Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West

I'm not sure how to put into words how important this book is. It took me almost a month to read it because I felt that I had to focus and try to retain everything on the page, it was that engrossing. The book has extensive research, endnotes, a bibliography, and index to make this one of, if not, the best books on the history of Native Americans during the time of the Civil War to about 1890. The chapters are all heartbreaking accounts of the atrocities that Indians were subjected to during the greedy expansion of the United States. I don't need to list all of them, as it would give less weight to their magnitude, but the most horrific chapter for me was Chapter 4 (I think). It's about the massacre at Sand Creek and the brutality of that battle is unreal. I got physically ill as I read each sentence with my heart pounding and breaking with each beat. I can't give this book a thorough review because I think the Kindle version is cumbersome to "flip" around in and give specific examples, but I really recommend this book to everyone who is interested in history and who wants solid accounts of these moments in history. I can't say it's unbiased in the message the author is trying to deliver, but Brown seems to present honest and factual accounts to formulate this narrative. It's a winding road of countless misunderstandings between nations that could have avoided conflict many times, but things like ego, pressure, the media, and public opinion really mucked up a lot of what could have been more peaceful resolutions (if there could be resolutions at all). Since it took me so long to read, I can really only relate a later story about Geronimo finally giving up and returning to a reservation, Standing Rock(?), but when he and his followers got drunk and heard whispers about being hanged or taken to Florida, he went back on his promise to a now-friendly official (Crook?). After a longer period of time, Geronimo finally returned, but brought the burden of transporting stolen livestock with him from Mexico. Like, seriously Geronimo? That's how you're going to return after making a serious mistake after worrying (justifiably though) that you were really going to be treated worse? That event made me disappointed because I can understand both sides, but (Crook?) was kind enough to sell the stolen livestock and return to the earnings to the Mexican government in hopes of them finding their owners. He really bailed Geronimo out of that one. But stories like how Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Big Foot died are so sad because they could have been avoided. Not only were great leaders killed by white people, but mercenary and traitorous Indians also ratted out and killed them as well. But even traitors who helped the US were often later imprisoned, shipped off, and their families died en route to various reservations. There are so many swindling deals in land disputes and so many Indian Affairs agents had conned tribal leaders into signing bad deals. There was a lot of power in a treaty that stated any deal must have 3/4ths of adult Indian signatures, but the government knew how to take advantage of people. It seemed like the final deal in regards to Sitting Bull after his fame, was the one where tribal leaders "wised up" and told officials that they knew the US' plan to meet from tribe to tribe instead of a big council, but in the end, John Grass had convinced people to sign away their land at Standing Rock. There are many stories that are unbelievable, yet you can believe them even in the context of today's political situation. These things happened during a time of great consternation in America and every turn seemed to be a bad one. The quotes that Brown used throughout this book are so impactful and timeless that I'm really compelled to continue learning about the Native Americans. I'm so disheartened with the US's bloody history, but I think it's more important now than maybe it ever has been to study these things and try to make the world a better place, if we still can. Please read this book and let it engross you like it did me. There are many dates, names, and events that are very hard to keep track of, but the author recalls them briefly if someone or something is later mentioned. The only thing I wish was given a modern context with consistency is the naming of Moons, Months, and Seasons because the author will use the Indian name, but less than half the time include parentheses to tell the reader when that actually is. "Moon of the Big Leaves (April)" or "The Moon When Ducks Begin to Fly." Like, when the heck is that? Brown will only sometimes tell you that that special time is August.

"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" picks up where "The Trail of Tears" by Gloria Jahoda ends, for a continued look into a history where the home of the Brave was taken as the land for free after Columbus "discovered" the already inhabited land and named her America. Dee Brown has done a brilliant job compiling and writing "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee: An Indian History of The American West" almost as if this book were a first-eye report during the 1860-1890 era, a time when the growing crowd of white settlers moved westward in search of more land and after the eastern Native American tribes had already been systematically removed from the east toward the west. The work includes photographs of chiefs and people of prominence within each respective chapter of time. At the back of the book, there is an index for reference. The beginning of each chapter is prefaced with a time-line of other world events for perspective as well as the obviously well-thought-out quotes of important Native American Indians. Legendary Native American Indian tribes, chiefs and warriors included in this book are: Navaho, Modoc, the many branches of Dakota (Sioux), Nez Perces, Apache, Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Crow, Comanche, Ponca, Sitting Bull, Geronimo, Ouray, Crazy Horse, Chief Joseph, Captain Jack, Cochise, Manuelito, Little Crow, Roman Nose, Dull Knife, Little Wolf and many others. The Long Walk of the Navajo - a people once very rich but left destitute and dying on a parceled out prison-land reservation of unimaginable, horrid conditions - is a familiar walk of the fates of other Nation tribes before and after themselves. Although different in their own ways, each tribe's fate was related in their suffering the same resounding theme of systematic destruction due to the greed of the white settlers. Anything not of the white way was considered barbaric. Instead of assimilating into their host country, the white people bullied and deceived Indians into meek submission to adopt their way and live on unwanted reservation lands or face death. When America had an interest in Indian land, they found ways, generally by brute force, to remove the Indians from their land. Unprovoked attacks, false arrests and killing and rounding-up survivors to take them to a worthless piece of land so settlers could stake land claims were part of the tactics used when the west was lost to white invaders. If land was not handed over promptly, entire villages were massacred, burned and destroyed, the survivors taken and labeled prisoners of war. Tribes of gentle, non-resistant Indians were conquered and exterminated. Cries of "Exterminate or banish!" were common among the settlers as was the seizure of land without pretense of payment. Gold seekers and settlers encroaching on land constantly provoked and stole from the Indians and then reversed the truth. The building of forts and the Union Pacific Railroad system in the middle of their hunting grounds and scaring the buffalo also heavily infringed upon terms of the treaties. Places that were sacred and holy to the Indian people, were mined by gold-crazed whites and trespassed upon although words of the treaties specifically said that no white man could pass over, settle upon or reside in the territory set forth. Those who fought too hard to keep their land or freedom were automatically marked for extinction. Any white who defended the rights of the Indian people were ridiculed, ostracized and worse. Even if attacked first, the Indians were considered murderers in their defense, yet for the whites, a killing was considered an "act of war" and punishment was never administered. The soldiers routinely "acted with crazy minds," brutally massacring indiscriminately, sometimes leaving 2/3 of the dead as mutilated women and children. The Indian people only fought trespassing soldiers who were on their land and did so with brilliant war strategies. There were never fair trials because it was the white man's law and under that law Indians were "not persons within the meaning of the law." They were considered aliens at birth. "Let us own the country together," proposed Buffalo Chief, who along with all Native Americans, desperately wanted peace and tried at all costs to find it. "Peace" almost always meant life on a reservation of the white man's choosing, never being able to leave the military, political operations without written permission. A promise of peace in the government's treaty would always say the Indians would no more be relocated yet they would continue to be relocated, sometimes four and five times. The "People of the horse," accustomed to traveling where they pleased in the land "where everything drew a free breath," were constantly sent to poor and barren "Indian territories" or reservations where the people became very sick or died while imprisoned. Tribes had to share the reservations with other tribes not to their liking and were punished severely if they left. Promises of annuities and peace in exchange for their land were continually broken and to the reservations was funneled bad food and sub-standard supplies at best. Still, the Indians were not allowed to travel in order to hunt their own food as they once did. The buffalo were nearly extinct due to the sport hunting of the whites who left them to rot. General Sheridan was one of many who condoned the hunting/extermination "to allow civilization to advance." Between 1872 - 1874, 3,700,000 buffalo were destroyed. Of those, only 150,000 were taken by the Native Americans who utilized every part of the buffalo for survival. Long-time Indian adversary, George Crook, who was experienced in the dealings of treachery, later concluded, "It is too often the case that border newspapers...disseminate all sorts of exaggerations and falsehoods about the Indians, which are copied in papers of high character and wide circulation, in other parts of the country, while the Indians' side of the case is rarely ever heard. In this way, the people at large get false ideas with reference to the matter. Then when the outbreak does come, public attention is turned to the Indians, their crimes and atrocities are alone condemned, while the persons whose injustice has driven them to this course, escape scot-free and are the loudest in the denunciations. No one knows this fact better than the Indian, therefore he is excusable in seeing no justice in a government which only punishes him, while it allows the white man to plunder him as he pleases." Or as Yellow Wolf explained it, the unjust whites told "only his own best deeds, only the worst deeds of the Indians." In death, the Indian people were also dishonored with no proper burial given. Captain Jack's (Kintpuash) body, for instance, was taken away after his hanging, to be embalmed, appearing in eastern cities as a carnival attraction. Even if the rightful Native American land owners had ceded their land under proper and understandable terms instead of under dubious means and sometimes faulty translations, it can be said that they were never given full disclosure as to the havoc and destruction that was to follow as the result from the change of hands in the ownership and more importantly to them, the stewardship of that land. Also logical is the fact that the Native Americans would not have willingly moved from their beloved ancestral homes so connected to their own lives to a foreign imprisonment unless threatened, coerced or tricked. History may have turned out quite differently had the Native American Indians consolidated forces and known their foreign adversary better. Instead of fighting against warriors in the manner they were accustomed to however, their enemy first appeared in disguise as a friend who took the extended hand offered in friendship and then chopped it off after the treaties were signed. I highly recommend "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" as an important, must-read for every American, especially those interested in a fuller disclosure of the truth as well as a case study into the manifestation of human greed, acceptable crimes possible through mob mentality, dehumanization, intolerance, misunderstanding and other hideous examples of depravity. Whose heart would feel no outrage or pain has no heart left to bury. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ White Woman Speaks: We called them "savages" When we were the savages. We call ourselves "native-born" When they were the Native-born. We mislabeled them "Indian givers" When we were the givers of all deceit. We considered this life to be "progress" When we progress in the wrong direction. (Rachel Elaine ~ 9-4-06)

Well written and interesting

Since visiting historical sites in South Dakota and Montana this past year, I’ve completed 15 books on the history of the American West. Books that covered the history of just New Mexico with Kit Carson and the Navajos; the history of Texas with Mackenzie and the Comanches, and all about South Dakota and the Sioux, culminating in the Battle of Little Big Horn. I read “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of American West” by Dee Brown years ago. It was the first book I ever read about the settling of the West. It opened my eyes and shocked me. I reread it as part of my summer reading this summer after my trip out West. It should be required reading by all, but not taken as Gospel. The book itself must be viewed in a historical light; it was the first book to tell the story from the Indian point of view. This is and was important; and the story is fascinating, and terribly sad and disturbing. It’s difficult reading, and not just for the content but also the style, which some may not like. I liked it. It tends to be a bit one-sided and lacking in neutral presentation. So while it accomplishes its goal to relate the history of the West from the native American side, it ignores some contradictory points, and skims over a more scholarly or in-depth, neutral analysis. It’s irrefutable that what we, as a growing nation, did to the Indians was outrageous and shameful, savage and unChristian, but there is so much more to the history. For example, Indian vs Indian warfare is not examined. Indeed, the same oppressors, the Whites, the Europeans, who fought, massacred, lied to and defeated the Indians, also provided the guns, tools and horses they needed and wanted to fight one another and better kill bison. I recommend this book very much, and enjoyed it and learned a great deal. But I urge readers to also explore other excellent books: by Sides, Philbrook, Cozzens and more. You’ll get a broader picture of history, from which you can draw your own thoughts and conclusions. I am horrified by the history of our interaction with the Indians. They were cruelly treated and abused. We were savages to them overall. But I recognize too that progress is inevitable; conflict and clashes are inevitable. This has been the history of the world since the beginning of time. Why did it have to be so horrible and savage here? I hope that readers will at the very least gain an appreciation of the native Americans, their sufferings and, like I did, go visit the historical landmarks out West to learn and to pay our respects.

A interesting book regarding what happened to the Lakota Indians. Very well written. I got this for my grandaughter. I remember I didn't get a picture of what happened to the Indians when I went to school and I had to seek out information.

Indeed it was heartbreaking; I thought I had been given quite a detailed, liberal, truthful education about the late 1800's in America in a great high school (I was lucky enough to live in a tiny Chicago suburb which got included with several large wealthy towns). I know I got even more detail and some broader facts (WHY were so many millions pouring into North America from Europe just then, putting so much pressure on the federal government, and then on the American Indians?). I even got to know a number of Indians during my first job , right out of Law School, in a small 2- lawyer firm, because my boss was determined not to let any Indian (most of them near our city were Menominiee or Oneida) go without legal representation when charged with a crime, and many of them were "working poor," just a hair over the "poverty line" for Public Defender (state-paid) attorneys. He never charged them anything for his or my work, and if the charge was a felony which occurred on their reservation, it was automatically a federal crime and handled in U.S. District Trial Court. That meant traveling three hour each way to Milwaukee for each court hearing. We talked a lot, about old times, their parents, grandparents, ancestors from before white settlers arrived in Wisconsin - stories were handed down for decades, often with sketches on skins, since the 1600's. This was a real eye-opener to me; I couldn't understand how they could be so polite to us whites. One man who was Tribal Court Judge (for non-felony crimes on the res.) laughed when I said that and said "Honey, we don't have any other choice." Then, last week, I read "Bury My Heart..." I thought I had read the worst stuff, but I had not; in this beutifully-researched book, I read of the most inexcusable atrocities, read of the repeated land-grabs and treaty-breaking moves whenever gold, silver, water, or simply more land was desired. I knew that horrible things happened because there was no respect for the signed government contracts (treaties) or the general ethics and morals in the treatment of the millions of mostly-peaceable people who whose sole "crime" was to be here in North America first. I never knew, however, how direct the President and many Generals, such as Sheridan and then Sherman (he of the notorious and unnecessary "March to the Sea" near the end of the Civil War), constantly set up roadblocks to decent land even when tribes or sub-groups of tribes were willing to sign treaties and go to a reservation - Sherman often demanded death for chiefs as well as capitulation of all of the people under them. The famous "The only good Indian is a dead Indian" has been attributed to Gen. Sherman, as well. Brown's research brought me more surprises, in that I learned that President Grant was far more reasonable and even sympathetic to the Plains Indians than his generals, and he countermanded many orders resulting in saving the lives of well-loved Chiefs. Grant wisely appreciated that working with the chiefs would save lives, and pain of many kinds. (By the time Grant was Pres., most of the eastern and midwestern tribes had been subdued and driven onto reservations, fled to Canada, or were killed by European diseases or bullets). The most shocking passages in this book need not be reviewed here; they are many, far more than I had ever imagined. At the slightest provocation, whole villages ( women, children, even unborn babies) were slaughtered while the adult male warriors were ready to do battle at a specific place arranged for, or at least well known by, the American troops, sometimes with paid enemy Indian agents' help. It was common, when the men came back to their village to see the horrors done to their families, for the soldiers to surround them and attack again, either to slaughter once more or take the Indians as prized slave-prisoners. Wounded Knee and Sand Creek, both named for peaceful little streams where Indians liked to set up camp, were two sites of such slaughter, and they are certainly not the only ones where any American Indian would want to bury his or her heart. What a book. Just the photographs are hauntingly beautiful. Every white American should read it. The problem is, the ones who need the education it offers the most would never, ever, read it. Too bad...

Dan Brown's Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee. Has been on my "Great Books to Read" for some time now. When I saw it listed among the Kindle Unlimited books; I borrowed it right away. If I could I would give it more stars; it is very well written and very detailed. There are times when I am proud to be an American and then their are times where I am very disappointed in those that formed it. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee is a journey through history that is hurtful and should be shameful to anyone with a ounce of compassion for their fellow human beings rights. (I shed many tears in absolute shock and horror.) This isn't anything like we are taught in K-12th grades in my area. IMHO Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee should be required reading to graduate. Rather than the fairy tale narrative that's been spoon feed to students for generations in America. As continuing to teach as they do is so disgraceful. This was a difficult book for me to review because of it was a very sad and oft angering journey through the past. Shedding light on names I knew from textbook sanitized and glorified accounts. I refrain from putting any political opinions in book reviews, as someone who doesn't really care to read that in a review. Yet there is a great deal of discussion over policies at the time. My choice was to focus on the differences between textbooks and Dan Brown's accounts ,which he shares several appendix to show articles and Smithsonian archive records to back up the things detailed within his work. I would highly recommend to others.

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee is how the book ends in 1890. This book deals with mainly the Native Americans along and west of the Great Plains, notably, the Sioux, Apaches, Comanches, Cheyennes and Nez Perce and the eastward expansion of the white man and how it shaped the U.S. This book is more of a look from the Indians point of view taken from accounts of those who survived to tell the story on both sides. A sobering book on how we can view those different from us and see the land hungry acts of others, and the many broken promises. A great book for those interested in American History and the Old West and the many great Indian Chiefs and warriors. I really enjoyed the pictures/photos of the many Native Americans, some I did not even know or heard much about. Was hoping for more about the Native Americans further east, but have read the Trail of Tears book which covers the Cherokees mainly. The book would be better had it had maps of where some of the battles, and reservations were located.

Ótimo

Amazing book telling the real story of the American Indian. A can't put it down book. Nothing like the stories told in American Westerns

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You will cry...

Una completa historia de las guerras de los colonizadores de norteamérica contra los habitantes nativos hasta su casi completo exterminio (el de los nativos, se entiende). El libro se ha considerado desde su aparición el relato definitivo sobre el tema y, aunque pueda parecer que toma partido por los indios, lo cierto es que el tono general sería bastante neutral... sólo que los hechos fueron como fueron. Un punto de vista bastante alejado del que siempre nos ha presentado el western, sin duda. La edición es magnífica: grande, pesado, con papel de muy buena calidad y multitud de mapas, bonitas ilustraciones y fotografías antiguas. Un libro que da satisfacción no sólo al leerlo, sino también al hojearlo, enseñarlo o mirarlo a medias con otras personas. Muy bien.