This is an unusual and rare Lakota Sioux drum attributed to being used by the members of The American Indian Movement during the 1973 siege at Wounded Knee. Provenance: Said to have been owned and used by Mary Song Bird, an Oglala Sioux woman from Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, later being sold to artifact dealer Jim Aplan of Piedmont, South Dakota in the late 1970’s. Jim Aplan had a large collection of Sioux pieces and was well respected amongst the members of the Pine Ridge Reservation and surrounding area. He later sold the drum to collector Cyrus Eaton of London, England. The American Indian Movement, or “A.I.M.” as it was known, was headed by Russell Means, Dennis Banks, Clyde Bellecourt, and other Sioux and non-Natives who were founded in 1968 to protest and give a voice to the systemic poverty and police brutality against Native Americans. The Wounded Knee Occupation, also known as Second Wounded Knee, dated to circa 1973 when approximately 200 Oglala Lakota Sioux and other followers of A.I.M. seized and occupied the town of Wounded Knee, South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation—much of which stemmed from the abuses of the Tribal Presidents at the Pine Ridge Sioux Reservation under the leadership of tyrant Dickie Wilson. The activist controlled the town for 71 days while the U.S. Marshall Service, FBI, and law enforcement tried to control the area. They drove a convoy to the Wounded Knee Massacre site and took over the museum and visitors center demanding immediate changes within the tribal leadership, including Wilson. Tensions arose; shots were fired back and forth, with casualties on both sides. Supporters came in and joined with the A.I.M. occupation from all over the country, including celebrities like actor Marlon Brando. The drum is comprised of wetted sections of parfleche Buffalo rawhide/hide stretched over a bent wood frame and secured with strands of wetted and hardened sinew. There is an old section of porcupine quillwork on the reverse side that likely served as a carrying strap or wrist throng handle. The piece has old faded painted letters on the front saying, “American Indian Movement / Take It Back Wounded Knee 1973” done in green, likely with a stencil over the yellow background, and a worn center, presumably from being beat on during various protests. The paint is only shown on the front and not the sides. The piece is likely of an older age and later presumably used at the protests and modified, being a family owned piece. This is truly a unique and unusual piece tied to a small significant part of Native American history. Measures overall 18 inches across by 3 inches thick.

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