Trail Of Painted Ponies - Wounded Knee

WOUNDED KNEE
15cm

On the frozen banks of
Wounded Knee Creek, Lakota
Chief Big Foot and his followers
huddled together, hungry and
exhausted. Driven off their
lands, they surrendered and
were surrounded by the U.S.
7th Calvary that had been
ordered to peacefully escort
them to a reservation. There
was tension in the air. Troops
feared the Sioux and the
powerful Ghost Dances that
spread through the Dakotas as
the Indians frantically danced
and prayed for the return of
their way of life. A single shot
rang out from a Calvary gun
and chaos erupted. When the
smoke cleared, peaceful Chief
Big Foot and all of the Lakota
lay dead in the snow. As the
sun set on South Dakota, a
single Native pony wandered
the frozen plains in search of
his beloved people that would
dance no more.
Artist: Vickie Knepper