In a fascinating book, What Happened to Wounded Knee (Flamarion), archaeologist Laurent Olivier traces the massacre at Wounded Knee, in South Dakota, in 1890, which remains a wound in memory today. This is the symbolic place occupied in 1973 by militants of the American Indian movement, surrounded by the police and the FBI for seventy-three days: there will be one dead person. Even today, every year, a horse parade commemorates the many women and children who were the victims of this massacre. Interview.
You are an archaeologist, but you are originally a specialist in Gaul. What made you interested in Native American history?
There are common points between the Gauls and the American Indians. The Gauls were a warrior and dominant people, defeated by a superior power, Rome, who made their institutions, religion, and language disappear. Until erased by complete assimilation. The rest of them, in the collective imagination, is the image of a sympathetic rebel: Asterix, Obelix, the Destroyer, Fresnigatorix.
“Who will I be able to speak my language with now?” “A report among the American Indians, decimated by Covid
The American Indians, also summed up in a few colorful images – feathered headgear, red leather, headdress … – are a group of peoples who have been forced into defeat, and whose culture and language have been virtually exterminated.
To read the remaining 90%,
Test the offer at 1 € without obligation.
Ryan MacDonald is a contributor at Vaughantoday.ca, covering a wide range of topics including local news, politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. He focuses on clear, accurate reporting and delivering useful information that helps readers stay informed about current events and community developments. Ryan is committed to presenting stories in a balanced and accessible way, highlighting issues, trends, and updates that matter most to readers in Vaughan and across Canada.