Sitting Bull: His Life and Legacy

by Ernie LaPointe

Overview

An intimate portrait of the Lakota chief by his great-grandson.

Ernie LaPointe, born on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, is a great-grandson of the famous Hunkpapa Lakota chief Sitting Bull, and in this book, the first by one of Sitting Bull’s lineal descendants, he presents the family tales and memories told to him about his great-grandfather. LaPointe not only recounts the rich oral history of his family—the stories of Sitting Bull’s childhood, his reputation as a fierce warrior, his growth into a sage and devoted leader of his people, and the betrayal that led to his murder—but also explains what it means to be Lakota in the time of Sitting Bull and now.

In many ways, the oral history differs from what has become the standard and widely accepted biography of Sitting Bull. LaPointe explains the discrepancies, how they occurred, and why he wants to tell his story of Tatanka Iyotake. This is a powerful story of Native American history, told by a Native American, for all people to better understand a culture, a leader, and a man.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781423612667
Publisher:	Smith, Gibbs Publisher
Publication date:	05/29/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	834,270
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Ernie LaPointe, a great-grandson of Sitting Bull, was born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He is a Sundancer and lives the traditional way of the Lakota and follows the rules of the sacred pipe. He lives in South Dakota.

Read an Excerpt

The encroachment of the white man was advancing very quickly, and this worried Four Horns. He decided that new leadership was necessary. In 1867, he sent word to all the Lakota bands and other nearby nations, requesting a gathering to discuss an important matter. There were six Lakota bands, some Yanktonai, and a few Cheyenne who responded to his call and arrived at his camp on the lower Powder River. Among those who arrived quickly were Crazy Horse and Gall. They were in agreement with Four Horns about the need for new leadership, and they understood the urgency of the situation.

Four Horns began the council by explaining to the chiefs and elders why he believed new leadership was required. He said he was advanced in age, and a younger Wicasa was desired to lead the people. He recommended his nephew, Tatanka Iyotake, to be the chief of the Tiatunwa Lakota Nation. The council members all agreed with Four Horns that Tatanka Iyotake was the best choice, for he was advanced in his thinking and actions for one who was only thirty-six years old. They also agreed to the appointment of Crazy Horse as the second chief.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 9

Foreword 11

Preface 15

Introduction 19

Jumping Badger 21

Earning His Name 26

The Strong Heart Society 31

Jumping Bull 34

Wives and Children 39

Gazing At the Sun: The First Vision 44

Encountering the Americans 48

The Leader of the Lakota 50

Arrow Creek 53

Broken Promises 58

The Stage is Set 61

The Battle of the Greasy Grass 68

In the Land of the Grandmother 72

Military Custody 81

A Limited Captivity 85

The Ghost Dance 91

Betrayal 94

The Murder 102

Burying The Dead 108

Leaving Standing Rock 113

The Burial Site of Tatanka Iyotake 118

Living The Legacy 122

Appendix 1 A Letter from E.D. Mossman, Superintendant of the Standing Rock Indian School, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in Washington D.C. 128

Appendix 2 Assessment of a Lock of Hair and Leggings Attributed to Sitting Bull, a Hunkpapa Sioux, in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution-Executive Summary 131

Glossary 143

Editorial Reviews

Over time, Sitting Bull (c.1831-90) has become little more than the subject of a vintage photograph and a vague historical figure. In the 1970s, Dee Brown's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee rescued him for a while from this gradual slide toward oblivion, but today few of us have much solid knowledge about one of the most prominent and controversial men in Native American history. Sitting Bull: His Life and Legacy rectifies that unfortunate situation by describing this Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man's fateful path from young warrior to charismatic leader to Wild West show participant, ending with his arrest and death at the hands of reservation police. A stirring, tragic history.

[This book] should enthrall scrupulous history buffs and lovers of legend alike with its intimate yet epic tales and myth-supplanting authenticity.

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