So, we began reading Black Elk Speaks, the Lakota Medicine Man who created the Ghost Dance movement. A movement White leaders feared in the west and in Washington. We would learn together harsh truths, truths that brought awareness and pride to my students. Our reading not only opened their eyes, but my eyes as well. I began to see Native Americans in new brighter light. Reading not only transformed them, but me as well. By the way not one student complained about the reading. Black Elk was a primary source, that would spur endless more reading.
"According to commanding General Miles, a "scuffle occurred between one deaf warrior who had [a] rifle in his hand and two soldiers. The rifle was discharged and a battle occurred, not only the warriors but the sick Chief Spotted Elk, and a large number of women and children who tried to escape by running and scattering over the prairie were hunted down and killed."[37]
We read Black Elks's narrative of the day. We saw his bravery and character when reading how with his sacred bow he rode into battle. We read how he saw a child in the open on its own in the snow with bullets passing near. In the mist of that gun fire from 4 massive Hotchkiss guns. He stopped, climbed down off his horse, moved the infant to safety, tied his scarf near the child, to be rescued later. He climb back up on his horse and continue charging soldiers.
His sacred bow was not a functioing weapon, it was ceremonial. He would say the creator and his Ghost Dance Shirt protected him from any harm. My students began to spread the word at school, we discovered a second Wounded Knee, the Sand Creek Massacre, about AIM (The American Indian Movement and their occupation of Alcatraz. They proposed a mock trial for the Sand Creek Massacre. It was the era before high-stakes testing stole teaching and learning. So, we did it, and invited their families and the public. The more they read, the more hungered for more reading. They crave for innovative and meaningful way to respond publicly. They proposed an art project that would tell the story of the Trial of Tears, the Indian Removal Act, signed into law by President Andrew Jackson, the Navajo Long Walk. The size of their art project would take 1/3 of the space of an extremely large exhibit. It became the most visited exhibit, visitors let passionate reflections about powerful it was, how it was , truthful, harsh, sacred, and hopeful at the same time.
Back to Black Elk, we learned Whites did not understand the Ghost Dance was not a physical rising, but a spiritual rising. A non-violent rising. Like today's members of ICE all they saw was skin color.
Facing historical truth takes courage. It takes real courage to read, write, discuss, and respond to. Reading truth made my student BRAVE. Made me shameful, but proud that I was their teacher.
"After attempting to disarm the Lakota, who had been rounded up to be put on a reservation, a single rifle shot rang out - the U.S. troops immediately opened fire, indiscriminately firing on the large group.Four Hotchkiss guns [an early variant of machine gun, but with much larger rounds], joined in on the mass of tipis, randomly killing helpless women and children inside them. In addition, the killing continued as Natives tried to flee. An eyewitness wrote afterwards: “Helpless children and women with babies in their arms had been chased as far as two miles from the original scene of encounter and cut down without mercy by the troopers... Judging by the slaughter on the battlefield it was suggested that the soldiers simply went berserk..."
Up to 350 Native Americans were killed, over 200 of them women and children. Along with 20 Army troopers (the troopers died, mostly by their own friendly fire).
After the massacre, the U.S. Army awarded 20 Medals of Honor to soldiers who participated that day - a prestigious award, normally awarded “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty” - for the deliberate and wanton killing of unarmed men, and over 200 women, children, and babies. A massive stain on the honorable award, that continues to this day. "
If you like to learn more about my high school teaching day, see the link below to my dissertation "Inventing A transactional classroom: An Upward Bound, Native American Writing > Community https://repository.arizona.edu/handle/10150/279997 <
30-years later, I have discovered they were my teachers, and truth inspires reading,
Dr. Jesse P. Turner
Professor Emeritus Literacy, Elementary, and Early Childhood Education.
If you like to listen to the song that played during those reading days...it is Robbie Roberson's It's a good day to die" > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C34ryDYlR8g <
