Manuscripts Collection
On February 27, 1973, approximately 300 Indians on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, led by members of the Oglala Sioux Civil Rights Organization (OSCRO) and the American Indian Movement (AIM), occupied the village of Wounded Knee. During the 71-day siege, the occupants established the Independent Oglala Nation and demanded the U.S. Government's recognition of the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty with the Sioux Nation, the removal of the Oglala Sioux tribal council, and new elections.
In March 1973, under the guidance of AIM, seventeen lawyers and legal workers from across the country established the Wounded Knee Legal Defense/Offense Committee (WKLD/OC) in Rapid City, South Dakota. As outlined in a proposal submitted at the time, the committee's objectives were to provide an adequate defense for those charged with crimes in or about Wounded Knee, to encourage the return of the rule of law to the area surrounding Wounded Knee, to permit residents to return to their homes, to prohibit federal agents from making further illegal arrests, and to make the facts about Wounded Knee known to the American public. While pursuing these objectives WKLD/OC became an active participant in the negotiations that led to the end of the siege and the stand-down on May 8, 1973.
Over 400 people were arrested at Wounded Knee resulting in 275 cases in federal, state, and tribal courts. WKLD/OC represented all defendants in the federal and tribal Wounded Knee cases. The Wounded Knee federal cases included 7 defendants charged with major conspiracy (so-called leadership cases) and 127 defendants faced with charges involving breaking and entering, larceny, conspiracy, and interfering with federal marshals (Consolidated Wounded Knee Cases). The 97 persons tried in the tribal courts of the Oglala Sioux Tribe were charged almost exclusively with either riot or unlawful assembly as defined in the tribal code.
The Committee also handled related cases arising from events prior to the occupation and afterwards including protests at Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and Custer, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
In addition to its efforts at providing an adequate defense, WKLD/OC undertook several offensive actions, bringing about a dozen civil suits against several authorities, including the Oglala Sioux tribal council and its president, Dick Wilson, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Due to a determination that it would be impossible to obtain a fair trial in South Dakota, the federal leadership trials were moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the consolidated cases to Lincoln, Nebraska, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Bismarck, North Dakota. The South Dakota state cases were tried in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, and Rapid City. These relocations, which transpired over a three-year period, required that WKLD/OC maintain a number of offices, thereby placing a heavy burden on the Committee's personnel, administrative functions, and financial resources. The various trial locations and chronology also played a significant role in the formulation of legal strategy.
WKLD/OC's organizational structure evolved in response to the politically charged nature and high profile of the trials, the relocations described above, its reliance on volunteer workers, and the constant need for funds. Early on, subcommittees were formed to manage the various facets of the defense efforts, which included tactical investigation, legal coordination, jury survey and investigation, office coordination, press/publicity, and fund-raising. Although the subcommittees' duties changed and overlapped, they are described generally below.
The investigative team maintained a house in Manderson, South Dakota, where it kept up contact with the people and problems of the Pine Ridge Reservation. The team was under constant harassment by supporters of Dick Wilson, known as the Goon Squad.
The legal committee dealt with lawyer recruitment, defendant and lawyer contacts, legal research, and investigation. It also administered subpoenas; managed witness, exhibit, and court pleadings files; indexed trial transcripts; and kept daily trial summaries. These efforts allowed the committee to effectively handle a massive amount of evidence and communicate legal strategy among the various trials.
Press and public relations activities included issuing press releases and managing press coverage, publishing a newsletter, and coordinating solidarity groups nationwide.
WKLD/OC's reliance on volunteers resulted in a continual change in personnel that, coupled with close living and working quarters, necessitated the establishment of strict office rules and internal security. The issue of security was addressed from the outset and became more acute as the trials progressed and the presence of government informants became known. Staff turnover also created a need for an orientation process that would inform new members of the history, structure, and objectives of AIM and the committee.
Many of the difficulties WKLD/OC faced were the direct result of the zealous effort with which the U.S. government pursued the Wounded Knee cases. The defendants argued that the government's objective was to use the indictments to destroy AIM and stem the activism it fostered among Indian people. The impact of the legal battles fought by WKLD/OC upon the broader political and social objectives of the Indian movement of the 1970s is open to debate; however, the direct result of its defense efforts was a 92.3% acquittal and dismissal rate in what may have been one of most massive and complex series of legal proceedings in U.S. history.
Historical data was taken from the papers.
These documents are organized into the following sections:
Accession numbers: 11,994; 12,233; 12,016; 12,445; 12,677; 12, 771; 14,017; 14,628; 15,037; 15,959
Digital masters of the audiovisual material are maintained on the Society's secure digital collections storage servers and are managed and preserved in accordance with archival best practices.
The original audiocassettes, audio reels, and videocassettes were disposed after the material was digitally reformatted into MOV and WAV files.
Processed by: Frank Hennessy, March 1996; Christopher G. Welter, January 2010.
Digital audiovisual files transferred from the master audiocassettes, audio reels, and videocassettes by the Minnesota Historical Society for preservation purposes (February, 2020).
Digitization was made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008.
Catalog ID number: 990017329140104294
The FBI Files on the American Indian Movement and Wounded Knee (microfilm ed.), published by University Publications of America, Inc.
Robideau, Robert E. American Indian Movement papers; Cole, Kay (Katherine), 1911-. Papers. Both are held by the Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico.
This portion of the collection chronicles the events surrounding Wounded Knee and relates the repercussions of those events upon each other and upon the American Indian protest movement of the 1970s. Beyond its function as a chronicle, the files contain an extensive collection of legal documents tracing the evolution of the legal issues, arguments, and strategy adopted by WKLD/OC as the Wounded Knee and related trials unfolded.
The collection's initial group of papers provide an account of incidents involving AIM prior to the occupation of Wounded Knee. Among these events was a disturbance at a Chicano-Indian unity conference in Scottsbluff, Nebraska (January 13-14, 1973), which resulted in numerous arrests, and a riot at the Custer, South Dakota courthouse during a protest over the murder of an Indian, Wesley Bad Heart Bull, by a white businessman who was subsequently charged with second degree manslaughter, rather than first degree murder, and received a two month suspended sentence (February 6, 1973)
The main body of the papers documents the Wounded Knee occupation and ensuing
legal battles. Papers related to the occupation's aftermath recount a riot
at the Minnehaha County Courthouse in Sioux Falls, South Dakota during the
trial of those arrested at Custer (April 30, 1974); the widespread
harassment and violence on the Pine Ridge reservation following the
occupation; a shoot-out at Oglala, South Dakota (June 26, 1975), which
resulted in the deaths of two FBI agents and the life imprisonment of
Leonard Peltier; and legal actions related to the publication of Peter
Matthiessen's account of the Oglala incident in his book,
Some of the pivotal issues and arguments raised during the trials and documented in the collection's legal records include the government's lack of jurisdiction under the 1868 treaty with the Sioux Nation, the constitutionality of the Major Crimes Act and the Civil Disobedience Act of 1968, the illegal use of the U.S. military during the siege, and governmental misconduct during the occupation and trials.
The legal records also depict a number of the Committee's defense strategies, including its attempts to refuse judges felt to be prejudiced against the defendants, particularly Judge Andrew Bogue of Rapid City; its efforts to change the location of trials due to prejudice; its employment of systematic jury selection and investigation, a fairly new and controversial practice; and the filing of several defense appeals.
The records associated with these legal issues and maneuvers consist of indictments, subpoenas, criminal dockets, motions, briefs, memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, transcripts, jury lists, questionnaires, and surveys.
The legal records and evidence described above were organized and made accessible through a filing and indexing system shared by the various WKLD/OC offices. The major file series include defendant and witness files, subject files, an active and closed case file, and radio logs. Personal name, subject, and date indexes covering the various files are also included.
Files kept by WKLD/OC's legal coordinator, Kenneth Tilsen, follow those kept at WKLD/OC offices. A large number of the cases represented in this series are also documented in the preceding WKLD/OC files, however there are some additional cases and some from the preceding series that are considerably expanded. These would include Richard Marshall's appeal of his conviction in the Scenic murder case (1976-1981); the events and legal proceedings following the Oglala shoot-out, including the murder of Anna Mae Aquash (1976-1985) and post-trial matters related to Leonard Peltier (1975-1986); and the lawsuits filed against Viking Press and Peter Matthiessen by FBI special agent David Price and South Dakota governor William Janklow in their attempts to block the publication of Matthiessen's account of the Oglala shoot-out (1983-1990).
Both the WKLD/OC office and Tilsen files contain records related to offensive measures taken by WKLD/OC encompassing a series of civil lawsuits against the tribal council and federal government. These suits began during the Wounded Knee occupation and continued throughout the trials. Their primary thrust was to unseat Dick Wilson and halt what they believed to be his administration's abuses on the reservation, which included the use of vigilantes to harass and intimidate opponents, employment and other forms of discrimination against persons seen as AIM sympathizers, and orders barring WKLD/OC lawyers from entering the reservation. In the OST Election Suit WKLD/OC disputed Wilson's defeat of Russell Means, citing several instances of voter rights violations during the 1974 election for council president.
Civil actions against the federal government included a suit filed by WKLD/OC for a preliminary injunction against FBI harassment and surveillance that interfered with the Committee's preparation of an adequate defense, and a suit filed by a group of Wounded Knee residents challenging the government's use of military force in civil law enforcement during the Wounded Knee occupation.
The records described thus far are augmented by research files covering numerous legal topics and miscellaneous background files which provide information on AIM, Oglala Sioux tribal politics and government, and the New Oglala Sioux Nation established within Wounded Knee during the occupation. There is also a group of general files covering a broad range of topics, many of them focused on Indian issues in general.
See also: Custer identifications [testimony during line-up proceedings], February 6-8, 1973 audio recording.
See: Audio recordings for Custer Reels 1-3: Cy Griffin film, February 1973.
See also: State radio tape audio recordings.
See also: Exhibit A in Box 105.
See also: Audio recordings of interviews with Donald Kelm, Frank Weldin, Charlie Walker, and Edward Blando.
See: box 105.
See also: Indictments, dismissals, and negotiations.
A cross-name card index to persons referred to by others in subject series I, the witness files, and similar matters. The originals have been returned to the committee.
A cross-name card index to persons referred to by others in subject series II, the witness files, and similar materials.
A cross-name index card to persons referred to by other in subject series II, the witness files, and similar materials.
Subject series I and II use similar folder numbers and titles. Although the series are similar they are not exact duplicates and researchers should check both for complete coverage.
Arranged by case number with indexes.
The negatives have been matched with the prints in the volumes, and the identifying information is recorded on each negative's envelope.
Book 1 includes aerial shots, vehicles, agents, occupants, houses, animal remains, bunkers, and fortifications. Book 2 includes house interiors, bunkers, fortifications, weapons, vehicles, church interiors and exteriors, and burned houses. Book 3 includes aerial views, vehicles, bullet holes, vehicles with bullet holes and blood, and gunshot wounds.
The negatives have been matched with the prints in the volumes, and the identifying information is recorded on each negative's envelope.
Volume 1 includes aerial views, church surrounded by tanks, helicopter, roadblocks, bulldozer, BIA roadblock, churches, cemetery, sweat lodge, graffiti, vehicles, and bullet holes. Volume 2 includes trenches, bunkers, building interiors and exteriors, burning houses, bridge, vehicles, debris, trading post, animal remains, and tire marks.
The negatives have been matched with the prints in the volumes, and the identifying information is recorded on the negative's envelope.
The negatives have been matched with corresponding prints, and the identifying information is recorded on the negative's envelope.
See also: BIA [Bureau of Indian Affairs] audio recordings.
See also: Exhibit P-8 in Box 106.
Pertains mainly to Fleury case by Gutman, Tilsen, and Tucker (appointed counsel).
Prepared by Fredric J. Gross.
See also: Exhibit A in box 105.
U.S. v. Dodge (75-1173); v. Escamilla (75-1398); v. Alvarado and Williams (75-1483); v. Cooper (75-1485); v. Fleury, Wesaw, and Johns (75-1498).
U.S. v. Crow Dog (75-1617).
U.S. v. Dodge (75-1173); v. Escamilla (75-1398); v. Alvarado and Williams (75-1483); v. Cooper (75-1485); v. Fleury, Wesaw, and Johns (75-1498).
U.S. v. Escamilla (75-1398); v. Alvarado and Williams (75-1483); v. Cooper (74-1384).
U.S. v. Alvarado and Williams (75-1483).
See also: "Motion for continuance" and "Statutory right to a speedy trial," above.
See also: T78-0115.
See also: T76-0778.
See also: T84-0002
See also: P85-380.
See also: T83-0002.
See also: Mailing list in box 105.
Consisting of correspondence, minutes, bills, cash journals, office reports, and newsletters, this portion of the papers incorporates WKLD/OC's organizational history, its internal operation, and its relationship with outside individuals and organizations. Some of the more significant records are outlined below.
A substantial body of financial records provides data pertaining to the organization's fund-raising efforts including contributors and amounts and a detailed breakdown of its budget.
Minutes and office reports depict the development and administration of WKLD/OC as a whole and the daily operation, legal work, and collaboration of its six offices. The WKLD/OC newsletters provide a chronicle of the various trials and events on the reservation including the ongoing harassment by Dick Wilson's administration and the FBI.
Another group of records, including mainly correspondence, pertains to numerous national and international Wounded Knee support groups and their cooperation with WKLC/OC in disseminating information to the public and raising funds.
A series of diverse subject files related directly to issues and events surrounding Wounded Knee and American Indians in general concludes this section. A file in this series labeled "Scoreboard: Defendants, trials, convictions" provides a useful synopsis of the sequence and outcomes of the numerous trials covered in this collection.
See: Box 105.
This group of papers documents WKLD/OC's relationship with the press and its management of the substantial press coverage generated by the occupation and related events.
The Committee believed that the national and local media presented a biased view of events related to Wounded Knee and that WKLD/OC had to take an active role in getting a balanced and accurate account disseminated to the public. One of the direct results of this position was the Committee's attempt to prove in court that the press coverage given its clients and related events was prejudicial and therefore made impartial trials impossible.
The papers in this section document WKLD/OC's own press campaign, which included the formulation of procedures for dealing with the press; the publication of a press packet; the establishment of numerous press contacts in the national, local, and alternative media; and frequent press releases.
The bulk of this material augments the records related to the Custer Courthouse riot and the occupation of Wounded Knee, including state radio tapes of police transmissions made at the time of the Custer riot, material recorded during a line-up of defendants staged by the police immediately following the riot, and interviews with Sarah Bad Heart Bull and several law enforcement officials. There is also video of testimony presented at a civil rights hearing held by AIM in Rapid City immediately preceding the riot (February 2-4, 1973) and the sequence of events that occurred on the day of the riot (February 6, 1973).
Materials related to the Wounded Knee occupation include government radio communications, including FBI, BIA, and U.S. Marshal transmissions, which are also documented in the agencies' radio logs found elsewhere in the collection. There are also interviews with Pine Ridge residents regarding harassment and violence on the reservation and materials covering events prior to and after the occupation, particularly scenes of the Wounded Knee area and news footage of events during the siege.
Digital audio
A hearing on concerns regarding abuse of civil rights. Includes John McDonald of the Indian Rights Division of the Department of Justice and allegations against the Guardians of the Oglala Nation (GOONs), created by Tribal chairman Dick Wilson.
Digital audio
A continuation of statements by residents.
(00:00:00) Jim White Face discusses his issue with the REA and Great Plains telephone company regarding trespassing and illegally setting up lines and moving telephone poles.
(00:23:30) Emma Battelyoun of Martin, South Dakota discusses her issue regarding the violence against her daughter.
(00:37:45) Viola Shangreaux discusses the issue of gun violence and physical violence happening within her community of Martin, South Dakota.
(00:44:40) Myrtle Johnson of Anderson, South Dakota continues the discussion of the violent attacks going on in Martin, South Dakota.
Digital audio
A continuation of statements regarding the violence in Martin, South Dakota.
(00:07:50) unidentified man discusses death threats against his family and himself.
(00:17:18) Isaac Iron Cloud discusses the history of treaties and politics within the reservation.
(00:31:25) Kills Enemy discusses history of troubles with reservation life and broken treaties.
Digital audio
A continuation of statements regarding the issues and concerns about life on the reservation.
(00:00:00) Marvin Ghost Bear of Batesland, South Dakota discusses the attack on his family, the BIA investigation, fund for jury trials, and the corrupt local reservation policemen.
(00:32:45) Mary White Face discusses her interaction with the local tribal police and about one of the policeman attempting to sexually assault her.
(00:42:45) Curtis Ghost discusses his interaction with the local tribal police.
(00:47:40) Leola Quiver from Porcupine, South Dakota. She discusses the issues with the tribal health care system and job discrimination.
Digital audio
Celia was not present and had her testimony read at the Law and Order hearing.
Digital audio
Compilation of other recordings. It contains partial segments from Line-up A and the full audio from Line-up B. Audio quality is poor.
Digital audio
Sound is muffled.
(00:00:00) reporter Kevin McKiernan of NPR interviews Sarah before she heads to jail.
(00:11:55) interview of family friend Chris Westerman.
(00:13:00) update regarding the defendants of the Custer courthouse riot.
(00:13:45) brief segments on: Frank Clearwater, the sacred sundance, Henry Crowdog's paradise at the Rosebud Indian reservation, remembering Wounded Knee one year later.
(00:23:00) excerpts from inside Wounded Knee during the exchange of gun fire.
Digital audio
Compilation of previous recordings: Line-up A, Line-up B, and Reproduced Line-up.
Sound is muffled.
See also: Box 2 for transcripts.
Digital audio
Relates to the following recordings: Line-up A, and Reproduced Line-up.
Sound is muffled.
The broadcast can be heard being played via a film projector as the news covers the trial at the Custer Court house.
Digital audio
Digital audio
Digital audio
Recordings of radio transmissions between law enforcement dispatchers. Audio quality is poor.
See also: Box 4 for transcript.
Digital audio
Recordings of radio transmissions between law enforcement dispatchers. Audio quality is poor.
See also: Box 4 for transcript.
Digital audio
Recordings of radio transmissions between law enforcement dispatchers. Audio quality is poor.
See also: Box 4 for transcript.
Digital audio
See also: Box 6 for transcript.
Audio quality is poor.
Digital audio
See also: Box 6 for transcript.
Audio quality is poor.
Digital audio
See also: Box 6 for transcript.
Audio quality is poor.
Digital audio
See also: Box 45 for transcripts.
Digital audio
Annotation on label: Transmissions same as Tape No. 1.
Similar to interview with Sarah Bad Heart Bull, and reporting on Wounded Knee, undated recording. Both capture the shooting and death of the two people killed at Wounded Knee.
Digital audio
Note on container: Tape No. 5: General routine transmissions; news release (possibly K. Fizzell); questions by reporters, answers by Frizzell and Roubideau (not recorded), 1973. Bud Schlick-Wilson.
Digital audio
Digital audio
Note: Side 1: AIM harassment, WK (pre D-Day). 20 people went by armed, Bellecourt's car spotted with someone else (from Kyle) driving. Side 2: Partial duplicate of Side 1.
Digital audio
Note: Six or eight individuals furnishing AIM cards; Fran Olson with them; NCIC check being made on individuals and on Leon Rattler (a/k/a Kills Small) for address.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications.
Note on container: tape 1, ends 3:50pm released to defense 3/26/74 returned by defense 3/26/74.
Note on container: tape 2, begins 3:51pm end 6:30pm hold for R.D.
Note on container: tape 3, t-r 186, begins 6:40 end 9 released to defense 3/26/74 returned 3/26/74.
Note on container: tape 4, TR179, OCS-H.S. Library, begin 9:05 released to defense 3/26/74 returned 3/26/74.
Note on container: tape 5, TR177, OCS-H.S. Library, end 11:55 released to defense 3/26/74 returned 3/26/74.
Note on container: tape 6, TR178, OCS-H.S. Library, birdseye begin 11:55 3-2-73 ends 12:55 3-3-73.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications.
Note on container: tape 7, TR181 OCS-H.S. Library, released to defense 3/26/74 returned 3/27/74, released to defense to finish 3/27/74 returned 3/27/74.
Note on container: tape 8, TR180 OCS-H.S. Library, end 5:20 am, released to defense 3/28/74 returned 3/28/74.
Note on container: tape 9, TR185 OCS-H.S. Library, end 8:50 released to defense 3/26/74 returned 3/26/74 released to the defense to finish 3/27/74 returned 3/27/74.
Note on container: tape 10, TR188 OCS-H.S. Library, end 10:40 released to defense 3/27/74 returned 3/27/74 .
Note on container: tape 11, TR186 *187 OCS-H.S. Library, radio transmissions 3/3/73 end, released to defense 3/27/74 returned 3/27/74, released to defense to finish 3/27/74 returned 3/27/74.
Digital audio
Note: occasional loud buzz sound that covers and interrupts the audio communications.
Tape No. 14 is missing.
Note on container: tape 12, TR184 OCS-H.S. Library, end 3:19, released to defense 3/27/74.
Note on container: tape 13, TR182 OCS-H.S. Library, released to defense 3/27/74 returned 3/27/74.
Note on container: tape 15, TR150 OCS-H.S. Library, released to defense 3/27/74 returned 3/27/74.
Digital audio
Note: occasional loud buzz sound that covers and interrupts the audio communications.
Note on container: tape 16, TR147 OCS-H.S. Library, released to defense 3/27/74, returned 3/27/74.
Note on container: tape 17, released to defense 3/27/74.
Note on container: tape 18, released to defense 3/27/74, released to defense to finish 3/25/74, returned 3/28/74.
Note on container: tape 19, released to defense 3/28/74, returned 3/28/74.
Digital audio
Note: ccasional loud buzz sound that covers and interrupts the audio communications.
There were originally two cassettes labeled Tape No. 23, one dated March 4 and one March 5.
Note on container: tape 20, released to defense 3/27/74 returned 3/27/74.
Note on container: tape 21, TR149 OCS-H.S. Library, released to defense 3/27/74, returned 3/27/74.
Note on container: tape 22, TR148 OCS-H.S. Library, released to defense 3/28/74, returned 3/28/74.
Note on container: tape 23, TR151 OCS-H.S. Library, 3/4/73 radio communication, hold for R.D.
Digital audio
Note: occasional loud buzz sound that covers and interrupts the audio communications.
There were originally two cassettes labeled Tape No. 23, one dated March 4 and one March 5.
Note on container: tape 23, TR152 OCS-H.S. Library, 3/5/73 Pine Ridge, S.D. 157-509, released to defense 3/26/74, returned by defense 3/26/74.
Note on container: tape 24, TR152 OCS-H.S. Library, 157-509, hold for RD.
Digital audio
Note: occasional loud buzz sound that covers and interrupts the audio communications.
Note on container: TR183 OCS-H.S. Library, released to defense 3/27/74, returned 3/27/74.
Digital audio
Note: occasional loud buzz sound that covers and interrupts the audio communications.
Note on container: TR1167 OCS-H.S. Library, hold for RD.
Digital audio
Note on container: released to defense 3/[blank]/74 returned 3/28/74.
Digital audio
Note on container: released to defense 3/[blank]/74 returned.
Digital audio
Note on container: released to defense 3/[blank]/74 returned 3/[blank]/74.
Digital audio
Digital audio
Note on container: released to defense 3/25/74 returned 3/28/74.
Digital audio
Note on container: released to defense 3/27/74 returned 3/27/74.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Note on container: GDB released to defense 3/27/74, returned 3/27/74.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Note on container: GDB done 3/27/74, released to defense 3/28/74, returned 3/28/74.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Note on container: GDB released to defense 3/[blank]/74, returned 3/[blank]/74.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Note on container: GDB #3, #34.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Note on container: GDB voice #2.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Note on container: GDB released to defense 3/[blank]/74 returned.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Note on container: released 3/27/74 returned 3/27/74.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Note on container: released to defense 3/ [blank]/74 returned 3/[blank]/74, GDB.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Note on container: GDB.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Note on container: GDB, reviewed by defense 3/24/74 returned by FBI 3/28/74.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Note on container: GDB, reviewed by defense 3/24/74 returned by FBI 3/28/74, 3/5/73 10:50-11:50.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Note on container: GDB, reviewed by defense 3/24/74, returned by FBI 3/27/74.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Note on container: GDB.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications. Contains an occasional loud buzzing sound. Audio quality is poor.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications.
Digital audio
Dispatch communications.
See also: Box 3 for film indexes.
1) Morning in Rapid City; The General Assembly Meets; Means, Crow Dog, Banks, and Other Talk About the Need to Do Something at Custer. ABC News Program Recorded “Off the Air” on February 7th with their view of what happened on the 6th in Custer; 2) Car Caravan through Black Hills; Arrival in Custer; General Assembly Waiting Outside Court; Police Clear Steps With Clubs; Police Cars Trashed; Police Challenged in Alley; Burning of Court House and Chamber of Commerce; Police Making Arrests; 3) Police Making Arrests in Custer; Return to Rapid City; General Assembly in Rapid City with Crow Dog, Dennis Banks, Carter Camp and Others Speak; AIM Drumming and Singing.
Digital recording was copied from submaster videocassettes originally copied from the ½ in. videotape by University of Minnesota, University Media Resources, Minneapolis, 1990.
Digital video
The Burning of Custer, February 16, 1973. This is a half-hour edit of the events in Custer, Cy Griffin, Native American Video Newsreel, No. 1.
Digital recording was copied from submaster videocassettes originally copied from the ½ in. master videotape by University of Minnesota, University Media Resources, Minneapolis, 1990.
Digital video
Digital recordings were copied from submaster videocassettes originally transferred from ½ inch videotape reels by Vidipax, New York, NY, 1996.
Digital video
Digital audio
Audio only.
Digital video
Digital audio
Note on container: Russell Means KRSD Rapid City.
Digital audio
Contains Clyde and Vernon Bellecourt attack on Wilson and Babby, appeal to AIM members and Trail of Broken Treaties personnel, and questions
Note on container: FSN 5835-106-0421.
Digital audio
Audio quality is poor.
Digital audio
Digital audio
Digital audio
Digital audio
Digital audio
Digital audio
Situational interview for possible jury selection strategy.
Produced by The Rest of the News, Ithaca, New York.
Related to Wounded Knee 1973 - Rebirth of the Sioux Nation report and Since Wounded Knee report recording.
Produced by The Rest of the News, Ithaca, NY.
Transferred from super 8 mm film to videotape, Vidipax, New York, NY, 1996.
Transferred from super 8 mm film to videotape, Vidipax, New York, NY, 1996.
Note: Opinion Please radio show on the events unfolding at Wounded Knee.
Digital audio
Digital audio
Note on container: No. 55 is marked 1/27/74, blank Allen Cooper, 3/26/73, Side I start 12:00am, Side II start 2:59pm.
Digital audio
No. 56 is marked 1/27/74 intentionally garbled-tape mostly Allen Cooper, 3/26/73, side I 8:35pm, side II 11:40am.
Digital audio
Digital audio
Note: Sing a Song for Wounded Knee, special program by Rock 92 communications. Featuring Russell Means, Robert Eugene Robideau, South Dakota governor aide Ted Muenster, and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) executive staff Steve.
Digital audio
(00:00:00) William "Billy" Charging is being interviewed by Wounded Knee Legal Defense / Offense Committee (WKLDOC) attorney Mark Lane asking how and why he is at the Bissonette house of Pine Ridge reservation. Mr. Charging states he was sent by Dick Wilson, chairman of the Oglala Lakota Sioux of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
(00:13:37) October 18, 1973 at 3am, an interview with unknown people about the recent murder of Pedro and the mishandling and or cover up by the authorities. Interview takes place at Gladys Bissonette's house.
(00:25:02) radio broadcast of Pedro Bissonette's murder.
(00:26:55) October 19, 1973 at the BIA conference room with Gail Sullivan, WKLDOC attorney Mark Lane, Dennis Ickes. They are discussing the murder of Pedro Bissonette and the continued harassment by the local tribal police and BIA.
(00:43:28) interview ends abruptly.
Digital audio
Audio quality is poor, recording ends at around 29 minutes and then a buzzing sound is heard until the end.
Press conference regarding police officer shooting of Pedro Bissonette during a stop to serve a warrant.
Digital audio
Audio quality is poor.
Digital audio
Digital audio
Recording of dispatch conversation. Audio quality is poor.
The last section regarding an exchange of fire inside the Wounded Knee occupation is the same from McKiernan's previous report via the Sarah Bad Heart Bull interview. Next is the same segment from Sarah Bad Heart Bull, then includes a brief segment on Frank Clearwater and Henry Crow Dog's Paradise at the Rosebud Indian Reservation.
Digital audio
Interviewed by legal defense council staff David Cohoes, Karen Northcott, and Dagmar Thorpe. Greg and Beverly talk about discrimination they faced and why they joined AIM. They recount their experience during the Custer Court house trail and riot on February 6, 1973.
A heavy rainstorm takes place during the interview. Interview ends abruptly.
Indian program [Navaho Hoop Dance, Shawnee Stomp Dance, Custer Died for Your Sins, My Country, Where Were You When? and BIA].
Digital audio
Contains a FBI field report of the newly formed citizens committee by AIM members at Pine Ridge. This is followed by a recording of a news report which includes the day's news regarding South Dakota.
From 16 minutes on the sound quality is poor. A TV is playing in the background, reports about Wounded Knee are heard briefly.
Digital audio
Audio quality is poor.
Digital audio
Audio quality is poor.
There are two groups of newspaper clippings, resulting in a certain amount of duplication. One group was assembled by the WKLD/OC staff and the other was originally part of Kenneth Tilsen's files. The clippings (1972-1976) were taken from major newspapers published in North and South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota; Indian newspapers; and the alternative press.
Researchers are encouraged to make a thorough examination of the box list in order to be certain they have located all transcripts related to a particular case.
[Vol. 103 is missing and Vol. 105 is incomplete].
[Volume 2, volume 7, and volume 11 missing.]