Wounded Knee Creek facts for kids
Wounded Knee Creek is a stream in South Dakota, in a place called Oglala Lakota County. It's about 100 miles (160 km) long and flows into the White River. The local Lakota people call it Čhaŋkpé Ópi Wakpála.
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What is Wounded Knee Creek?
Wounded Knee Creek is a natural waterway, like a small river. It's important to the area because it flows through the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. This creek is known for its history, especially a very sad event that happened nearby a long time ago.
Where is Wounded Knee Creek?
This creek starts in the southwestern part of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. This is right near the border with the state of Nebraska. From there, it flows mostly northwest. As it travels, it passes by towns like Wounded Knee and Manderson. Finally, Wounded Knee Creek joins the White River, which is south of Badlands National Park.
The Name Wounded Knee
The name "Wounded Knee" comes from a story about a Native American person who got hurt in their knee during a fight. This name has been used for the creek ever since.
A Tragic Event: The Wounded Knee Massacre
Wounded Knee Creek is most famous because it's near the site of a very sad event from 1890. This event is known as the Wounded Knee Massacre. During this time, a group of soldiers from the 7th US Cavalry, led by Colonel James W. Forsyth, were involved in a conflict with the Sioux people. Sadly, about 300 Sioux people lost their lives, and many of them were women and children who were not armed. This event is a very important and tragic part of American history.
