Furthermore, it helped them prove that they only want to live peacefully without unnecessary violence. This movement, however, was gravely misunderstood by U.S. officials. This is because, as noted by Calloway, "the encounter between Native and non-Native people has been a long and complex engagement of mutual dialogue, communication, and miscommunication" (67). This highlights the complex exchanges that have defined the nuanced and confused interactions between the U.S. and the Natives. The Ghost Dance The Ghost Dance movement, emerging in the late 1880s, epitomized the Lakota's spiritual resistance amid the dire circumstances imposed by U.S. policies. The movement, rooted in the teachings of the Paiute prophet Wovoka, promised a resurgence of the old-time Native American way of life (Young). This spiritual awakening amongst the Plains Indians, particularly the Lakota, was a peaceful protest against their conditions. However, it was grossly misinterpreted by U.S. authorities, who instead perceived it as a prelude to a violent rebellion. Peter DeMontravel covers the situation well in his article "General Nelson
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