On Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown was a heartbreaking account of the systematic deception and genocide of Native American tribes across America. It will probably prove to be one of the most important books I’ve read. The book covered most major battles west of the Mississippi including tribes such as Cheyenne, Arapaho, Ute, Kiowa, Comanche, Sioux, Apache, Navajos, and Modocs, as well as more bands within these tribes. Brown evaluated Native American history in relation to American western conquest; the events in this book occurred primarily between the early 1860s and the late 1880s. The author helpfully contextualized each chapter with the major events globally of that year, including things such as the publishing of Progress and Poverty, the invention of and distribution of electricity, and world wars. While Brown was an excellent writer and framed the book very well, it’s the articulate and emotional quotes of Native Americans which stand out the most, so I’ve included several here. 

Overall, this book demonstrated how much injustice and pain has been inflicted upon Native American people. The quote “the only good Indian is a dead Indian” (p178) was echoed in press, among the generals, and throughout the public for decades. People were hunted. Those in the military who spent time with Native Americans and changed their perspectives lost their power: “Lieutenant Whitman, his unpopular defense of Apache’s destroyed his military career” (p211). While some Presidents, like Grant, showed initial sympathy, no justice was ever given to Native Americans at large. Even small wins would not last. It was the overall policy of the US Government that destroyed Native American tribes, cultures, and communities. 

As a testament to the cruelty of the military post Civil War, most soldiers were drafted for the Civil War; they were not expecting to start a whole new war. Indian Agents and military generals were given tremendous authority to effectively wage wars either explicitly or by deliberately driving Native Americans off the reservation, qualifying them as enemies of the US (p264). Much of the conflict that took place was either forced by or exacerbated by Indian agents who were often derelict in their duties to provide the agreed upon rations for Native people or literally missed messages about peace treaties.  
However, even among friendly leaders, promises were not kept. The book also reviewed the tragedy of the Sand Creek Massacre, which initiated my interest in learning more about Native American history in the west. After hunting, deceiving, and murdering Cheyenne and Arapaho at the Sand Creek Massacre, the remaining chiefs were deceived into signing a treaty which relinquished all claims to Colorado. When tribes did not agree to a treaty, it was often “recommended that the government ignore the treaty…and take the land without consent of the Indians,” (p426). Other times, the promises made or agreed to were literally lost in translation, as many Native Americans did not know how to read or write in English. 

Despite this, Native Americans were remarkable  in their ability to meaningfully negotiate treaties such as the Treaty of 1868 which contained significant protections for them. However, white settlers were never punished for violating these treaties, which were US law, leading to war. This quote from Lone Wolf, of the Comanches, perfectly demonstrates the consistent pattern faced by Native American tribes: “I know that war with Washington means the extinction of my people, but we are drivento it” (p267). 
Further, there was a tremendous misunderstanding of Native American people by white people. A great example of the white savior mentality and complete disconnectedness of white peoples from Native Americans was a quote by Captain Mills who killed a Native American mother leaving the child an orphan: “I told [the neighboring soldier] I intended to adopt this little girl, as I had slain her mother…[the soldier asked if he intended to actually do so to which Mills replied] ‘It was the first time I had given that side of the matter a thought, and I decided to leave the child where I found her,” (p308).  

I want to end this review with a tragic quote from Black Elk, of the Sioux, reflecting on the Battle at Wounded Knee: “And I can see that something else died there in the bloody mud, and was buried in the blizzard. A people’s dream died there.  It was a beautiful dream,” (p443). 

Miscellaneous facts, largely related to Colorado: 

• “‘I shall cut every Indian down to the bare starvation point,’ wrote Indian Agent Meeker, for which Meeker, CO is named. 

• Ouray, Colorado is named for the best known leader of the Utes. 

• There was a significant band of Utes called the Uncompaghres, for which the national forest in western CO is named.  

• Wynkoop street in downtown Denver is named for Major Edward Wynkoop and here’s an interesting quote from him, after marching with Cheyenne, “I felt myself in the presence of superior beings; and these were the representatives of a race that I heretofore looked upon without exception as being cruel, treacherous, and bloodthirsty without feeling or affection for friend or kindred,” (p85)

• The name buffalo soldiers came from Native Americans who said that black soldiers reminded them of buffalo (p252). 

This book completely changed my perspective of the West, expanded my understanding of Native tribes, and truly enlightened me to the cruelty capable of our people. I’ve been trying to learn more about Native American history, so I found it fitting to finish this book in time for Native American Heritage Month. After all the tragedies inflicted upon Native Americans, I couldn’t help but feel disgusted by our history. 

I think this book is a must read for anybody, but especially people interested in American history or social justice. 

A huge thanks to Goodreads for this recommendation.