SOUTH DAKOTA — There’s a new battle brewing at Wounded Knee. Tribal members of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation are furious over plans by a white family to sell a piece of the Wounded Knee National Historic Landmark in South Dakota, where more than 300 Sioux Indian men, women and children were killed by the 7th Cavalry in the final battle of the American Indian Wars in 1890. The property, which includes graves of Indians who were massacred, is appraised at less than $14,000. However, the family is advertising the property’s bloody history and is asking for $4.9 million. Tribal members, many of whom are descendants of the massacre victims, say the family is trying to profit from their suffering. The family has given an ultimatum to the Oglala Sioux tribe to match the sale price or it will be sold. The family says three west coast-based investment groups have expressed interest in buying the land at the asking price. Tribal members say they aren’t opposed to development that would preserve or better educate the public about Wounded Knee, but they’ll fight any attempt to commercialize it. They say anyone who buys the land would have to deal with them.
Updated 5/3/13 @ 12:15 am
