This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed February 2006.
Sitting Bull (Sioux: Tatanka Iyotake or Tatanka Iyotanka orTa-Tanka I-Yotank, later named Hunkesni, Slow), (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Native American shaman and leader of the Hunkpapa Sioux (see Lakota) who led 1,200 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors against the US 7th Cavalry under George Armstrong Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876. Though he did not participate personally in the battle, the chiefs were spurred on by a dream that Sitting Bull had in which a group of American soldiers tumbled into his encampment.
Blamed for the ensuing massacre, Sitting Bull led his tribe into Canada, where they lived until 1881, when on July 20 he led the last of his fugitive people to surrender to United States troops at Fort Buford in Dakota Territory, near the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers. The US government, however, granted him amnesty. His band was placed on the Standing Rock Agency [now the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation located in North and South Dakota on the west bank of the Missouri River].
In later life, Sitting Bull toured with Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show, where he was a popular attraction. Often asked to address the audience, he frequently cursed them in his native Lakota language to the wild applause of his listeners.
Toward the end of his life, Sitting Bull was drawn to the mystical Ghost Dance as a way of repelling the white invaders from his people's land. Although he himself was not a follower, this was perceived as a threat by the American government, and a group of Indian police was sent by Major James McLaughlin, Superintendent of the Standing Rock Reservation, to arrest him at his cabin near present day Bullhead, SD. In the ensuing scuffle, Sitting Bull and his son Crow Foot were killed. Sitting Bull's body taken by the Indian police to Fort Yates (North Dakota) and buried in the military cemetery.
Biography
Childhood
Sitting Bull was born around March 1831. He was born in what is now South Dakota in the Northern Plains. He was born in a place named "Many catches for the number of pits dug there for food". He was a member of the Hunkpapa clan of the Lakota Sioux. Sitting Bull's mother was called Her-Holy-Door, his father was also called Sitting Bull. He had a brother called chicken dancer. Sitting Bull (Jr) was originally given the name Jumping Badger when he was born. The American Indians received many names in their lifetimes and rarely kept the same name they were born with. Their names changed according to their personality, how they acted, what visions they saw etc. Jumping Badger was soon given the name Slow. He was given this name as he did not act upon things straight away but often thought about things before he did them. When he was 14, Slow made his first 'coup' in a raid against a Crow Indian camp. To celebrate this success his father gave him his name - Sitting Bull. It was to represent a stubborn buffalo bull planted firmly on its haunches.
Sitting Bull's childhood would have been quite happy. They were free to explore, eat when they wanted and sleep when they wanted. Sitting Bull's father was quite 'rich' - he was also a chief and he owned many ponies. Some of his uncles were also chiefs. It was jokingly said of Sitting Bull that his legs were bowed like the ribs of the ponies that he rode constantly from childhood.
At age 10, Sitting Bull killed his first buffalo, he gave the meat away to elders who were unable to hunt for themselves. After this he went on his first vision quest. Later on he would be known as a holy man who often communicated with the spirit world. He became a Sioux shaman and medicine man.
Sitting Bull was 14 when he decieded that he would join a mounting war party in search of Crow horses and scalps. After nearing Crow territory they spotted a dozen mounted Crows gathered in conference. The Soiux war party quickly stormed down on the Crow who spread out to recive the attack. A lonesome Crow however, deciceded to make a run for it when Sitting Bull gave chase to the Crow. After riding after the Crow, Sitting Bull struck his advisary with his tomahawk knocking him to the ground. Then, quickly a fellow Sioux finished the Crow off. They had killed all but four of the Crows and after the ensuing conflict they returned to camp in celebration. It was here that he was awarded, by his father, an Eagle feather for his first coup and a shield. The most significant happening that day was the awarding of his new name, Sitting Bull. The name was previously his father's who also changed his name that day to Jumping Bull.
At the age of 15, it is said that he received his first serious wound from a battle - an arrow through his left sole which left him with a limp (One source states it was a bullet). Sitting Bull became known as being fearless and a brave fighter. By the age of 25, he was leader of the Strong Heart Warrior Society and had increased the Sioux's hunting grounds.
References
- Newson, T. M. 1827-1893. (Thomas McLean). Thrilling scenes among the Indians. With a graphic description of Custer's last fight with Sitting Bull. Chicago and New York: Belford, Clarke and Co., 1884. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/History. Newson
- Reno, Marcus A., 1835-1889, (Marcus Albert). The official record of a court of inquiry convened at Chicago, Illinois, January 13, 1879, by the President of the United States upon the request of Major Marcus A. Reno, 7th U.S. Cavalry, to investigate his conduct at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, June 25-26, 1876. Pacific Palisades, Calif.: 1951. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/History. Reno
Utley, Robert M. The Lance and the Spear: The Life and Times of Sitting Bull. 1st ed. New York: Henrey Holt and Company Inc., 1993.
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