Today in History: American Indian Movement takes over Wounded Knee

The 1973 occupation of the South Dakota hamlet was a major event in the Native American civil rights movement.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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On February 27, 1973, members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) occupied the hamlet of Wounded Knee in South Dakota, the site of the 1890 massacre of Lakota people by the U.S. 7th Cavalry. The 71-day occupation was a major event in the Native American civil rights movement, drawing national attention to the concerns of indigenous communities.

Why it matters

The Wounded Knee occupation was a pivotal moment in the American Indian Movement's campaign to bring awareness to the mistreatment of Native Americans and demand greater rights and sovereignty. It highlighted the long history of violence and oppression against indigenous peoples in the United States.

The details

AIM members seized control of Wounded Knee, taking several residents hostage, in order to protest the U.S. government's failure to honor treaties with Native American tribes and demand the removal of the tribal president they accused of corruption. The standoff with federal authorities lasted 71 days before the occupiers surrendered, leading to the arrest of hundreds of AIM activists.

  • On February 27, 1973, AIM members occupied Wounded Knee.
  • The standoff lasted 71 days before the occupiers surrendered in May 1973.

The players

American Indian Movement (AIM)

A Native American civil rights organization that led the occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973 to protest the mistreatment of indigenous communities and demand greater rights and sovereignty.

Lakota people

The indigenous inhabitants of the Wounded Knee area who suffered a massacre by the U.S. 7th Cavalry in 1890, an event that helped inspire the 1973 occupation.

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The takeaway

The Wounded Knee occupation was a landmark event in the Native American civil rights movement, drawing national attention to longstanding grievances and the need for greater recognition of tribal sovereignty and indigenous rights in the United States.