Native Americans Decry Pentagon's Decision to Preserve Wounded Knee Medals Amid Ongoing Controversy

Native Americans Condemn Pentagon's Decision to Preserve Wounded Knee Medals A review panel at the US Department of Defense has recommended allowing soldiers who participated in the 1890 Battle of Wounded Knee to keep their medals, sparking widespread condemnation from Native American leaders and organizations. The National Congress of American Indians, the largest and most representative organization of Native American tribes, issued a statement on Saturday condemning the decision. "Celebrating war crimes is not patriotic," said Larry Wright Jr., the organization's executive director. "This decision undermines truth-telling, reconciliation, and the healing that Indian Country and the United States still need." The Battle of Wounded Knee was a pivotal event in American history, marked by the massacre of over 150 Lakota Sioux men, women, and children by US soldiers. Many historians consider it one of the most egregious examples of government violence against Native Americans. US President Donald Trump's secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, announced the decision in a video posted on X late Thursday, stating that the review panel had recommended allowing the soldiers to keep their medals. The move has been met with outrage from many in the Native American community, who see it as a slap in the face to the victims and their families. "This is a painful reminder of the historical trauma inflicted upon our communities," said Fawn Sharp, president of the National Congress of American Indians. "We will continue to advocate for truth, justice, and healing, but this decision makes that work much more difficult." The Pentagon's decision has also drawn criticism from international observers, who have long been critical of US treatment of Native Americans. "The United States' failure to acknowledge and make amends for its historical wrongdoings against Native American communities is a stain on the country's human rights record," said James Anaya, a former UN special rapporteur on indigenous peoples. "This decision only serves to perpetuate that stain." The current status of the medals remains unchanged, with the review panel's recommendation awaiting final approval from Hegseth and Trump. As the debate continues, many are left wondering what this means for reconciliation efforts between the US government and Native American communities. "This is a step backward in our nation's journey towards healing and reconciliation," said Wright. "We urge the Pentagon to reconsider its decision and take concrete steps towards acknowledging and making amends for the harm inflicted upon our communities." In related news, the US Supreme Court recently rejected a case brought by Native American tribes against a large copper mine on their ancestral lands, sparking renewed calls for greater protection of indigenous rights. The Wounded Knee massacre remains one of the darkest chapters in American history, and this decision has only served to reopen old wounds. As the debate rages on, it is clear that the road to reconciliation will be long and difficult. *Reporting by Aljazeera.*