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A Dark Day

SDPB A Dark Day: Wounded Knee Massacre
A Dark Day: The Wounded Knee Massacre

A Dark Day: The Wounded Knee Massacre There is no darker day in South Dakota History than December 29, 1890, the day of the Wounded Knee Massacre. On this dark day, eighty-four Minneconjou men, forty-four women, and eighteen children died on the frozen plains of South Dakota.

Thirty-one of the 470 Cavalry soldiers at the scene also died. What led up to this horrible day? Why were so many women and children slaughtered in what was at first called a battle and later called a massacre? This episode looks at both sides of the story and tries to make sense of it all. It also looks at what this incident has meant to the Lakota people for the past one hundred-plus years. It does not take sides but rather tries to explain the causes and effects of this dark day in our history.

Related Resources
Additional videos, activities, and more below.

YouTube Playlist with a variety of episode related topics including Lost Bird of Wounded Knee.


On Nov. 13, 1990, SD historian Rex Allen Smith recorded an interesting audio account of the events from 1890.
On February 27, 1973, 200 Native Americans occupied Wounded Knee, South Dakota.
Oscar Howe created a powerful, disquieting masterpiece
Takuwe is an educational art exhibit centered on reimagining the senseless slaughter of the innocent.

A rich array of educational content such as Oceti Sakowin: The People of the Seven Council Fires.
A little known fact - there was an Army survivor of "Custer's Last Stand."
A facsimile of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie recognizing the Black Hills as part of the Great Sioux Reservation.
Learn about Sitting Bull's military and spiritual leadership.

For more information about

SDPB's educational resources and services,

contact Steven Rokusek at EdServices@sdpb.org

(605)222-3422

(E&O Staff)

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Additional Resources