Aaron Huey: America's native prisoners of war

Understanding the Lakota: A Photographic Journey

Introduction to the Lakota and Pine Ridge Reservation

• The speaker introduces their photographs of the Lakota, a tribe within the larger Sioux group, emphasizing their history of displacement to reservations.

• Pine Ridge Reservation is highlighted as a significant site for Native American issues in the U.S., associated with movements like AIM and figures such as Russell Means and Leonard Peltier.

Personal Connection and Cultural Barriers

• The speaker reflects on their personal relationship with the Lakota people, acknowledging their identity as a white individual which creates barriers in understanding.

• The term "wasichu," meaning "non-Indian" or "the one who takes the best meat for himself," is discussed, symbolizing greed and cultural separation.

Historical Context of Treaties and Displacement

• A timeline of treaties made and broken is introduced, starting from 1824 with the establishment of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, indicating early aggression towards Native Americans.

• The first Treaty of Fort Laramie (1851) marked boundaries for the Lakota Nation but was later disregarded due to settler expansion initiated by Lincoln's Homestead Act.

Key Events Impacting Lakota Sovereignty

• Significant events include mass executions following uprisings (1863), construction of railroads through Lakota territory (1866), and military defeats against U.S. forces led by Red Cloud.

• The second Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868) guaranteed sovereignty for the Great Sioux Nation but was undermined by subsequent government actions.

Continued Erosion of Rights and Land

• Following railroad completion in 1869, buffalo populations were decimated, severely impacting food sources for the Sioux.

• Legislative changes like the Indian Appropriation Act (1871) transformed all Indians into wards of the federal government, effectively making them prisoners on reservations.

Exploitation Under New Agreements

• Discovery of gold in Black Hills led to further violations against treaties; Custer's recommendations aimed at ending treaty agreements altogether.

• The "Sell or Starve" campaign pressured chiefs into signing away land under duress; only a small fraction agreed despite treaty requirements being ignored.

Final Notes on Land Division

Wounded Knee: A Turning Point in Native American History

The Wounded Knee Massacre

• The year 1890 marks the Wounded Knee Massacre, where US troops killed Chief Big Foot and 300 Sioux prisoners using a Hotchkiss gun. This event is pivotal in understanding Native American history.

• More Medals of Honor were awarded for this massacre than for any battles in major wars like World War I or II, highlighting the tragic nature of this event as the end of the Indian Wars.

Reflection on Indigenous Suffering

• Visiting Wounded Knee serves as a reminder not just for the Lakota but for all indigenous peoples; it symbolizes a collective loss. Black Elk's quote emphasizes that something profound ended with this massacre.

• The aftermath of Wounded Knee marked a significant shift in US government policy towards Native Americans, indicating an outright rejection of treaties and rights.

Historical Context and Consequences

• By 1900, the US Indian population had plummeted to less than 250,000 from an estimated eight million in 1492, illustrating severe demographic impacts due to colonization.

• In 1980, the Supreme Court ruled that the Sioux Nation was owed compensation for illegally taken land (the Black Hills), yet they refused payment with "The Black Hills are not for sale," asserting their sovereignty.

Current Conditions on Reservations

• As of 2010, statistics reveal dire conditions on Pine Ridge Reservation: high unemployment rates (85%-90%), inadequate housing, and widespread poverty affecting over 90% of residents.

• Health disparities are alarming; tuberculosis rates are eight times higher than national averages, infant mortality is three times higher, and cervical cancer rates are five times higher than average.

Legacy of Oppression

• The legacy of genocide manifests today through social issues such as high diabetes prevalence among older populations and low life expectancy comparable to war-torn regions like Afghanistan.

• The speaker reflects on how dominant society often distances itself from historical atrocities while witnessing ongoing suffering among indigenous peoples today.

Call to Action

• There’s a challenge posed regarding responsibility: How should individuals feel about current statistics related to indigenous suffering? What connections exist between past injustices and present realities?

Violation of Treaties: A Call to Action

Historical Context of the Fort Laramie Treaties

• The speaker highlights ongoing violations by the United States of the 1851 and 1868 Fort Laramie Treaties with the Lakota people, emphasizing a lack of accountability.

• The phrase "shrugging our shoulders in the dark" suggests a collective indifference towards these treaty violations, calling for awareness and action.

• The speaker's TED wish serves as a rallying cry for listeners to recognize and address these historical injustices.

Call to Action

• The speaker urges immediate action from individuals and communities to confront these violations, stressing that awareness is just the first step.