Pine Ridge Argumentative Essay

Some say the war of Indians did not end until after a 71 day standoff February 28th, 1973 at Wounded Knee against Indians and the American government in a protest. The Indians were fighting for their treaty rights (Wounded Knee the Longest War). The Indians wanted the world to see what it was like to be them, to live in poverty and feel racism as well as being powerless against the government. The elder women were just as involved in the standoff as men. The Indians had demands such as the United States should recognize the Oglala government and an investigation of the Oglala Tribal President Dick Wilson. They had a total of 20 demands, all of which was nothing done about. Two people died and one person was paralyzed as a result of the siege (1973).
The changes that have been made to better their lives has not brought them out of poverty. In bigger cities, casinos bring in money, but most tribes struggle to bring in money. “According to True Sioux Hope Foundation, Pine Ridge has a 90 percent unemployment rate and a 70 percent high school dropout rate” (Elder). Pine Ridge is one of the poorest reservations in America with a low life expectancy rate. Suicide has also become a major problem. The White House is working with Pine Ridge to create a better environment and help with jobs (Elders). Population by the 1900’s of the Indians was 250,000 (US History 579). Today about 3 million Indians live in the United States (Elders).
Wounded Knee changed the lives of Indians. Indians have horrible living situations and the government is continuing to try to improve their lives today. They were not afraid to take a stand during the Wounded Knee standoff in 1973 and get the country’s attention to demand better treatment from the