Sitting Bull

Sitting Bull (c. 1831–1890), known in Lakota as Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake, was a Hunkpapa Lakota chief and spiritual leader who became a symbol of Native American resistance against United States expansion. He is most famous for his spiritual role in the decisive Native American victory at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. 

Early Life and Rise to Leadership

  • Birth and Name: Born near the Grand River in present-day South Dakota, he was originally named Jumping Badger. His childhood nickname was "Slow" (Húŋkešni) because of his deliberate nature.
  • Warrior Spirit: At age 14, he earned the name Sitting Bull after showing bravery during a raid on a Crow camp.
  • Spiritual Status: He was a Wichasa Wakan (Holy Man), believed to possess the gift of prophecy. 

The Battle of the Little Bighorn

  • The Vision: Shortly before the battle in June 1876, Sitting Bull performed a Sun Dance where he saw a vision of U.S. soldiers falling like "grasshoppers from the sky" into his camp.
  • The Victory: On June 25, 1876, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer attacked the massive village. While Sitting Bull provided spiritual guidance, war leaders like Crazy Horse led the warriors to a total victory, annihilating Custer’s 7th Cavalry. 

Exile and Later Life

  • Canada: Following the battle, Sitting Bull led his people to Canada in 1877 to avoid U.S. retaliation. They remained there until 1881, when starvation and lack of buffalo forced their return and surrender.
  • Wild West Show: In 1885, he joined Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West show, becoming an international celebrity. He became close friends with sharpshooter Annie Oakley, whom he nicknamed "Little Sure Shot"

Death and Legacy

  • Assassination: In late 1890, the U.S. government feared Sitting Bull would lead an uprising via the Ghost Dance movement. On December 15, 1890, Indian agency police attempted to arrest him at his cabin on the Grand River. A struggle ensued, and Sitting Bull was shot and killed.
  • Burial: He was originally buried at Fort Yates but was moved in 1953 to a site near Mobridge, South Dakota.
  • Current Status: His legacy remains a powerful emblem of defiance. In 2021, DNA analysis confirmed Lakota activist Ernie LaPointe and his sisters as Sitting Bull's biological great-grandchildren. Pic: Legends of America.com

 

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