Ellen Moves Camp facts for kids

Ellen Moves Camp (born 1931) was a strong Oglala woman. She became a very important leader for Native Americans in the United States. Her name became well-known when Dick Wilson, the chairman of their reservation, started treating the Native Americans there very unfairly.

Ellen Moves Camp and other respected elders began to gather their community. They also got help from groups like the American Indian Movement (AIM). They wanted to stand up against the unfair government actions. After more problems, they met at Calico Hall. There, several older women, including Ellen, encouraged the men to take action. They planned a protest at Wounded Knee, which became known as the Wounded Knee Occupation. This protest got a lot of public attention. Because of it, the people at Pine Ridge received support and funding for their future efforts. Ellen Moves Camp passed away in 2008 at the Pine Ridge reservation. She spent many years working to help her people and inspire others.

Early Life

Pine Ridge Flag

Ellen Moves Camp was a full-blooded member of the Oglala Sioux tribe. This tribe is also known as the Oglala Lakota. She lived on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. She was also a leader of the Oglala Sioux Civil Rights Organization (OSCRO).

Many people spoke about her strong moral character. She showed this before and after becoming active in her community's fight for respect. She saw how the United States government became more involved with her home. This involvement greatly affected her and her people.

Standing Up for Rights

Ellen Moves Camp and Richard Wilson

In the 1972 election, Ellen Moves Camp supported Richard "Dick" Wilson. She trusted him to lead the Pine Ridge reservation. He had made promises of money and safety during his campaign. He even pretended to support the American Indian Movement. But soon after he was elected, he changed.

Ellen Moves Camp greatly regretted supporting Wilson. After he was elected, he became a very harsh leader. Wilson created a group of men called the Guardians of the Oglala Nation, or the GOON squad. This group was very violent towards anyone on the reservation who disagreed with Wilson.

Wilson claimed the GOON squad was there to protect people. But they were dangerous and unfair. They were known for damaging property and arresting people for small reasons. Ellen Moves Camp said that people on the reservation felt they needed to carry guns. This was because they didn't feel safe. She remembered houses being burned down.

Because of Wilson, full-blooded Pine Ridge people like Ellen Moves Camp joined with the American Indian Movement. They needed more people and strength. So, Ellen Moves Camp and her friends teamed up with AIM members. They protested Wilson as he became more openly against both groups. The leaders of Pine Ridge officially decided to work with AIM members. This happened after the FBI raided Calico Hall. The FBI had a false tip about weapons being stored there. Even though working with AIM members could be risky, the people in Pine Ridge decided to fight Wilson's unfair actions. They also fought against the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The Meeting at Calico Hall

Flag of the American Indian Movement

Ellen Moves Camp, Gladys Bissonette, and other older women from Pine Ridge spoke at a meeting. It was held at the community center called Calico Hall. They were protesting Richard Wilson because he had banned AIM from meeting on the reservation. These older women were called the "Grandmas of the American Indian Movement (AIM)." They called for meetings with AIM members to decide what to do next.

They came up with the idea to make a stand at Wounded Knee. This was the same place where a terrible event had happened in 1890. This idea came from the women. They were seen as the real force pushing for action. At this meeting, Ellen Moves Camp and Gladys Bissonette urged the Lakota citizens to fight back. They spoke about the unfair treatment they were experiencing. They told their people that they believed their tribe had "forgotten how to fight."

Ellen Moves Camp's efforts helped gather hundreds of Native Americans at Wounded Knee. This brought a lot of attention to their cause. Many movements were happening at that time. But the meeting at Calico Hall truly started a movement. It made the public listen and gave Native Americans a chance to speak.

Wounded Knee, South Dakota. Trading sign with church in distant background around 1940. This was about 30 years before the Wounded Knee Occupation.

The Wounded Knee Occupation

The Wounded Knee Occupation, also called the "Second Wounded Knee," started in February 1973. It lasted for 71 days. Many Native Americans were involved. These included members of AIM and those led by Oglala chiefs. They met at Wounded Knee to protest the unfair treatment by Dick Wilson. They were quickly surrounded by the FBI and Wilson's GOON squad.

Ellen Moves Camp played a huge role in encouraging AIM leaders to act. She also inspired others to join their cause. Ellen stayed active during the protest. She greeted newcomers warmly even during uncertain times. She helped deliver a baby. She also drove a getaway car for longtime AIM leader Dennis Banks. Ellen Moves Camp also helped talk with government leaders. This movement gained a lot of media attention. It led to trials where Native American voices were finally heard.

The Trials

During the Wounded Knee Occupation, many people were arrested. They had to go to court. In 1974, AIM leaders Dennis Banks and Russell Means were among the first to be tried. They faced charges related to their involvement in the Wounded Knee Occupation.

Their trial lasted nine months. Banks' and Means' defense team fought the accusations. At the same time, they brought public attention to the experiences of Native Americans. A big moment in this long trial involved Louis Moves Camp. Louis was Ellen Moves Camp's son. He said he had seen them commit some alleged crimes. But Ellen knew her son wasn't telling the truth. She suspected he was being pressured by the FBI to say things that weren't true. This was later shown to be true.

When Ellen Moves Camp arrived, she was very upset. She walked across the courtroom towards her son, begging him to stop. She was then forced out of the courtroom and arrested. She fainted, and AIM members rushed to help her. Later, she spoke with Judge Fred Nichol and apologized. She explained she was upset by her son's false statements. She insisted he didn't sound like himself.

After this, Ellen Moves Camp was questioned in court. She said she had not seen weapons in the village. She stuck to her word even when shown pictures. This event affected her credibility. It was later used against their case. After this, her direct involvement in the trials was not documented further.

Family

Ellen Moves Camp had six children: five sons and one daughter. Her sons were Sam, Vern, Louis, Jim, and Mike Moves Camp. Her daughter was Germaine Moves Camp. She also had several siblings, including Louie Winters, Willard Winters, Eugene Winters, and Lucille Schaffer. At the time of her death in 2008, she had 34 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren.

Death

Ellen Moves Camp continued to help and improve her Sioux and Oglala community. She did this until her death in 2008. She passed away at the Bennett County Health Care Center in South Dakota on April 5, 2008.

Her Impact

Ellen Moves Camp had a big impact in many areas of activism. She was a member of OSCRO. She helped recruit AIM. She rallied people at Calico Hall. And she supported the Wounded Knee Occupation.

Ellen Moves Camp's involvement encouraged the Oglala people. It helped them stand up against unfair treatment by the U.S. government. AIM and Ellen Moves Camp's work brought more attention to Native American activism and civil rights. This was a higher level of attention than seen in previous years.

Her role in the Wounded Knee Occupation and related efforts changed how people viewed Native American civil rights. Through these groups and her service at Wounded Knee, Ellen Moves Camp influenced how situations between the government and the Sioux played out. She was an example and a positive influence in her community. She helped shape history for her nation.