Wounded Knee Massacre

killed an estimated 250 Native Americans, including women and children, of the Lakota Sioux tribe

the 7th Calvary massacred an estimated 150-300 men, women, and children at Wounded Knee

After the murder of Sitting Bull on December 15, 1890, approximately 200 Hunkpapa Lakota fled to join Chief Spotted Elk, also known as Big Foot, and his band of Miniconjou Lakota at the Cheyenne Reservation.

hereby acknowledges the historical significance of this event as the last armed conflict of the Indian wars period

an official government policy of forcibly removing the Indian tribes and bands from the path of westward expansion and settlement through placement on reservations

the Congress, on the occasion of the one hundredth anniversary of the Wounded Knee Massacre of December 29, 1890, hereby acknowledges the historical significance of this event as the last armed conflict of the Indian wars period

the first shot was fired by an Indian, and that the Indians were responsible for the engagement

a young Indian, said to have been Black Fox from Cheyenne river, drew a rifle from under his blanket and fired at the soldiers, who instantly replied with a volley directly into the crowd of warriors

At the first volley the Hotchkiss guns trained on the camp opened fire and sent a storm of shells and bullets among the women and children, who had gathered in front of the tipis to watch the unusual spectacle of military display.

According to an official statement from the Adjutant-General, 31 soldiers were killed in the battle.

The Adjutant-General, in response to a letter of inquiry, states that 128 Indians were killed and 33 wounded.

The whole number killed on the field, or who later died from wounds and exposure, was probably very nearly 300.

the wholesale slaughter of women and children was unnecessary and inexcusable

The butchery was the work of infuriated soldiers whose comrades had just been shot down without cause or warning.