5/8/2010:
The American Indian Movement's siege of the small village of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, ended on this date in 1973. The activist group had held the town for over seventy days, hoping to draw attention to Native American rights. Members laid down their arms amid promises of Congressional considerations of their grievances. After meeting with White House representatives, some of their grievances were addressed in legislation passed in the late 1980s and early 90s - specifically the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
Most of the group's leaders were acquitted in subsequent trials, but in 1975 violence returned to the Pine Ridge Reservation. Two FBI agents were killed during a gunfight, and federal authorities conducted a raid. North Dakotan and AIM leader Leonard Peltier was captured in Canada and extradited, charged with the killings. After his trial in Fargo, he was sentenced to life in prison.
Dakota Datebook written by Jayme L. Job
Sources:
The Fargo Forum. Wednesday, September 18, 1974: p.5.
The Fargo Forum. Thursday, September 19, 1974: p.1.
The Fargo Forum. Thursday, January 20, 1977: p.2.
http://www.history.com/encyclopedia.do?vendorId=FWNE.fw..wo073400.a#FWNE.fw..wo073400.a
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=4442