The remains of Perry Ray Robinson Jr., a Black civil rights activist who disappeared during the infamous 1973 Wounded Knee standoff, may soon be searched for, pending approval from the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council. It is believed that his body might be buried on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
In April 1973, Robinson, at the age of 35, left his home in Bogue Chitto, Alabama, to respond to an appeal for assistance from the American Indian Movement (AIM). For a tense 71 days, AIM members and their supporters occupied the village, engaging in gunfire with federal agents stationed around its boundaries. Robinson vanished during the standoff, was later declared deceased in absentia, and no charges were ever brought regarding his disappearance.
Robinson’s story drew renewed attention when two individuals were indicted in 2003 for the murder of Canadian Annie Mae Aquash in South Dakota’s badlands in December 1975. Arlo Looking Cloud, one of the accused, was apprehended in Denver and subsequently convicted in 2004, receiving a life sentence that was later mitigated to 20 years due to his cooperation. He was released in 2019. John Graham, the second individual, faced extradition challenges from Canada but was ultimately convicted in 2010 and is serving a life sentence in South Dakota.
The recent push to locate Robinson’s final resting place is driven by 40-year-old Justin Baker from the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Baker, after reviewing documents made available through a Freedom of Information Act request and engaging with Leonard Crow Dog, AIM’s now-deceased spiritual leader, felt urged to take action after watching a Hulu documentary on Aquash titled “Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae.”
He queried, “Why can’t they do something for this man, Ray Robinson?” Baker initiated contact with Paul DeMain, a former editor and an investigator into the cases involving Aquash and Robinson. This led to communication with Robinson’s widow, Cheryl Buswell-Robinson, and their son, Deeter Robinson. Their family shared the struggles of growing up without Robinson, emphasizing a lasting void and hardships.
DeMain had previously delved into locating Robinson’s probable burial site, which inspired Baker to launch a grassroots effort utilizing tribal pathways. His proposal, supportive of a sensitive search for Robinson’s remains, mustered unanimous approval from the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council, a group advocating for treaty rights within the Great Sioux Nation.
Nonetheless, the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s land committee initially denied a search request, worried about uncovering remains from the 1890 Wounded Knee massacre. Baker contended that a non-invasive search with cadaver dogs or ground-penetrating radar would not further disturb the site. He noted disturbances already made by past construction and occupation activities.
Baker plans to present a resolution to the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council, backed by an endorsement from the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council and letters of support. The resolution highlights the intent to respectfully locate Robinson’s remains without exhumation and calls for collaboration among Lakota tribes, cultural experts, and Robinson’s family.
Cheryl Buswell-Robinson, now 80, expressed hope for returning her husband’s remains. Although she resides in Detroit and lacks the crucial local connections, Buswell-Robinson is optimistic about Baker’s enthusiasm and strategic approach. She suspects her husband’s commitment to a nonviolent demonstration, misjudged as federal informant behavior by fellow AIM members, might have contributed to his disappearance.
Documented reports reveal two confirmed deaths during the 1973 siege, but the possibility of other hidden victims was suggested by FBI documents, including mentions of fresh graves around Wounded Knee. Despite no direct mention of Robinson, an FBI memo from May 1973 hints at the presence of two Black individuals within the occupied village, likely Robinson and an Alabama woman. The woman returned post-standoff, whereas Robinson did not.