Depp Wants to Buy Wounded Knee and Return It to Indians

7-10-13 by:Indian country today

Buried in this Daily Mail feature on Johnny Depp is this tidbit that could pay big dividends to American Indians:

"Such is Depp’s commitment to the Native American cause, he is planning to spend millions of his own money to return land, Wounded Knee, in South Dakota, to their ownership.

The site, the scene of an 1890 massacre, is up for sale for $3.9 million. Local Native Americans say they cannot afford to buy it. Depp is outraged.

"It’s very sacred ground and many atrocities were committed against the Sioux there. And in the 1970s there was a stand-off between the Feds (Federal government) and the people who should own that land. This historical land is so important to the Sioux culture and all I want to do is buy it and give it back. Why doesn’t the government do that?"

Is he really prepared to pay for the land?

"I am doing my best to make that happen. It’s land they were pushed on to and then they were massacred there. It really saddens me."

Much more to come on this developing story.