Akim Reinhardt has done a rare thing. He's written about the internal politics of the Oglala Lakota tribe in the 20th century. He was inspired to research 20th-century American Indian politics due to the writing of South Dakotan Vine Deloria, Jr and his book, "Custer Died for Your Sins."
In today's episode, we discuss Akim's book, "Ruling Pine Ridge: Oglala Lakota Politics from the IRA to Wounded Knee" published by Texas Tech University Press.
The book discusses the impact the Indian Reorganization Act had on Pine Ridge, the birth and development of the American Indian Movement, or AIM, and the personalities involved such as Dick Wilson, Russell Means, and Richard Nixon in what occurred at Wounded Knee in 1973 and after.
I hope you enjoy our discussion.
For a copy of his book see: https://www.ttupress.org/9780896726567/ruling-pine-ridge/