Native Americans condemn Pentagon move to preserve Wounded Knee medals

The Pentagon review, which many historians regard as a massacre, was criticized by the National Congress of American Indians, which had previously ruled against reversing medals awarded to US soldiers at the 1890 Battle of Wounded Knee.

“It’s not patriotic to commemorate war crimes. The executive director of the Congress, Larry Wright Jr., said in a statement released on Saturday that this decision undermines truth-telling, reconciliation, and the healing that India and the United States still require.

Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense for US President Donald Trump, stated in a video released on X late on Thursday that a review panel had suggested allowing the soldiers to keep their medals in a study that was finished the year, and that he complied with that recommendation.

They deserve those medals, we’re making it clear. Their place in our nation’s history is no longer up for debate, Hegseth said, and this decision is now final.

The defense secretary criticized his predecessor for not choosing the same course of action, claiming that the former Pentagon chief was more concerned with being “politically correct than historically correct.”

The Massacre of the Wounded Knee

More than 300 Lakota Sioux men, women, and children were killed and injured on December 29, 1890, in South Dakota at the Battle of Wounded Knee, also known as the Wounded Knee Massacre.

The Indian Wars were overthrown into ceding their lands before being forced onto reservations by Native Americans with the events at Wounded Knee.

Before leaving office in January, Lloyd Austin, who was defense secretary under US President Joe Biden, had ordered a review of the military honors. However, he had not yet made a final decision.

In a resolution passed in 1990, Congress expressed “deep regret” for the conflict.

The Congress of the United States of America should acknowledge the significance of the Massacre at Wounded Knee Creek and express its deep regret to the Sioux people, particularly the survivors and their descendants, in the resolution.

Since taking office, Hegseth has criticized the Pentagon’s efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Native American History Month and Black History Month commemorations have been discontinued by the Pentagon.