Gladys Bissonette

Gladys Bissonette, "the brave–hearted woman of Wounded Knee", was an Oglala Lakota elder who was one of the leaders of the traditional faction during the violent turmoil on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation during the 1970s. Dick Wilson became Tribal Chairman in 1972 and began a "reign of terror" on the reservation. Wilson favored mixed–blood residents and close family and friends for positions in his office and created a special enforcing unit, known as the "Goon Squad", to police the region. This Goon Squad soon began to terrorize the residents of the reservation who openly spoke out against Wilson or disagreed with him, especially those who were pure–blooded Indians. Many attempts were made at impeaching Wilson, but Wilson always interfered and subsequently kept his position by sending out his Goon Squad to stamp out the residents who dared try to impeach him. "The past administrations all along have been pretty sly and crooked with Indian funds," said Gladys, "but they weren't quite as hard on us as this drunken fool we got now."

Calico Hall On February 27, 1973, the traditionalists and others from Pine Ridge that were persecuted by Wilson's administration gathered at Calico Hall to discuss what was to be done about their situation. Gladys eloquently spoke for twenty minutes, asking AIM to come to Pine Ridge and help them fight the injustice; she stated "for many years we have not fought any kind of war, we have not fought any kind of battle, and we have forgotten how to fight."

Life after Wounded Knee After Wounded Knee, Gladys went back to Pine Ridge but was put on trial by the U.S. courts.

Other Sources: Catty Hernandez, phone interview, 22 Sept. 2010 Oglala Sioux Headquarters, phone interview, 22 Sept. 2010