The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has expressed vehement disapproval of a Pentagon review that decided against rescinding medals awarded to U.
S. soldiers involved in the 1890 Battle of Wounded Knee, an incident widely regarded by historians as a massacre.
Larry Wright Jr., the executive director of the Congress, voiced his condemnation in a statement. "Celebrating war crimes is not patriotic. This decision undermines truth-telling, reconciliation, and the healing that Indian Country and the United States still need," he said.
According to Newsmax, the Battle of Wounded Knee, also known as the Wounded Knee Massacre, occurred on December 29, 1890, in South Dakota. During this tragic event, U.S. soldiers killed and injured over 300 Lakota Sioux men, women, and children.
Lloyd Austin, the defense secretary under the Biden administration, had initiated a review of the military honors but did not reach a final decision before his term ended in January.
In a video posted late on Thursday, Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary under President Donald Trump, revealed that a review panel had suggested the soldiers retain their medals in a study completed last year. He stated that he had followed this recommendation.
"We're making it clear that they deserve those medals. This decision is now final and their place in our nation's history is no longer up for debate," Hegseth declared. He criticized Austin for not making the same decision, accusing the former Pentagon chief of prioritizing political correctness over historical accuracy.
In 1990, Congress passed a resolution expressing "deep regret" for the conflict. "It is proper and timely for the Congress of the United States of America to acknowledge... the historic significance of the Massacre at Wounded Knee Creek, to express its deep regret to the Sioux people and in particular to the descendants of the victims and survivors for this terrible tragedy," the resolution stated.
The Wounded Knee incident marked the conclusion of the Indian wars, a period during which Native Americans were pressured to surrender their lands and subsequently forced onto reservations. Since assuming office, Hegseth has criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at the Pentagon.
The Pentagon has ceased commemorations of identity month celebrations, such as Native American History Month and Black History Month.
Earlier this year, the Pentagon faced criticism for temporarily removing online references to the Navajo Code Talkers, who developed an unbreakable code that significantly contributed to the Allied forces' victory in World War Two.
The decision to retain the medals awarded for the Battle of Wounded Knee has sparked a debate about the interpretation of historical events and the recognition of past injustices. While some argue that the decision honors the soldiers' place in history, others, like the NCAI, believe it undermines the process of reconciliation and healing.
The controversy underscores the ongoing struggle to reconcile the nation's history with its present and future, a struggle that is far from over.
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