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In late April 1973, reporter Kevin McKiernan brought his tape recorder into the town of Wounded Knee, S.D.

For two months, about 200 members of the American Indian Movement and Oglala Lakota tribe members had been occupying the site of an 1890 massacre of Lakota at the hands of the U.S. Army.

The occupation of Wounded Knee began when members of the Oglala Lakota tribe, based on the Pine Ridge Reservation, called for the impeachment of tribal chairman Richard Wilson. When the impeachment didn't happen, some tribe members, along with a group of American Indian Movement members, took over the town.

In addition to opposing what they said was a corrupt tribal government, the group was frustrated with the U.S. government, saying it had not fulfilled its treaties with the tribe — and demanded that the federal government honor its promises, and reopen treaty negotiations. 

The 10-week occupation had quickly become a media circus — and turned violent. At least two people were killed between Feb. 27 and May 8, 1973.

Not long after the occupation ended, McKiernan spoke with MPR News host Marvin Granger, sharing the sounds of the occupation: Listeners heard gunfire and radio communications between the Native American activists and federal officials. 

McKiernan has since reported around the world, including parts of Central America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and is now working on a new film, "

MPR News Staff

Author

For 10 weeks, about 200 members of the American Indian Movement and Oglala Lakota tribe members occupied the site of an 1890 massacre of Lakota at the hands of the U.S. Army.

From the archives: The sounds of the Wounded Knee occupation

All this year in honor of Minnesota Public Radio's 50th anniversary we are revisiting items from our archives. Today you're going to hear some amazing audio captured in 1973 during the Wounded Knee occupation. That's when a group of Oglala Lakota and members of the American Indian Movement or AIM took control of the small town of Wounded Knee, South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. They demanded the impeachment of tribal chairman Richard Wilson and for the federal government to honor promises made in treaties with the Indian people. Two Indian activists were killed and a federal agent was paralyzed during gunfight's that took place during the occupation. Minnesota Public Radio reporter Kevin McKiernan brought his tape recorder inside Wounded Knee at the end of April, 1973. During an appearance on the Midday program he played some of the audio he recorded and discussed it with MPR news host Marvin Granger. On the tape, you can hear gunfire and radio communications between the Indian activists and federal officials.

From the archives: The sounds of the 1973 Wounded Knee occupation

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