A man holds a cardboard sign with the words "Defend Medicine Lake!" The sign features a red design that appears to be an outline of the lake or surrounding area. He wears a navy blue cap and a red shirt, among a crowd of other protestors.

Norman “Wounded Knee” DeOcampo, a Tuolumne Mewuk Elder and long-time resident of Vallejo, California, began his journey on October 7, 2024, while in hospice care. He was widely respected throughout Indian Country for his tireless efforts to defend, protect, and preserve Native American sacred places across California. Wounded Knee holds the distinction of being the only person to have participated in all five Longest Walks. He was deeply involved in both the Alcatraz Occupation and the Wounded Knee Occupation, and was a lead member in the American Indian Movement (AIM).

As the Founding Executive Director of Sacred Sites Protection and Rights of Indigenous Tribes (SSPRIT), based in Vallejo, Wounded Knee was a powerful advocate for the protection of “Sogorea Te,” a sacred burial site located in Glen Cove, Vallejo. In 2011, a spiritual occupation at Sogorea Te lasted 109 days, a powerful stand for the protection of the site. Wounded Knee also fought for other sacred places, including Fort Mojave, Medicine Lake in Pit River Nation, Bloody Island, McCloud River with the Winnemem Wintu, Butte Mountain, the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock, and Rattlesnake Island in Clear Lake, California.

A young girl in a pink jacket is in the foreground, looking at something off-camera. Behind her, two adults, one in a colorful patterned jacket and the other in a black coat and bandana, appear to be engaged in a ceremony or gathering with other people in the background.
Three individuals stand close together. A man on the left wears a cap and a vest with various badges, a woman in the center wears a purple top and smiles, and another man on the right has a black hoodie with a feather tucked in his pocket. The background shows a cloudy sky over a public event. Activist Dolores Huerta stands in the middle of the group.
Four people stand together outdoors at an event. From left to right: a woman in a red shirt and colorful skirt, a man wearing a black hoodie and beanie, a woman in a yellow shirt with a brown jacket, and an older man in a plaid shirt. They all appear to be enjoying the gathering.

In addition to his work with sacred sites, Wounded Knee spent many years advocating for the removal of the Apache mascot at Vallejo High School, leaving a lasting legacy of defending Native dignity and culture. His life’s work teaches us to honor and protect our sacred places, just as our ancestors have done for generations. Wounded leaves a legacy of teaching us to take care of our sacred sites as our ancestors cared for us.