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Frank Clearwater

Death by Force
Case Description
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Frank Clearwater, a 47-year-old Native American man of Cherokee and Apache descent, traveled to Wounded Knee, South Dakota, in the spring of 1973 to show his support for the American Indian Movement and the Oglala Lakota who were in a standoff with federal authorities. Having arrived with his wife after a long journey, Clearwater found a place to rest inside an occupied church in the village.

On April 17, 1973, a fierce firefight erupted between the occupiers and the federal forces surrou ...Read More
Links to Additional Sources (8)
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  • Wounded Knee Shooting Victim Dies (Published 1973)
  • Wounded Knee Occupation - Wikipedia
    •     ...View 6 additional sources
    Victim Details

    Frank Clearwater

    Male

    Native American / American Indian

    Wounded Knee

    SD

    1973-04-25

    47

    Frank

    Clearwater

    11/05/2025

    Forum Posts (3)
    I've been doing some research on the 1973 Wounded Knee occupation and came across the story of Frank... ...Read More
    06/19/2024
    I've been delving into the tragic story of Frank Clearwater, and one aspect that strikes me is the h... ...Read More
    03/04/2024
    Just reflecting on the story of Frank Clearwater and feeling deeply for his family and those who kne... ...Read More
    11/24/2023
    Other Cases from Wounded Knee, South-dakota

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    Death: Apr 27, 1973
    In the spring of 1973, amid the tense occupation of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservatio i ...Read More