Our Community, Our Culture, Our History

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Crazy Horse, the renowned Oglala Lakota leader, remains one of the most respected and enigmatic figures in Lakota history. Known for his fierce resistance against U.S. military expansion into Lakota lands, he played a pivotal role in defending his people’s way of life during the Great Sioux War of 1876–77, including his leadership at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Following his death in 1877, the location of Crazy Horse’s burial has been intentionally shrouded in secrecy. Oral histories passed down through generations state that his body was laid to rest along the Wounded Knee Creek. The site is not precisely known, and its location was deliberately concealed by family and close friends to protect him from desecration and to honor Lakota traditions regarding the sanctity of burial grounds.

Over the years, speculation has arisen about other possible burial locations, with some claiming he may rest in different parts of the Pine Ridge Reservation or even beyond. However, there is no historical or archaeological evidence to substantiate these alternative claims. Among the Lakota, the mystery of his final resting place is seen not as an unsolved riddle, but as a sacred trust—ensuring that Crazy Horse’s spirit remains at peace, undisturbed, and forever part of the land he fought to protect.

The Wounded Knee Massacre Site, located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, marks one of the most tragic and defining moments in Native American history. On December 29, 1890, U.S. 7th Cavalry soldiers surrounded a camp of Lakota people near Wounded Knee Creek and opened fire. By the time the violence ended, it is estimated that more than 250 Lakota men, women, and children were killed. Many were unarmed, and some were pursued and shot as they fled.

The victims were primarily Miniconjou Lakota from Chief Spotted Elk’s (Big Foot’s) band, along with members of the Hunkpapa Lakota who had joined them. In the aftermath, survivors were left traumatized, and the massacre became a devastating symbol of the U.S. government’s violent suppression of Native peoples and cultures.

The mass grave at Wounded Knee holds the remains of these Lakota victims. Today, the site stands as a place of mourning, remembrance, and resilience, visited by both descendants and those who come to honor the memory of those who perished. It remains an important spiritual and historical landmark for the Oglala Lakota Nation and for all Native people whose histories are intertwined with this tragedy.

 The 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee was a 71-day armed standoff between members of the American Indian Movement (AIM), their Oglala Lakota supporters, and U.S. federal authorities. Beginning on February 27, 1973, activists seized control of the village of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, to protest corruption within the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council and to demand the U.S. government honor past treaties. The site was symbolic, as it was the location of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre. Federal marshals and FBI agents surrounded the area, leading to exchanges of gunfire, the deaths of two Native activists, and numerous injuries. The occupation drew national attention to Native American grievances regarding sovereignty, treaty rights, and government neglect, leaving a lasting mark on Indigenous activism. 

 Wounded Knee District School (WKDS), formally known as  Number 9 Day School, was established through the BIA and operated as a Day School per 1868 treaty. WKDS is a K–8 public school in Manderson, South Dakota, 9 miles North of Wounded Knee, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Serving about 150+/- students—almost all American Indian and from low-income households—it is affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and offers culturally relevant education. The school has around eight full-time teachers, a student–teacher ratio of about 19:1.  Despite past reports of suboptimal campus conditions, it remains a vital education hub, supported by community donations and grants totaling over $26,000.