only a handful of lookouts were stationed, and patrols were conducted. However, most of the bunkers were empty, leaving the village vulnerable. Each minute was filled with fear of a potential disaster.
Protecting the Spirit of Wounded Knee
During those final dark and lonely nights, prayers were offered for the survival of the Tribe and the end of the conflict. The empty bunkers served as stark reminders of the "warrior stories" that had been born there and the brave comrades who had fought there.
Sometimes, in a deserted bunker, the AIM song or a Ponca Hethuska warrior song would be sung, facing the enemy with pride, anger, and defiance, even as the decision to leave had been made.
Wounded Knee was coming to an end, and all that remained were the "war stories" to be shared in the traditional way, within the circle of the people.
It was unimaginable that these traditional "Warrior Stories" would be stolen and dishonored by old, greed-driven AIM leaders, that they would claim honors they had not earned.
In the old way of the warrior, an Akicita would strike them with their whips and drive them crying from the circle.
A Call for Truth and Honor
Now, some are organizing an "anniversary" celebration to honor the memory of Wounded Knee 1973, but it must be a non-Native American celebration, such as a rock concert, because, for the first time, the "chickens of the knee" are being "honored."
But is it truly an honor? Perhaps they are being "publicized," but it is not the same as the honor bestowed by a true "war story." Men without honor will accept false honors that belong to others because, for thirty years, the warriors of the ION have been silent.
The media failed to notice when the warriors turned their backs on the cowards and left AIM after Wounded Knee, but that is the traditional way they vote for their leaders, without press conferences or tribunals, just a traditional shunning.
After the warriors left AIM, the organization allegedly became a fundraising tool, enriching its leaders. To protect the traditional honor of the "War Story" of Traditional War Stories & Wounded Knee 1973 and the ION, a call is made to denounce those who falsely claim the honors of a warrior of Wounded Knee and the Independent Oglala Nation. The article focuses on the events surrounding Traditional War Stories & Wounded Knee 1973.
While this charade unfolds, another occasion will mark the founding of the ION and the liberation of Wounded Knee in 1973. Across the Nation, warriors will turn to face "the Knee" with their Pipe in their hands and their traditional "Warrior Stories" held in their hearts, ready to gift them to the sacred circle in the old way when the People call their names.
The author concludes with a personal reflection, expressing the intention to visit Frank Clearwater’s grave, offer tobacco, and share a true story with his sons and nephews: "It happened back in 1973 my boys, and it was a hellofa fight…." The author wants to protect the true meaning of Traditional War Stories & Wounded Knee 1973.