Lakota Woman Sparknotes

Lakota Woman offers a very unique viewpoint on Native American life. The book depicts Native American life on reservations, in cities, in the boarding schools of the time, and interaction between their people and whites in an informative way. The author, Mary Crow Dog, also expresses the challenges and experiences from her perspective as a Native American woman. The theme that captured me the most is the different ways in which the U.S. Government neglected and failed Native Americans. Mary Crow Dog’s story was told somewhat out of order but it all comes together as you read and you begin to vividly piece together all of her observations and experiences.
Mary Crow Dog was born to a full-blood Native American mother and a white father who she

has only seen on two occasions. Her home life with her mother was strained and she eventually ended up living with her grandparents until she was taken to a Catholic boarding school. While at school, her and her classmates were abused and oppressed by the staff. After one specific instance, when she was assaulted by her teacher for standing up for another student Mary Crow Dog convinced the school to let her graduate. Upon graduating school, she ran away from home and began drinking heavily, stealing, and traveling. Mary eventually became involved with AIM and found a sense of identity and purpose. After getting pregnant, she continued to participate in major AIM events and rallies. Her child was born under a hail of gunfire at the second siege of Wounded Knee. Eventually, Mary meets Leonard Crow Dog who is one of the leaders of AIM and a medicine man. They marry and she learns more about the practice of Native American Medicine. She helps with the gathering of medicines such as Peyote and other rituals. Leonard is eventually arrested and she decides to live in the city in order to be near her incarcerated husband. During this time Mary admits to growing fond of some of the ways white people live. After Leonard is freed from prison, they return to the reservation and Mary again realized that she is a full-blood Native American.
Throughout Lakota Woman, Mary Crow Dog expresses her life experiences and the ways that the American government had let her people down.

Not only does the U.S. government fail Native Americans, but their own people placed in power abandoned anyone who held traditional Native American beliefs. Programs that were set up to help Native Americans were actually tools for forcing Native Americans to conform to the way the rest of America lives and is governed. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) which was supposed to provide support to Native Americans was often corrupt and did not understand Native American outlooks at all. When Native Americans finally decided to march to DC during the Trail of Broken Treaties, in order to peacefully protest, they found they had nowhere to stay. The BIA was not willing to hear their issues or help so the Native Americans occupied the building. No one in the Federal government was willing to listen to what these people had to say. President Nixon sent a message to the group at the BIA saying “…he had done more for the American Indian than any predecessor...” and that he was, at the time, busy with more pressing issues (p. 87). Others would not speak to the Native Americans because they were told that this group in particular was not representing their people and they were a band of misfits to be

disregarded.
After organizing such a large and diverse group to travel from various locations across the country, it is hard to understand their dismissal. It seems obvious that those people are in fact representing someone and that there are common issues among the tribes. The bringing together of these various groups to me would make that clear. With that said those in the government did not see it this way, they did not understand Native American culture in the slightest sense. Native Americans were perceived as less intelligent humans who were a threat to America. Those Native Americans who cooperated with the government as their puppets condemned those who went to DC for protest. These corrupt reservation officials simply told the government what they wanted to hear.
On a more regular basis Indians were being beaten, raped, and murdered by whites and other Indians.

Law enforcement at the time essentially turned a blind eye on Native American victims. Once a white person was harmed law enforcement immediately apprehended any Indian involved, often with the use of excessive force and brutality. Because of this negligence and brutality Native Americans further distrusted the government and they did not have anyone to protect them. Living in constant fear of government persecution even in self-defense is a feeling that I cannot comprehend. The way Mary Crow Dog explained how she and her peers at the time dealt with shows just how strong and resilient people are. To continue to search for fair treatment and recognition of their lifestyle, culture, and history in the face of such adversity is

inspiring.
The appointment of Dickey Wilson to Tribal Chairman was supported by the U.S. government because he would execute their agenda. Wilson was corrupt and did not stand for true Indian values. Traditional Native Americans opposed Wilson and as a result were forced out or brutally killed. Wilson created a militia referred to as GOON squads, who would terrorize and murder Indian opponents of Wilson. Never were any of the murders investigated by the U.S. government because it was considered Indian affairs over which they had no jurisdiction. However, as soon as there was significant action being taken to remove Wilson, the Federal government stepped in with personnel support and military equipment. This single example is a blatant show of governmental neglect and a pursuance of its own motives. High up government officials wanted Dick Wilson in control because they could control him and he kept his reservation oppressed and out of the way of Federal interests. This hypocrisy came to a violent culmination at the 71 day siege at Wounded Knee where two Native Americans were killed with many others injured. Only one Marshal was wounded. All of this occurred because no one had the perspective and facts of those Native Americans who were oppressed and only wished to live as their ancestors had long before Europeans came to America.
Mary Crow Dog’s life experiences provide a detailed insight to what was really happening to Native Americans during her life. Though other people obviously went through differing lives there is great understanding of the oppression, violence, and racism committed against Indians. From these accounts it is crucial to understand both side’s views and actions. No situation is fully understood until you have perspective from multiple points on each side. Lakota Woman invokes the feelings and hardships of those who lived through these times. From reading this book I have gained much insight into the ways that the government failed and badly damaged many Native American generations with the fact that “Racism breeds racism in reverse” (p. 34).