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In the dark of night on February 27th, 1973, a caravan 54 cars long streams over the empty roads

of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, home of the Ogallala Lakota in the vast badlands of South Dakota.

In the lead car is Dennis Banks, 35 years old, an Ojibwe from Minnesota.

He's the founder of the militant civil rights group the American Indian Movement, better known as Aim.

Banks has a signature look that's made him a figure of fascination for the national media, long hair, decorative headband, defiant eyes.

Sure, he knows he reminds the press of some cartoon Indian, but they can think that all they want.

This is a revolution.

It's been in the headlines for months now. Aim has taken over a federal building in Washington, D.C.,

set fire to a courthouse in Custer, South Dakota. They're the peak victories of Banks half decade as Aim's leader.

But Aim's previous actions are small compared to where he's leading his people tonight.

Banks looks over at the old man sitting next to him.

Frank Foolskro is a traditional Ogallala chief who personally asks for his help.

The Ogallala are fighting a corrupt tribal government here on Pine Ridge, a daily regime of violence, intimidation, and fraud that the federal government has completely ignored.

Banks is happy to help, but he sees the fight ahead as something much larger than just local political struggle.

To come to had his day, Chief Foolskro and Dranamo, sitting bull, crazy horse, they all had their day against the government.

Today is our day.

The old chief says nothing. He speaks only the Lakota language, which Banks doesn't understand.

Alright, here we are. Let's gather the people where the dead are buried.

Banks watches as some 200 people stream out from the caravan.

Women, children, elders, and many men of fighting age with their hunting rifles.

He sees the faces of Iroquois, in Kayawa, and Dine, all joining with the Ogallala Lakota.

...