Historical Context
Vietnam and the My Lai Massacre
When Brown released Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee in 1970, the United
States was embroiled in an undeclared war in Vietnam. During this period, the
American public was reflecting on the nation's historical mistreatment of
Native Americans. Readers drew connections between the U.S.-sponsored massacres
of Native Americans in the 1800s and the actions of the United States in
Vietnam during the late 1960s and early 1970s. This comparison became
particularly poignant in 1970 when twenty-five U.S. Army officers and enlisted
men were charged with the 1968 massacre of hundreds of civilians in the South
Vietnamese village of My Lai. Despite efforts by the Army to conceal the
incident, a few soldiers who were present or nearby helped expose it, leading
to widespread media coverage. Ultimately, only a handful of individuals faced
trial, and only Lieutenant William Calley was convicted. Calley received a
sentence of life in hard labor, but President Nixon intervened three years
later to secure his parole. Following this event, public opinion shifted, and
for the first time since the conflict began, a majority of Americans opposed
U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
American Indian Movement (AIM)
During the same period, Native Americans in both Canada and the United States
began organizing and protesting through various regional events. In 1968, four
men founded the American Indian Movement (AIM) with the goal of promoting
Native American issues and unifying different Native American groups. In 1969,
AIM found an opportunity to make a significant impact. After a convention in
San Francisco discussing Native American issues, the Indian Center hosting the
event caught fire and burned down. With no government funds available to
rebuild the center, a group of Native Americans, supported by AIM and calling
themselves the Indians of All Tribes, occupied Alcatraz, the abandoned island
prison that had been empty since 1964. Citing treaty rights to surplus
government land, the group demanded that the government allow them to transform
the defunct prison into a cultural-educational center. The occupation of
Alcatraz lasted peacefully for twenty months until federal marshals removed the
occupiers. This highly visible protest, along with others, significantly raised
AIM's national profile.
Style and Technique
"Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" uses its setting, point of view, and imagery to convey the historical and emotional depth of the Native American experience during the late 19th century. Through a combination of historical facts, personal accounts, and poignant descriptions, the author, Dee Brown, captures the tumultuous period when Native American lands were overtaken by white settlers and military forces. Integral to understanding this narrative is the vivid portrayal of the setting, the narrative's viewpoint, and the striking imagery that together paint a harrowing picture of the conflict and its toll.
Setting
The setting plays a crucial role in framing the events described in the book. Occurring during the mid- to late-1800s, this era saw a massive influx of white settlers into the frontier American West, driven by desires for land and gold. While some indigenous peoples attempted to find new territories, believing coexistence was possible, the rapid encroachment by settlers and military forces made this increasingly untenable. Illustrating this point, the book recounts Sitting Bull's decision to move his people to Canada, reflecting the diminishing space for both races to coexist peacefully. The strategic importance of the setting is further highlighted through the battles depicted, with Native American tribes often successfully leveraging their knowledge of the terrain for defensive and ambush tactics against larger forces.
Point of View
Brown predominantly employs a third-person omniscient point of view, allowing for a comprehensive exploration of the time, space, and inner thoughts of...
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various historical figures. This technique enables the author to blend factual history with interpretative insights, such as the depiction of Roman Nose's confidence in his spiritual protection during battle: "Roman Nose was wearing his medicine bonnet and shield, and he knew that no bullets could strike him." Brown's narrative is enriched by these insights, interwoven with first-person accounts that provide authenticity and depth. Quotations from individuals directly involved in the historical events, like the poignant observation of a Native American witnessing the destruction of his village, serve to ground the reader in the personal realities of the conflict.
Imagery
The book is replete with strong and often violent imagery, which underscores the brutal realities faced by Native Americans during this period of conflict. Brown does not shy away from depicting the atrocities committed by U.S. soldiers, which were considered war crimes even at the time. An account by Captain Nicholas Hodt illustrates this point, recounting the horrific actions of a soldier who refused to cease his attack on a woman and children, despite orders. Similarly, Lieutenant James Connor's chilling report from Sand Creek, where a soldier proudly displayed a woman's mutilated body parts, highlights the profound inhumanity that occurred. Such imagery serves as a stark reminder of the cruel injustices inflicted upon Native Americans, reinforcing the emotional weight of Brown's narrative.
Compare and Contrast
- 1860-1890: U.S. soldiers engage in numerous conflicts in the American West, aiming to seize the lands of the Western frontier from the Native Americans residing there.
Late 1960s-Early 1970s: U.S. soldiers participate in an undeclared war in Vietnam, allegedly to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.
Today: Increasing numbers of U.S. soldiers are stationed around the world as part of the ongoing war on terrorism.
1860-1890: The U.S. government makes efforts to eradicate Native-American culture.Late 1960s-Early 1970s: The American counterculture movement challenges the affluent corporate establishment, with many hippies adopting Native American attire and their close-to-nature lifestyle.
Today: On September 11, 2001, terrorists attack and destroy the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a prominent symbol of U.S. wealth and global influence.
1860-1890: The struggles of Native Americans are seldom portrayed accurately in U.S. newspapers and literature. Many Native Americans lack the ability to write in English, thus they are generally unable to communicate the injustices they endure to the white public.Late 1960s-Early 1970s: Native American author N. Scott Momaday wins the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1969 for his novel "House Made of Dawn." The novel highlights the challenges Native Americans face in integrating with other Americans and sparks a rise in literature by and about Native Americans.
Today: Numerous Native American authors, including Sherman Alexie, Louise Erdrich, and Leslie Marmon Silko, have achieved critical and popular acclaim for works depicting the contemporary struggles of Native Americans.
Adaptations
- The audio book adaptation of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee was released in 1970 by Books on Tape.
Bibliography
Sources
Brown, Dee. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the
American West. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1970; reprint, Owl Books,
2001.
Gilder, Joshua. ‘‘Who's on First.’’ In New York Magazine, Vol. 13, No. 14, April 7, 1980, pp. 76-77.
McNeil, Helen. “Savages.” In New Statesman, Vol. 82, No. 2115, October 1, 1971, pp. 444–45.
Momaday, N. Scott. ‘‘When the West Was Won and a Civilization Was Lost.” In New York Times Book Review, March 7, 1971, pp. 46–47.
Rechy, John. ‘‘The Flaws to Make a Fiction Shine.’’ In Los Angeles Times Book Review, April 3, 1983, pp. 2, 9.
Silko, Leslie Marmon. “They Were the Land's.” In New York Times Book Review, May 25, 1980, pp. 10, 22.
Further Reading
Ambrose, Stephen E. Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two
American Warriors. Anchor, 1996. In this captivating set of profiles,
Ambrose crafts a narrative comparing Crazy Horse to General George Armstrong
Custer. Before their fateful encounter at Little Big Horn in 1876, Ambrose
reveals how their lives had striking similarities.
Andrist, Ralph K. The Long Death: The Last Days of the Plain Indians. Reprint, University of Oklahoma Press, 2001. This foundational work in Native-American studies, originally published in 1964, details how Native Americans were confined to progressively smaller territories due to the extensive westward movement of white settlers.
Hirschfelder, Arlene. Native Americans: A History in Pictures. Dorling Kindersley, 2000. This book provides a comprehensive overview of Native-American history from ancient times to the present. It features hundreds of photographs, illustrations, maps, profiles of prominent Native-American leaders, notable quotations, and informative sidebars.
Nies, Judith. Native American History: A Chronology of a Culture's Vast Achievements and Their Links to World Events. Ballantine Books, 1996. Nies presents an extensive timeline of significant events in Native-American history, spanning from prehistoric times to 1996. Using a two-column format, she aligns these events with global occurrences from the same years, offering readers a contextual understanding of Native-American history.
