From the archives: The sounds of the 1973 Wounded Knee occupation

MPR marks 50 years
• More stories from the archives
• Join the celebration, tell us your story

Throughout 2017, Minnesota Public Radio will celebrate 50 years on the air by sharing highlights from our archives, connecting Minnesota's past to its present. | This segment of MPR News' Midday program originally aired May 16, 1973.

In late April 1973, reporter Kevin McKiernan brought his tape recorder into the town of Wounded Knee, S.D.

For two months, about 200 members of the American Indian Movement and Oglala Lakota tribe members had been occupying the site of an 1890 massacre of Lakota at the hands of the U.S. Army.

The occupation of Wounded Knee began when members of the Oglala Lakota tribe, based on the Pine Ridge Reservation, called for the impeachment of tribal chairman Richard Wilson. When the impeachment didn't happen, some tribe members, along with a group of American Indian Movement members, took over the town.

In addition to opposing what they said was a corrupt tribal government, the group was frustrated with the U.S. government, saying it had not fulfilled its treaties with the tribe — and demanded that the federal government honor its promises, and reopen treaty negotiations.

The 10-week occupation had quickly become a media circus — and turned violent. At least two people were killed between Feb. 27 and May 8, 1973.

Not long after the occupation ended, McKiernan spoke with MPR News host Marvin Granger, sharing the sounds of the occupation: Listeners heard gunfire and radio communications between the Native American activists and federal officials.

McKiernan has since reported around the world, including parts of Central America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and is now working on a new film, "From Wounded Knee to Standing Rock."