http://www.fold3.com/page/1296_lakotathe_massacre_at_wounded_knee/ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/weshallremain/the_films/episode_5_trailer Back in October of 1998, I took a better part of a week off from work to just get away from everyone & everything! After work on Monday, I loaded my truck with my gear, & my Beagle Stacy. We headed out west with a destination of Wyoming! I wanted to see as many of the historical significant sites. Wounded Knee was our 1st stop. I really didn't know much about this site & the events from the prior century. After driving all night long from Southeast Wisconsin, We finally made it to this site around 8am. While visiting the grave site. A local Native American walked up to greet me. His name was Jerry Elk. He & his Nephew were selling their wares & items that they themselves had made. After viewing all of the graves, I said a little prayer. Then proceeded down to where Jerry was selling his items. After spending almost $200. I sat & talked with Jerry for a better part of an hour or so. He enlightened me about the history of this location. When we parted ways, I shook his hand & wished him a good day. I walked away with an education of a life time that would forever change my life & the way that I saw things. Little did I know it, That was the last time that I would see what I considered from that time forward, As my "Friend". While visiting in September of 2007. I was going to look Jerry up. But I spoke with an Elder & her Grand Daughter for about 2 hours, Who were selling their wares. They told me that he had passed on to the afterlife. Before we spoke, I mentioned that I noticed a Sweedish flag on one of the graves. I had a dreadful hunch, As Jerry would often go to Sweeden during the winter months to teach. Yes, It was his grave without a headstone at that time. I originally wanted to show what this site looked like in video. But as I was browsing, I found some movie clips. So I decided to tell a story without words! & this is what I had come up with. God Bless You Jerry where ever you are! God Bless You All Who have spent the time to enlighten me while visiting on each occasion! They are memories that I will always be grateful for! ...................................................................................................................... Michael RedCrow10 hours agoLINKED COMMENT Just FYI- there was not a person "Chief BigFoot", his name was Spotted Elk (Si Tanka) , "Big Foot " was a derogatory name/term assigned to him by the Soldiers /Indian Agents and is not what his actual name was as recognized by and amongst his own people.Just another piece of slander attached to native americans and it is sad that the official marker as seen in this video bears that name and term for him ,he was noted by his people as having been a fearsome warrior and great hunter during his prime and was still a respected leader at the time of his death.For that matter, he was dying of pneumonia and bed-ridden even by the US forces Commanders accounts of the event, why was he shot at all, he was unarmed ,old, sick and dying.  Show less

• published: 03 Dec 2011
• views: 7552