Chief+Sitting+Bull

Alex Jenson


 * Birth and Early Childhood **

Born in 1831 on the Grand River in present day South Dakota was a young child who bore the name Jumping Badger. Born to his father, Sitting Bull and his mother, Her-Holy-Door, Jumping Badger was no different from all of the other Indians. Jumping Badger earned the nickname Hunkesi, which means Slow. Born a member of the Sioux tribe, Slow showed his bravery by racing ahead of all the other warriors in a battle against the Crow. After the battle, Slow’s father gave him his warrior name – Sitting Bull or Tatanka Iyotake.

He was born into the Hunkpapa division of the Teton Sioux tribe. The Sioux Indians lived in the plains of the present day Dakota states, where they hunted buffalo and used it for their everyday life. They used the hides for tepees, drums, shields, and clothes. The bones were used for dishes, tools, and toys. They even used the buffalo chips as fuel. As a young lad, Slow never hurried and always did everything with care. He had his first successful hunt at the age of 10 killing his first buffalo. In the battle with the Crow, Jumping Badger did not kill an enemy, instead, like discussed in class he struck an enemy with a coup stick, he counted ‘coup.’ Receiving a warrior name was something that his father was proud to give his son. Sitting Bull suggests a stubborn buffalo bull planted unmovable on his haunches.


 * As a Young Man **

Sitting Bull was the leader of the Strong Heart Warrior Society at the age of 25. He helped increase Sioux hunting grounds and was a distinguished member of the Silent Eaters, a group concerned with Sioux welfare. As a young man, Sitting Bull became even better known for his fearlessness in battle, his generosity, and wisdom. He rarely ever lost in war battles which eventually led to his appointment as tribal war chief in 1857.


 * Family life **

Sitting Bull was known to have at least three wives and possibly even more over his lifetime. He had many children; some of the most notable are his son named Crow Foot and daughter named Standing Holy.


 * The U.S intervention **

The U.S. Army continually invaded Lakota territory from 1863 to 1868. They were mainly after animal skins for trade, causing a huge problem with the Indian hunting grounds, as the buffalo was being killed off and the Lakota relied on the buffalo for their everyday life. In response to his bravery in leading a siege against Fort Rice in North Dakota in 1868, Chief Sitting Bull was named the first principle chief of the entire Lakota Sioux nation. Finally, gold was discovered in the Black Hills, a land sacred to many Indian tribes. Due to the previously signed Fort Laramie Treaty, the Hills were off limits to the U.S. Government. After purchasing attempts were failed, the commissioner of Indian affairs declared that any Indian not on the reservations by January 31, 2876 would be considered hostile and arrested. This led to a big battle on the Rosebud Creek.

The battle of the Rosebud took place when Sitting Bull summoned the Cheyenne and the Arapaho to help stand off the U.S. Army as they tried to take the Black Hills. Sitting bull performed the Sun Dance, a self-sacrifice ritual and inspired many. Chief Crazy Horse was one of the most inspired. He set out with 500 warriors and surprised General George Crook and eventually forced them to retreat. After the battle, the Lakota made their home at the Little Big Horn, where the Lakota nation was joined by thousands who had left the reservation to follow Sitting Bull. Another famous battle involving the Sioux was the Battle of Little Big Horn. Chief Sitting Bull did not personally fight in this battle, but the Sioux defeated the U.S. Army. General Custer lost over 200 soldiers and surrendered.


 * Battles Continue **

As the battles continued, many Sioux surrendered. However, Sitting Bull could not do that. In May of 1877. Sitting Bull set off to the Canadian border with many followers. While in Canada, Sitting Bull and his tribe found it tough to live. The winters were harsh and the game was scarce. It did not take long for many to die due to hunger and the cold. 4 years later, Sitting Bull came back into the U.S. and surrendered. With the presence of the Chief, the U.S. government was weary that he may cause an uprising. He was sent to Fort Randall and was held prisoner for two years. After two years, he was allowed to return to Standing Rock and rejoin other Lakota’s.


 * Standing Rock **

Once Sitting Bull was back at Standing Rock, he lived in a small cabin on the Grand River. He refused to give up the ways of his past and completely transfer to the ways of the white man. He did not want to be taken over by the white man’s power and was weary of the white man’s lies. While at Standing Rock, he battled the U.S. government as they were trying to revise land agreements. The government wanted to break up tribal ground and tried to persuade Sitting Bull to sign the agreements. These persuasion talks were not successful as he did not sign any papers.


 * Death and legacy of Sitting Bull **

The Lakota people began to practice a ritual called the Ghost Dance. The U.S. government was not comfortable with this dance, as it was not the way of the white man. The government thought that this would lead to a rebellion and sent extra troops to the reservation. Because Sitting Bull was so influential and still very spiritual, the government feared for his involvement with the dance. The Lakota police sent officers to arrest Sitting Bull due to his alleged involvement. On December 15, 1890, police arrived at Sitting Bull’s cabin and drug him outside. A resistance ensued and a gun fire began. A bullet was then put through Sitting Bull’s head. After his death, Sitting Bull was put to rest and buried at Fort Yates in North Dakota. Sitting Bull was such a courageous warrior, one who was wise and humble. He was probably one of the greatest Indian leaders of all time. He is still remembered today among the Lakota as an inspirational and fearless leader, with deep religious faith, and inspirational leadership.

__**Webliography**__

"Sitting Bull." //~Mountain City Elementary School - Mountain City, Tennessee~//. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. []. Gives a brief overview of Slow and how he gained his warrior name. This site also talks about what it means to be Sioux and how they lived. It finally talks about the battle of Little Big Horn and Sitting Bull's death.

"Sitting Bull." //United States History//. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. []. Talks about Sitting Bulls birth and journey to maturity. Describes 2 of the most important battles for the Chief, the Battle of the Rosebud and the Battle of the Little Big Horn. It also describes his later days and his life at Standing Rock. Finally it talks about the death of a great warrior and the legacy that will be left behind and continued to be talked about in the future.

"Chief Sitting Bull Timeline." //Google//. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. []. Gives a timeline of Sitting Bull's life. From his birth, to his time as a child, to his time as chief, and lastly to his death and after his death in a time where the South Dakota redmen were raiding Indian burial mounds.

"Sitting Bull." //Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online//. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. <[]>. Defines sitting bull and his real name, Tatanka lyotake. His birth and death date, and what tribe and division he belongs to.

THE WEST FILM PROJECT. "PBS - THE WEST - Sitting Bull." //PBS: Public Broadcasting Service//. 2001. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. []. Discusses Slow's youth briefly. Then discusses his life as a warrior and his eventually return to Standing Rock. Lastly, talks about the Ghost Dance and his eventual death. THE WEST FILM PROJECT. "PBS - THE WEST - Sitting Bull." //PBS: Public Broadcasting Service//. 2001. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. []. Discusses briefly the Sioux and Chief Sitting Bull's surrender to the United States Government and the treaties that ensued. It also mentions over a dozen quotes from the Chief.

Welker, Glenn. "Chief Sitting Bull." //Welcome to Indigenous Peoples Literature//. 18 May 2007. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. []. This site tries to characterize Chief Sitting Bull. Although it states that it is almost impossible to do. Gives life stores and also have many quotes from the Chief.

Dakota-Lakota-Nakota Human Rights Advocacy Coalition. "Chief Sitting Bull." //DLN, Dakota-Lakota-Nakota Human Rights Advocacy Coalition//. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. []. This site discusses mainly the life of Chief Crazy Horse. It also goes into the Battle of Little Bighorn. Discusses the battles of both the Sioux and the Cheyenne and what they both encountered with the United States Government. Paul, Daniel. "Chief Sitting Bull: Lakota Nation." //American Indian History - Mi'kmaq First Nation: We Were Not the Savages//. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. []. This discusses and describes the assassination of Chief Sitting Bull. How the Ghost Dance resulted in the Chief being dragged from his home and eventually assassinated by a Lakota police officer.

"Sitting Bull - A Great Warrior and Chief." //NativeNet - Dedicated to Literature of Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples//. Native-Net.org 2005-2010. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. []. Talks about the successes of Chief Sitting Bull. His most successful victory over General Custer and his life of becoming a great leader and warrior.

Sahlman, Rachael. "SPECTRUM Biographies - Sitting Bull." //IncWell//. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. []. This website gives a detailed biography of Chief Sitting Bull. From Birth to growing up, followed by battles and wars, the retreat to Canada, followed by him coming back and living on a reservation, and the eventual assassination of the great chief.

"Sitting Bull." //Welcome to Mysteries of Canada//. Willow Bunch Museum, 1998. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. []. This website discussed Chief Sitting Bull's exploration of Canada in 1877. It discusses the Sioux's trip to Canada in search for a new life. It also discusses the harsh winters and how the population was depleted to to the cold weather, lack of food sources, and the lack of buffalo being around.

"Sitting Bull Biography (Native American Leader) — Infoplease.com." //Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free Online Reference, Research & Homework Help. — Infoplease.com//. 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., 2007. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. []. Gives a biography of Chief Sitting Bull. This site also provides farther links including: Sitting bull: meaning and definitions, birthplace, and the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Whiteswan Sterne, Christiane. "SITTING BULL." //Manataka American Indian Council//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. []. Discusses the early life of Tatanka Lyotanka with the Sioux tribe. Discusses how he received his first real battle wound at the age of 15. It also talks about how he was so popular and well like because he was kind and gentle.

Petre, Iuliana. "Retelling the History of Chief Sitting Bull, Lakota Tribe." //Killeen News, Sports, Weather, Traffic | Kdhnews.com//. Killeen Daily Herald, 24 Apr. 2009. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. []. Ernie LaPointe, the only great-grandson of Sitting Bull retells some of the Lakota tribe history. How Sitting Bull did not dislike the white man, he just wanted to be left alone. It also tells a few more stories that have been passed down three generations to Mr. LaPointe.

//Sitting Bull Monument Foundation//. ©2007 Sitting Bull Monument Foundation. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. []. This website is for a museum trying to preserve the legacy and dignity of Sitting Bull. This will be a non-profit Sitting Bull Monument Foundation intended to develop a museum and cultural center. It also talks about Sitting Bull, the foundation itself, and the museum.

Eastman, Charles A. "Sitting Bull - Lakota Chief and Holy Man." //Legends of America - A Travel Site for the Nostalgic and Historic Minded//. 2003. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. []. Discusses the life of Slow, from birth to boyhood. Then describes his transfer into Sitting Bull, the warrior. It discusses his legacy and his ability to fight. It was said that he never killed a woman or child in battle. His trip to Canada, and his eventual return to the U.S. and his final breath before assassination.

"SITTING BULL." //DREAMS OF THE GREAT EARTH CHANGES//. K. B. Shaw. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. []. This website talks about Slow's first battle against the Crow at age 14. He soon became known for his fearlessness in battle and was then given a warrior name, Sitting Bull. The Battle of the Rosebud, Battle of Little Big Horn, his retreat to Canada, and his eventual return and death.

"The Battle of the Little Bighorn, 1876." //EyeWitness to History - History through the Eyes of Those Who Lived It//. Ibis Communications, Inc. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. []. This website discusses the Battle of Little Big Horn/Custers Last Stand. It discusses the mass distruction that took place between the U.S. and the Indians. How the Indians did not just defeat the military, but how the Indians came through and stripped the dead bodies of their uniforms and then destroyed them.

McLaughlin, James. "PBS - THE WEST - James McLaughlin, An Account of Sitting Bull's Death (1891)." //PBS: Public Broadcasting Service//. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. []. This website contains a letter that James McLaughlin, an Indian Agent sent to Hurbert Welsh, following the death of Sitting Bull. It describes what and how this shootout happened. It also gives a list of all those killed and injured in the shootout.