Wounded Knee: Geography & Greed on the Road to an American Massacre

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Further Reading:
Wounded Knee: Party Politics and the Road to An American Massacre by Heather Cox Richardson, Basic Books 2011

[@geographicstravel]

Check out Squarespace: squarespace.com/geographics for 10% off on your first purchase of a website/domain using the code GEOGRAPHICS

[@xboxgamer300]

"Bury my heart at wounded knee" by Dee Brown is a must read. Changed my life

[@L3GN5RW9]

“Empire of the Summer Moon” by S.C. Gwynne is a very good book about the subject

[@montyollie]

The song by Buffy Ste Marie made me cry. BTW Buffy is hot topic in today's Canadian news as she was just outed as being white and wearing redface all these years. Wild.

[@montyollie]

@@lylecoglianese1645 Lotsa people talk shit about Trudeau, no one gets investigating for that. No idea why the CBC targeted Buffy. It's a fairly damning expose though.

[@petemelbourne42]

I agree the book is good, but it is a harrowing read, I had to keep stopping as I was getting so angry.

[@donaldkelly3983]

As an American, I congratulate you on the excellent work! I didn't want to watch the video initially because I knew how depressing it was going to be. But it's better to face the horror your own government caused than ignore it.

[@resileaf9501]

Thank you for treating this subject with the emotion it deserves. It was heartfelt and respectful. And so, so sad...

[@old-moose]

I grew up on a cattle ranch in Montana. Most of our summer cowboys were Lakota. Their wives help my mom cook and do any driving that was needed. That left all the including my brother and I as well as the Lakota kids under the care of an order Lakota woman known as Grandmother. I grew up on the tales about Red Cloud, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, The Battles at Greasy Grass (Little Big Horn), Rosebud River, and the Massacre at Wounded Knee; from the Lakota point of view. I've always felt prouder of friendships with First Nations Peoples than being white.

[@limhan3209]

What's being white got to do with the price of fish

[@old-moose]

@@limhan3209 I'm less than proud of my European ancestors.

[@scottkrater2131]

You know, Americans don't refer to Native tribes as the First Nations People, that's a Canadian thing.

[@old-moose]

@@scottkrater2131 True. I immigrated to Canada in 1974 & never looked back.

[@scottkrater2131]

@@old-moose Well if you like snow and cold I'm happy for you.

[@user-mm4vi2rs8r]

Wow. Growing up in Ohio when I was taught about Wounded Knee in school it was always framed as an actual battle between armed groups, not wanton slaughter of civilians. Having Karl as a host took a little getting used to, but I really like him. He has a more casual and comedic approach, and still treats serious topics with the respect they deserve. I also love his anteater Snoot. I have one just like it named Antonio.

[@JimAllen-Persona]

It does take getting used to. Simon can’t be everywhere.

[@zaco-km3su]

Wounded Knee has to be remembered.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

2:50 - Chapter 1 - Destiny made manifest 4:15 - Chapter 2 - The spoils of war 7:50 - Chapter 3 - The ghost dance 10:35 - Mid roll ads 13:45 - Chapter 4 - Murder at standing rock 16:05 - Chapter 5 - Bury my heart at wounded knee 20:35 - Chapter 6 - Aftermath 23:50 - Conclusion

[@Provocateur3]

Thank you for doing this. I wish more content creators would make chapters for their vids.

[@deniseatkins9407]

Being a descendant of the Cherokee tribe my ancestors where on the trail of tears

[@kreiner1]

These stories are horrible but must be remembered. We still are failing our Natives, it really should stop.

[@Slikx666]

Well done Karl, it's videos like these that need to be done for those who were wronged. There were a few things talked about that I didn't know, so I've learnt something. Maybe one day the USA will treat everyone equally, but I doubt it.

[@SEAZNDragon]

I remember seeing a government report from the 1890s going over Wounded Knee and called for the Medals of Honor to be rescinded.

[@BrandonJXN2]

Red Dead Redemption 2 touches on the Indian Wars a few times. Bill was a soldier during the Indian Wars, Charles told the story about how his mother (whom was Native American) was kidnapped by American Soldiers and was never seen again, and the plight of the Wapiti near the end of the game was very much the last of the Indian Wars. Such depressing and bleak times. The arrogance and entitlement of a large amount of white American men who can just take land that doesn't belong you.

[@theconqueringram5295]

I heard of Wounded Knee, but this is the first time I was informed of what exactly happened...

[@traviswadezinn]

Thank you for drawing attention to this event - we have much more to do

[@robertbernard6410]

thank you Karl for the honesty!

[@likecrazyhorse]

Karl should do the opposite of Simon, grow his hair longer as Simon's beard overtakes the lower half of the screen

[@matthewalvarez3442]

I never wanted a video about this tragedy but thank you

[@murrayd3152]

I think you’re doing great, Karl!

[@dane385]

Bs nope not even close.

[@Lefrog420Blazin]

The Second battle of wounded knee was actually a battle.

[@jurassicobsessor7049]

I lived in South Dakota, and I can remember that after a blizzard (not even a super super bad one), the National Guard was hauling wood down to Pine Ridge because so many people were without heat.

[@bradlevantis913]

Excellent research. Thank you for sharing a difficult part of history

[@reddog-ex4dx]

The movie "Little Big Man" opened my eyes to the plight of native americans. I was still young at the time. But, over time I've seen the atrocities committed against them. It always surprises me when I see native americans needs ignored or Custer thought of and taught as some hero. Hero, no, repugnant excuse for a human being, yes. Note to self: never make a treaty with the United States. They won't honer it.

[@retriever19golden55]

"Little Big Man" was total Hollywood fiction; it bore little resemblance to either the Tom Berger book it was supposedly sourced from or actual events. Custer was, in fact, a legitimate hero in the Civil War, one of the youngest Generals ever in our Army's history. He was a courageous man, always inspiring his men by leading from the front and never asking them to incur danger he did not share with them. Custer did *not* hate Natives. He admired them for their way of life and for their courage and skill in hunting and warfare. He was one of the few Army officers who learned sign language and some spoken language to communicate with them directly. In the winter of '71-'72, he helped organize a tour of the West and a buffalo hunt for the visiting Grand Duke Alexis of Russia, also joined by Chief Spotted Tail and his Brulé Sioux, in rounds of feasting and hunting. Throughout his post-Civil War career, 1866-1876, he had a grand total of *four* engagements with warriors: the Washita in 1868, two minor skirmishes during the Yellowstone expedition of 1873, and the Little Big Horn. More often he would actually meet with Native leaders to have talks in peace. On some occasions he would give food and supplies from his troops' stores to people on reservations being starved by corrupt Indian Agents and traders. He actually traveled to Washington to give testimony before the Clymer Committee about the corruption and the starving of the People; this is what led to President Grant's hostility to Custer, because Grant's brother Orville was embroiled in the scandal. Custer had a close relationship with his Native scouts, mostly Crow and Arikara, particularly with a Sioux/Arikara named Bloody Knife, who was his constant hunting companion. When they heard of his death at Little Big Horn, his Crow and Arikara scouts wept bitterly. He had always treated fairly, and they had hoped he would defeat their bitter enemies, the Sioux and Cheyenne, and drive them from the land they had stolen from the Crow and Arikara tribes in a series of brutal raids (yes, Native tribes fought each other for centuries, and had no compunction about killing women and children if opposing tribes). Post-Civil War, Custer resumed his Regular Army rank of Lt. Colonel. He wasn't in charge of the expedition to Little Big Horn, General Terry was, and *his* orders came from General Sherman. Custer and his soldiers did not make government policy, break treaties, or decide what to do, any more than individual soldiers are responsible for the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan...they merely tried to do their duty and paid the price. The blame for the decimation of the Tribes rests squarely on the wealthy and powerful men back East, who saw opening the West as an opportunity to make money while never setting foot there themselves, and the politicians who were persuaded by them. Jerome Greene, an excellent author and historian of the West, wrote the definitive account of the Wounded Knee massacre, "American Carnage." It's a sad tale of mistrust, misinformation, and murder. For more information about Custer in the West, there is Evan Connell's "Son of the Morning Star", a bit romanticized but mostly accurate; and historian James Donovan's A Terrible Glory.

[@Mikkelltheimmortal]

Before I continue on with the video, I feel the need to address the audience. I am a Canadian/American with a healthy understanding of what transpired, if you are being warned that there will be disturbing content, it's really bad. You've been warned by the team and now by me. That should tell you something about the content of this topic. While I sometimes jest about actually being a 1998 Toyota Tercel, I am very much a human with emotions, so take the warnings of disturbing content seriously. We aren't responsible for your mental state after ingesting the content.

[@DemianX6x6x6X]

it always stuns me how much of the united states accounts of the entire conflict between them and the native tribes is just blatant and hollow excuses like ''they 'mistook' unarmed starving people as 'hostile' ''...terrible and pathetic

[@djdawson9206]

Thank you my friend I see how hard this one was to do

[@wendychavez5348]

Thank you for your sensitivity and cautiousness in your approach. When I was dating a student at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, most of my friends were also students there, and most were of indigenous heritage. I remember they used to joke about being "savages" and their "heathen ways," though that was due more to being childbearing students and artists than First Americans. The indignation I feel about Wounded Knee only grows as I learn more about it. Only by knowing our history can we expect our future to be different; thank you for helping us learn!

[@ronnie8274]

Thank you for doing this video. People need to be aware of this atrocious bullshit. I grew up learning about this shit in Minnesota. Fortunately, my teachers told me the truth about what happened there and many other places and times, so at least my classmates and I were informed so we could grow up helping to make sure the truth is known, the assholes responsible are NOT remembered with any kind of respect, and that nothing like that ever happens again.

[@kiter9271]

The informative book on Wounded Knee: "American Carnage: Wounded Knee, 1890" by historian Jerome Greene paints a picture of the perfect storm of events that led up to the massacre. Based on this and several other books I've read it's a valid question that if there hadn't been a Ghost Dance there'd never have been a Wounded Knee. The Ghost Dance practicioners believed that Ghost Shirts repelled bullets and made them invincible. Kicking Bear or Shortbull ? nearly died demonstrating the bulletproofness of the Ghost Shirt by wrapping a shirt around his leg and firing a 45 caliber pistol into his leg -- he nearly died from loss of blood. This action convinced many Lakota to abandon the Ghost Dance. And, as they say the rest is history...

[@landotter]

great topic and vid 👏

[@nanananatalied]

Thank you. I never knew about wounded knee.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Thanks for all your hardwork karl! Its always appreciated 😊😊😊❤❤❤

[@charisanna4914]

George iii banned American settlers from expanding west into native lands, which was one of the main reasons for independence that no one admits, since they wanted to exploit those lands and riches.

[@jbielic4067]

Agreed Karl, while I appreciate the telling of the story so it's not forgotten I can't in good conscience click the like button. The story is far too sad for that.

[@gailpliley901]

Makes me feel different about living in Forsyth, MT. 😢

[@jessesmith-garcia5313]

His fixation on his Anteater his hilarious.

[@EcclesiastesLiker-py5ts]

Man has dominated man to his harm.

[@TheForrest05]

Loved the feels at the end. Standing Rock uniting all the Nations was awesome, couldn't make it but Cherokee was sending supplies. Be a cool vid.

[@Blinkptx]

I would sell a Kidney to get a Ghost of Tsushima style game, but for Native Americans. Where some liberties are taken, but there's at least an effort towards accuracy. Things like the wind or animals guiding you to things, instead of using a map. All that jazz. I really want to immerse myself in that world. I think something amazing could come out of that, but idk how popular it would be. Samurais are probably way more popular to people. 😔

[@Noah-zq8cb]

Red dead redemption 2 depicts that theme perfectly, even though you play as Arthur who is a white man, but he really respects the way of thinking and doing of the natives, even fights for them.

[@Blinkptx]

@Noah-zq8cb RDR2 is my favorite game of all time, and I love those chapters. Still want the other game though.

[@rubegoldburg7841]

@7:18 Government in the US IS pretty F'ed Up Today too. 😕😕

[@andrewmccauley6902]

If you can't handle the history he is reading or how he is reading it then that on you. Keep up the work sir! As what Simon always said "the past was the worst"

[@jeffreystarits2783]

humans have great potential to do eval to each other . if we dont learn from our past , we are bound to repeat

[@zimmy1958]

I am from northern Indiana this makes me very sad.

[@matthewkoczwara]

Grateful to have Karl. Tired of seeing talking head Simon rush through everything.

[@JimAllen-Persona]

Simon is familiar.

[@janiekaye8317]

How did Wounded Knee get its name?

[@rogerpenske2411]

Bury my knee at wounded knee

[@jessesmith-garcia5313]

The only bright spot of this otherwise tragic video was when he brought out his "Antie".

[@travishill5675]

Man Simon really looks different with hair

[@stragen0013]

I used to be a KZbinr too, until I took an arrow to the knee

[@johnstevenson9956]

In the words of one reporter, "Darwin was wrong. Man is still an ape."

[@mattyt1961]

Now I need an ant-eater :(

[@carnakthemagnificent336]

Medals of Honor awarded for this? Travesty. The history of other recipients that I've seen demonstrate inconceivable bravery. What bravery was demonstrated by any of these "soldiers"? The history of how tribes dealt with each other was "savage," but the Lakota at this point were a danger to who?

[@magnificentfailure2390]

My wife is a member of The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. Ain't that the shizzle?

[@skuzzernaut]

Sorry I haven't watched Geographics in awhile but when did fact fiend take over?? No Hate, just curious

[@littleshep5502]

Few months ago

[@russelllomando8460]

considering the content, nice reporting. Humanity is not Humane.

[@murrayscott9546]

My great-uncle was an Indian Agent in the Kootenai region of B.C. , Canada., early 20th C. Don't know the details but suspect that he might have been one of the unscrupulous ones. Not my fault. I treat people according to their deeds and general attitude, making allowances for historicaly bad treatment. If I were to be frank about my feelings about the present situation I might be digging a hole for myself. I have and have had and met many good people of the First Nations. Some were not good. Those that blame all of life's problems on English whitey are fulla B.S. ! Still, attitudes persist, even among recent immigrants ( ! ) , regarding the Injuns.. Racism hides in many dark corners.

[@vernicethompson4825]

An excellent and comprehensive video! Thank you for covering this important topic! It's also great that you included the comparison with the Vietnam War, as it was a continuation of white Americans' antipathy toward nonwhites.

[@reddeercanoe]

I must clarify something for you. The Indians you are talking about in this video are hunter - gatherers, to them their rifles are first of all tools needed to acquire food , only are they weapons in a secondary role as protection from predators such as wolves , bears and cougars. To dis arm them would they would need to use arrows and lances to harvest buffalo and other large game animals which put them at a disadvantage compared to the model rifle. The government wasn’t feeding them and then to disarm them would mean the starvation of their people. An example of a different approach is in Canada where annual distribution of rifle ammunition by the federal government is a treaty right in a number of treaties. Finally Dakota aren’t treaty Indians in Canada as they are us . I mean they have always been an ally of the Crown fighting for the British in the Seven years war, the American revolution and the war of 1812. Along with the Iroquois we owe them a debt that we have never really been repaid. To this day native warriors distinguish themselves in our Armed Forces while still not treated with the respect they deserve.

[@tallyforeman3145]

Where'd Simon go?

[@littleshep5502]

left months ago

[@tallyforeman3145]

@@littleshep5502 what happened?

[@littleshep5502]

@@tallyforeman3145 old channel owner passed away, daughter took over. She overworked and overwhelmed herself, shut down, and ended up disagreeing with Simon, so he left. Since then, she recovered, took accountability, wished him well, and reached out to Karl, who is also a friend of her father's, but he also used to be one of the writers for Simon

[@tallyforeman3145]

@@littleshep5502 thanks!!

[@Kevin-zv1cx]

Where is Simon?!?!?!

[@littleshep5502]

Gone

[@LikeTheBuffalo]

Thank you for this. And also thank you for referring to the settlers as "whitey". Defo helped to get through this difficult topic.

[@thmaginnis1]

My God! I didn’t realize we gave them Russians.

[@JimAllen-Persona]

Where's Simon?

[@littleshep5502]

left months ago

[@rogerpenske2411]

Using words such as indigenous and native are considered to be far left, divisive, racist, hate speech. I was born in Chicago, that makes me as native as anyone else, and as indigenous as anyone else

[@missydomingo907]

Sure lol

[@wtf16206]

You just sound like a triggered snowflake to me 😂

[@floramew]

I've heard the phrase 'wounded knee' before, I *think*. I couldn't have told you it was a massacre. I'd have guessed it was something to do with the Indian extermination, just by the style of calling someplace wounded knee' is typical of English translations of native words/names, and that most historical things between white settlers and indigenous peoples were... Like That. My point here is... It's glossed over in history class, here. Swept under the rug. They kinda try to do that with the slave trade, but it's so front and center that it's not possible to get away with skipping it without someone noticing. (Esp since a lot of the South still seems? Somehow? *Proud* of it??) But history about suppressing indigenous peoples is just barely mentioned, a paragraph blurb with a few big numbers, and then moving on to other stuff. It's shameful.

[@BaldingClamydia]

Karl, I know it feels gross to talk about some of this, but you don't have to be quite so apologetic about it. We know you're just passing along information. Sometimes when you have to say something you can just "quote" it, so it's clearly not your words like the- quote unquote savages. It passes blame a little :D

[@mwi3865]

“Horse culture” horses didn’t even exist until the 1500 ‘s 🙄

[@freebie808]

ECM 🧡

[@turtleboy4111]

I know it was a long time ago, different times and ways of life, thinking and so on. But it doesn't change how fucked up our European ancestors were and could be. It's slightly different, but reminds me of the way the white settlers here in Australia treated the native Aboriginal peoples. Good on you for doing this video mate, this kind of information needs to be put out to raise awareness and understanding. And stop the one sided uninformed thinking that still happens today, ironically in the age of information and technology.

[@heyikindalikeyou]

I guess you have never heard of the massacres natives have committed huh??

[@berlintanker]

Wounded who ??

[@ianmccurley8364]

Why does Simon suddenly have hair and, far more importantly, why is he so aggressively Scottish?

[@littleshep5502]

Scottish?

[@fookinl3048]

🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@fumanpoo4725]

Evil

[@murrayscott9546]

You're really leaning into the job, mate ! Might put you on, full-time ! All ya gotta do is grow a spade-beard and shavr yer head ! Glasses might help.

[@angelinasecatero7507]

Dang. No Simon?

[@littleshep5502]

he hasnt been here for months

[@sheldonbailey3]

I do not want to hear your feelings, or how you are dissuading "potential" participation in historical events (tho you are young). Get on with it! Chin up and spit out some historical FACTS.

[@HH-el8vp]

FUBAR.

[@goosenotmaverick1156]

"im your HOST Karl Smallwood" Fuck yeah. Get it, Big Wangers Inc!

[@ChadXeno]

Where's the bald dude?

[@littleshep5502]

hasnt been here for months

[@Kevin-zv1cx]

I watch these videos because I'm interested in history and love learning about it, I don't watch them to hear how "offended" you are by terms from 150 years ago. You ruined this video with your woke warnings. If anything about history offends you, then maybe your watching the wrong videos to begin with, grow up!

[@ashutoshsrivastava3618]

AS YOU ARE BRITISH I AN INDIAN FROM INDIA NOT USA WOULD LIKE TO CORRECT YOU ON YOUR STATEMENT "PRIOR TO ARRIVAL OF USA" WHICH SHOULD BE CORRECTED TO "PRIOR TO ARRIVAL OF BRTISHERS" IT WAS BRITISHERS WHO ARRIVED AT THE SHORE OF WHAT WE CALL USA TODAY. AND THEN BRITISHER LIBERATED USA FROM BRITHERS TO BECOME AMERICANS TODAY.

[@littleshep5502]

Both Britain, France, Spain, and the Netherlands all arrived on what we now know as the US

[@ashutoshsrivastava3618]

@@littleshep5502 ABSOLUTELY TRUE BRO. THE CRIMINAL COLONIAL STATE WE ARE REFERENING HERE, ONLY DIFFERENCE IS BRITAIN IS CHIEF AMONG THEM THEREBY GAINING THE LARGEST EMPIRE IN THE HISTORY OF MAN.

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

It is not a coincidence that you released this video because of what's happening in the middle-east.

[@dane385]

Where is FactBoy I don't like this new guy! We want Simon back!

[@joeobrien196]

He left this and a couple of other channels

[@archstanton6102]

He has been gone about 3-4 months

[@stuartstuart866]

Its not a white issue, it’s a human issue. Two of many examples; The Sioux killed and stole land from other natives like the Crow. The Comanche killed tortured woman and children of Mexicans, whites and other native tribes. The natives were both victims and perpetrators. We have been doing this to each other throughout time.

[@stuartstuart866]

@@rb1278 Untrue, look this up: “War Before Civilization: the Myth of the Peaceful Savage”. The colonists had better technology and population numbers, that’s what made them successful in conquering the new world. People take from weaker people, this is a historic fact that is universal. When one people conquer another, yes the conquered are not generally treated well, but this is not unique to native Americans.

[@JimAllen-Persona]

Still doesn’t excuse the “manifest destiny” mentality. It’s comparable to excusing slavery by claiming there’s always been slavery. The settlers could’ve treated the Native Americans fairly and still cohabited the land.

[@JimAllen-Persona]

@@rb1278Wrong on that. We call them “uncivilized savages” while doing the same thing.

[@stuartstuart866]

@@JimAllen-Persona The settlers could have cohabitated the land and treated the natives fairly? The simple act of land cohabitation is unfair to those who were in sole possession……what are you talking about? If I just started building a house on my neighbors property, do you think they would think it’s fair or that we could cohabitate? Obviously not.

[@vernicethompson4825]

@@stuartstuart866 Your comment gets into the topic of land ownership. You assume that every bit of land is owned by someone, but that is a European concept introduced to the U.S. The Native Americans had no idea that land could be owned, as they considered that it was available to anyone who wanted to use it. They were accustomed to moving from place to place to take advantage of the changes of seasons and hence food availability. So cohabitation of the land was natural to them. The idea of land ownership thus led to a lot of the conflict between the Native Americans and the immigrant Europeans.

[@garthhmurray]

I don't know what's worse, an insensitive demonstrative description on these tragic events or some arrogant, pretentious self-riotous presentation as this was. If you can't be a little more un bios on your reporting, give the job back to the last guy. Your opinion on American does not add the story. It makes you as narrow minded as you say they are. Oh and I'm not one.

[@littleshep5502]

There isnt a need to be neutral on certain things. This is covering the massacre of 300 people, following the starving of their people. It is the history of people slaughtered for little reason.

[@montyollie]

Perhaps the host should learn how NOT to laugh at tragedy rather than pause the show to explain why he laughs at tragedy.

[@littleshep5502]

Coping mechanisms vary from person to person

[@chrisjb241]

No Simon not watching.....sorry Karl but when you expect prime steak and someone gives you an ok burger you're pissed at the burger....if you'd been told from the off "you're getting an ok burger" you'd be fine with it but I feel tricked every time I see that stupid 2000s emo hair and hear that think whiny northern voice

[@arjanzweers6542]

Then you might as well unsubscribe from this channel as Simon isn't coming back to host it

[@janiekaye8317]

Why do you think anyone wants or cares about your complaints? If you don't like it, go away.

[@Reaching117]

​@@arjanzweers6542What happened to Simon? Was it too many channels/videos?

[@arjanzweers6542]

@Reaching117 He is focusing on the channels he owns now. Simply too many channels and he does not own Biographics, Geographics, and Top 10

[@resileaf9501]

@@Reaching117 Simon had a falling out with the owner of the Biographics, Geographics and Top 10 channels (by her own admission, her fault) so he's no longer host of them.

[@R1GAMBLER]

🇵🇸 *FREE PALESTINE!!!* 🇵🇸

[@widehead1234]

Unsubbed

[@crusaderteabag777]

??

[@paulherman5822]

But you are leaving with a comment, which helps the channel...

[@jeffreystarits2783]

this is not an airport , no need to announce your departing .

[@EcclesiastesLiker-py5ts]

Why?

[@jeffreystarits2783]

why do you care, i dont@@EcclesiastesLiker-py5ts