Sitting Bull was the leader of Hunkpapa Lakota and has led people who have been against US government policy for years. He was killed by Indian police on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation when authorities tried to arrest him when he was about to participate in the ghost dance movement.
Highlights
Sitting Bull was born on a land that later became part of the Dakota Territory. He was called ?ok Ps?e which mean Jumping Badger when he was born, and H?ke?ni which means Slow to describe his laid-back and cautious attitude.
When he was 14, he accompanied a group of Lakota warriors including his father and uncle at an assault party to retrieve horses from a crow warrior camp. He went forward and showed his courage by counting the coup to one of the astonishing crows the other mounted Lakota see. When he returned to the camp, his father held a festival where he gave his son his own name. T?at??ka yotake, means “buffalo watching over the herd” is abbreviated as “Sitting Bull”. Later, Sitting Bull’s father was known as Jumping Bull. At this ceremony, Sitting Bull’s father gave his son an eagle wings on his hair, the warrior’s horse, and the hardened buffalo leather shield.
Attacks by Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull’s gang continued to attack the Immigrant Party and the fortress in the late 1860s. When the Northern Pacific Railway investigated a route across the northern plains that directly passed through the land of Hunkpapa in the year 1871, it encountered strong resistance from the Lakota. People on the same railroad returned the following year with federal troops. Sitting Bull attacked the investigation team, forcing the investigation team to turn back.
From the years 1868 to 1876, Sitting Bull became one of the most important Native American political leaders. After the Treaty of Fort Laramie and the creation of the Great Sioux settlement, many traditional Sioux warriors migrated to the settlement permanently. They relied heavily on US authorities for their livelihoods. Many other chiefs, including Sitting Bull’s band and members, sometimes lived in agencies. They needed supplies when the invasion of whites and the depletion of buffalo herds reduced their resources and challenged Native American independence.
As Sitting Bull refused to rely on the US government, he and his small group of warriors lived in isolation on the plains. When the Indians were threatened by the United States, many members of various Sioux and other tribes, such as came to Sitting Bull’s camp. His reputation as he continued to avoid European Americans. Later he went to Canada to avoid the authorities.
Surrender
Due to hunger and despair, Sitting Bull eventually returned to the United States with his family and followers and surrendered on 19th July, 1881. Sitting Bull had his son Crow Foot hand over a Winchester lever carbine to Major David H. Brotherton, commander of Fort Buford.
Death
In 1890, James McLaughlin ordered police to arrest Lakota leaders for fear of escaping their settlement with ghost dancers. On December 15, 39 police officers approached Sitting Bull’s house, surrounded it, and knocked in. Bullhead told Sitting Bull that he had been arrested and took him out. Sitting Bull and his wife were noisy and rushing. The camp awoke and the men were gathering in front of the house. When Sitting Bull was ordered to get on his horse, he refused to obey, the police used force against him. The villagers were outraged. The villagers started firing which hit he police and Lieutenant Henry Bullhead responded by firing a revolver at Seating Bull’s chest. Another officer, shot Sitting Bull in the head which caused his death.
Ghost Dance
Also known as the Ghost Dance of 1890, the Ghost Dance was a new religious movement incorporated into many Native American belief systems. According to the teachings of Northern Paiutes spiritual leader named Wovoka proper dance practice will reunite the souls of the living and the dead, make them fight for them, end the expansion of the American West, and bring peace.
