"The above photograph illustrates the notorious case of US General LW Colby and his legal charge, Zintkala Nuni, or Lost Bird. Zintkala was a baby of about six months when her tribe was attacked in what is known as the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890, during which her wounded mother managed to scratch out a small shelter in the dirt for protection from the soldiers and weather. Four days later, they were found by people from the local community who were cleaning up the bodies. At first, the group thought Zintkala was seriously hurt, because she was covered in so much blood. It turned out the blood belonged to her dead mother. Enter General Colby. Although he had not participated in the massacre, when he heard about the child, he immediately laid claim to her as a souvenir of the event, calling the child "a most interesting Indian relic". He used the courts to officially name the child as his own. After taking Zintkala home to his wife, Colby quickly lost interest in her – and abandoned her and his wife for another woman. But the damage was done. Zintkala had a troubled youth that saw her subjected to constant racist attacks. She was in and out of boarding schools and ran away constantly. Her mother eventually sent her back to live with Colby in order to protect her. While there, however, her father beat her. After getting pregnant, Zintkala was sent away to a home, where she gave birth to a stillborn baby. After years of physical abuse from different husbands, and physical illness, she died at the young age of 29." Get the Story:
Susana Adame: The 'anchor babies' campaign and the story of Lost Bird (The Guardian 1/14)
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