The Life of Sitting Bull

Carly Hubert
Chief Sitting Bull was a prominent South Dakota Native American that lived from 1831-
1890. He was born in Grand River, present day South Dakota. He was a part of the Hunkpapa
people, a Lakota Sioux tribe within the Great Plains. Despite being born to a Sioux warrior, in his
early years Sitting Bull was called slow for his apparent lack of skills. This didnt stop him from
showing others his true work ethic and dedication to his desire to follow in his fathers
footsteps. At the age of 10 he killed his first buffalo. Just four years later, at the age of fourteen,
he joined his first war party and was recognized for his bravery. Sitting Bull was named Tatanka-
Iyotanka, a Lakota name that describes a buffalo bull sitting on its haunches. He was also
awarded with the honor of being chosen to be the leader of the Strong Heart Warrior Society.
The many skills Sitting Bull possessed and the respect he had earned among his people
led him to become the Chief of the Lakota Nation. In the 1860s, Sitting Bull was one of the
fiercest opponents of white encroachment on Sioux land. One of his many battles that he was a
part of, though, changed his life forever. Three years after the signing of the Fort Laramie
Treaty, Sitting Bull and Red Cloud were met by white settlers and war ensued. As chief, he led a
successful battle against the American forces at the Battle of Little Bighorn. Custer, leader of
the white soldiers, and around 200 of his men died during this battle. Sitting Bull then decided it
was best for him to lead his people into Canada to escape the wrath of this war for four years.
He returned to Dakota territory in 1881 and was met by Indian police and held for two years.
After that time, he was permitted to live on present day Standing Rock Reservation where he
used his influence consistently to prevent white encroachment. Sitting Bull then joined Buffalo
Bills Wild West show in 1885. There was a lot of great amenities that came with the job, but he
ended up returning to his people after famously stating, I would rather die an Indian that live a
white man. He remained a huge influence, and it became very unsettling for authorities.
Because they feared him, they directed a group of Lakota police officers to arrest Sitting Bull.
Because this encounter was not peaceful, the interaction ended in a gunfight and resulted in
Sitting Bull losing his life on December 15, 1890.
While Sitting Bull was a great war leader and is credited with great bravery, he is also
viewed as a very spiritual leader also. He was known as the Hunkpapa holy man and had a
spiritual premonition of his most famous victory. During the Rosebud Sun Dance, Sitting Bull
danced for thirty-six hours without stopping. During those hours, he saw visions of his Sioux
men winning a great battle. He also, during this famous Sun Dance, took fifty pieces of skin
from each arm as a sacrifice. Sitting Bull is known for his leadership both physically and
spiritually. He is a great leader of the Sioux people and is remembered for his bravery and
influence.
 Works Cited
Sitting Bull. (2017, April 28). Retrieved October 13, 2017, from

https://www.biography.com/people/sitting-bull-9485326

History.com Staff. (2009). Sitting Bull. Retrieved October 13, 2017, from

http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/sitting-bull