1875 - The U.S. government issues an ultimatum

In December 5, 1875, an ultimatum was dispatched to these hostiles ordering them to come to their respective agencies by January 31, 1876, or the Army would be sent out to drive them in. This order was sent by Commissioner of Indian Affairs E.P. Smith and read as follows: I am instructed by the Honorable Secretary of the Interior under the date of the 3rd instant to direct you to notify Sitting Bull’s band, and other wild and lawless bands of Sioux Indians, residing without the bounds of their reservation, who roam over western Dakota and eastern Montana, including the rich valley of the Yellowstone and Power Rivers and made war on the Arickarees, Mandan, Gros Ventres, Assinaboines, Blackfeet, Piegans, Crows and other friendly tribes, that unless they shall remove within the bounds of their reservation (and remain there) before the 31st of January next they shall be deemed hostile and treated accordingly by the military force. The winter is bitter and most Sioux do not even hear of the ultimatum until after the deadline.

1876 - Military campaigning aganist the Sioux

Military campaigning against the hostile Sioux was resumed in June 1876. The strategy employed by General P.H. Sheridan involved three distinct military columns moving from different directions to trap the Indians at a common center. The first column under General Cook was to proceed to Fort Fetterman to the north. The second group under General John Gibbon was to come down from Fort Ellis in Montana to the southeast. The third column under General Alfred Terry was to move from Fort Abraham Lincoln to the southwest.
Including in this latter group was the Seventh Cavalry commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer. This three pronged offensive failed when General Crook was stopped in a battle of the Rosebud on June 17.

1876, June 25 - Little Big Horn Battle

1876 - Seventh Cavalry under Custer were annihilated on June 25. Lt. Col. George Custer left Fort Abraham Lincoln to take part in Army plan to gather all Sioux into the bounds of the Great Sioux Reservation. General Crook attacks Lakota bands in the Battle of the Rosebud (Montana). Crook troops are held back.
Lakota annihilates Lt. Col. Custer’s force of 267 men and Cheyenne’s at the Little Big Horn River, in Montana.

June 25, 1876 - Little Big Horn Battle list of warriors

Afraid of Eagles,Hunkpapa Sioux Fought alongside Kill Eagle at the Little Big Horn Battle.
Bad Soup, a/k/a Bad Juice Hunkpapa Sioux, Participated in battle; recognized Custer, He visited Fort Lincoln once before the battle
Bear Bonnet Hunkpapa Sioux, Fought in the Little Big Horn battle
Bear Ears Hunkpapa Sioux Fought alongside Kill Eagle at the Little Big Horn battle.
Bear King Sioux Fought alongside Kill Eagle at the Little Big Horn Battle
Bear Shield Hunkpapa Sioux, fought in the Little Big Horn Battle.
Bear Soldier Sioux fought in the Little Big Horn Battle.
Bear with Horns Mato Heton Hunkpapa Sioux, he was killed along Custer Ridge June 25, 1876, Little Big Horn Battlefield, Montana
Black Bear Sioux, he saw Custer's Column at the divide. He was still alive in 1929, at Standing Rock
Black Moon Hunkpapa warrior chief; a leader in the battle on the 25th ; warrior society leader in the charges against Reno's troops Black Moon, a/k/a Old Black Moon Hunkpapa Sioux, Father of Young Black Moon, 1881, surrendered at Standing Rock, died in 1888.
Black Prairie Dog Sioux, fought in the Little Big Horn, 1929, he was at Standing Rock Agency
Blue Cloud Hunkpapa Sioux, He left Standing Rock with Kill Eagle, was at the Little Big Horn Battle.
Blue Mountain Hunkpapa Sioux, fought in the Little Big Horn Battle.
Bobtail Bull, Daniel Ojinca Sioux, fought in the Little Big Horn Battle. Indian Police Service, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation 1890, detailed to take Sitting Bull at Ghost Dance outbreak 1929, granted pension for same
Brave Hawk, a/k/a Belly Fat, Man Who Walks with His Dog Sioux, Fought alongside Kill Eagle in the Little Big Horn Battle.
Brings Plenty, Hunkpapa warrior Sioux, Brings Plenty killed a soldier with a war club in the Custer fight in the Little Big Horn battle.
Broad Tail Hunkpapa Sioux; Chief and leading warrior May have participated in the Little Big Horn Battle
Brown Back, a/k/a Brown Pants Hunkpapa Sioux, he discovered Custer at the Divide; gave village the alarm at the Little Big Horn Battle
Buffalo Calf Pipe Hunkpapa Sioux, Medicine Man was at the Little Big Horn Battle.
Callous Leg Hunkpapa Sioux, fought at the Little Big Horn Battle.
Chatka Hunkpapa Sioux His body was found in abandoned teepee in the valley, After the Little Big Horn Battle. He was a Scout at Fort Lincoln
Circling Hawk Oglala Sioux, Fought in the Little Big Horn Battle. He was on Standing Rock Agency in 1929.
Crawler Hunkpapa Sioux, Chief Father of Moving Robe Woman, both fought in the Little Big Horn Battle. Crawler lost one son in the battle named Deeds.
Cross Bear Lakota Sioux. Fought in the Little Big Horn Battle, he was on the Standing Rock Agency in 1929.
Crow King Kangi Yatapi Hunkpapa Sioux, chief, lead 80 warriors In valley, on Reno Hill, on Custer Ridge, Crow King Hunkpapa warrior chief; had 80 warriors in his band; led charges against Reno's troops in the valley, then joined the Custer fight after Reno attained the bluffs; two of his brothers were killed in the battle
Dog, Hunkpapa Sioux, Fought alongside Kill Eagle in the Little Big Horn Battle.
Elk Heart Hunkpapa Sioux, He was slightly wounded in valley fight at the Little Big Horn battle.
Elk Nation Hunkpapa Sioux, He rescued his wounded brother--friend Little Bear, after his horse had been shot from under him in the Custer fight Fought Custer's Column; 1929, at Standing Rock Agency
Flat Hip Hunkpapa Sioux, warrior; long after the battle, he was one of several Indians who claimed credit for killing Custer He is one of several who claimed to have killed Custer
Flying By Hunkpapa warrior, Killed in the battle; on White Buffalo's list of 29 Sioux dead at the Little Big Horn.
Flying Charge Blackfeet Sioux, Killed in valley fight, June 25, 1876, Little Big Horn Battlefield, Montana
Fool Bull Tatanka Witko, Born: 1844
Lakota Sioux, medicine man, he carried a shield of buffalo hide into battle
Four Horns Hunkpapa Chief and War Leader, he was the uncle to Sitting Bull. He fought in the Little Big Horn Battle.
Gall (Pizi) Hunkpapa warrior chief; born ca 1840, near Moreau river, South Dakota son of nobody of distinction; Gall was among the Cheyenne looking after horses when Reno attacked; his 2 wives and 3 children were killed in Reno's attack on the village; Gall said: "It made my heart bad. After that I killed all my enemies with the hatchet." a principal leader in the battle of the 25th; he did not, as some say, lead charges against Reno's troops in the valley, but was diverted from that fight by one of his warriors who had spotted Custer from the bluffs, Countered Reno's attack on the village and led them in a frontal attack on Custer's troops, while Crazy Horse's warriors struck Custer's flank and rear; he surrendered January 1881 at Poplar Creek, Montana; 1889, appointed judge of the Court of Indian Affairs at Standing Rock, later served as a judge of the Court of Indian Offenses at Standing Rock Reservation in 1889, and worked as a farmer; died in 1894 at age 56, at December 5, 1895, Wakpala, South Dakota on the
Oak Creek on Standing Rock Agency.
Good Bear Boy Hunkpapa Sioux He was wounded in valley fight; rescued by Lone Bull, at the Little Big Horn Battle.
Good Dog Sioux fought in the Little Big Horn battle and was reported to be at Standing Rock Agency in 1929.
Good Voice Elk Hunkpapa Sioux, Witnessed movement of 30 men from Custer Hill at the end. Fought in the Little Big Horn
Gray Whirlwind, a/k/a Sunken Ass
Hunkpapa Sioux, fought in the Little Big Horn Battle.
Grey Eagle Hunkpapa Sioux, Brother-in-law of Sitting Bull fought in the Little Big Horn battle. He was reported to be at the Standing Rock Agency in 1929.
Has Horn Sioux, Fought Custer's Column at the Little Big Horn Battle.
Hawk Man Canska Wicasa Hunkpapa Sioux, Chief, Killed in front of the Reno skirmish line, Little Big Horn June 25, 1876
Hawk Stays Up Hunkpapa Sioux, Counted coup in the fight with Custer during the battle. Fought in the Little Big Horn battle.
Her Eagle Robe aka Moves Robe Woman aka Mary Crawler Hunkpapa Sioux Woman, rode into battle after she seen her brother Deeds shoot off his horse. Reported to have killed Isaiah Dorman, in valley and Custer fights after Deeds was killed.
Hona Sioux fought in the Little Big Horn He was reported to be at Standing Rock Agency in 1929.
Horney Horse Hunkpapa Sioux, He fought Custer's Column during the Little Big Horn Battle.
Iron Cedar Hunkpapa Sioux, warrior, Gall's band Brought word to the village of Custer's advance, spotted Custer's column from a high point above the river and diverted Gall from the Reno fight
Iron Elk Hunkpapa Sioux, fought in the Little Big Horn Battle.
Iron Hawk Hunkpapa Sioux, Circa 1862
Hunkpapa warrior, he was wounded in Custer fight; killed a soldier with an arrow. Iron Hawk; age 14 when he rode into the Custer fight with his bow & arrows and his face painted red; shot and killed a soldier on horseback with an arrow in the Custer fight; then joined the attack on Reno's water carriers; still living age 99 on Standing Rock in 1929.
John Sitting Bull Hunkpapa Sioux, warrior Stepson of Sitting Bull, he was still living age 80
Jumping Bull Hunkpapa Sioux, Assinniboine captive; adopted by Sitting Bull, fought in the Little Big Horn battle.
Kill Eagle born 1820, Blackfeet Sioux, Chief with 26 Lodges fought in the Little Big Horn battle. Kills Eagle, had many warriors fight under his directions.
Kills Hawk Sioux, fought in the Little Big Horn battle he was reported at Standing Rock Agency in 1929
Knife King Hunkpapa Sioux, Wounded June 26 while recalling warriors from firing line at the Little Big Horn Battle.
Little Bear Hunkpapa Sioux Little Bear Wounded in the leg when his horse was shot from under him in the Custer fight; rescued by his brother-friend Elk Nation in the Little Big Horn battle.
Little Crow Hunkpapa Sioux, fought in the Little Big Horn battle.
Little Eagle Sioux, Fought alongside Kill Eagle in the Little Big Horn battle.
Little Knife Hunkpapa Sioux, He was a warrior in the Custer fight; in 1879 he said that Custer had been killed by a boy of 15 years, whose brother had just been slain and told of torture of soldier in Indian village
Little Moon Hunkpapa Sioux, fought in the Little Big Horn battle in 1926 he attended Battle 50 Year Anniversary
Little Voice Hunkpapa Sioux, he was the brother of Deeds and Her Eagle Robe aka Moves Robe Woman, his Father was Crawler. He fought in the Little Big Horn Battle along with his family.
Little Warrior, a/k/a Little Soldier
Oglala Sioux, warrior, Stepson of Sitting Bull fought in the Little Big Horn battle and was at Standing Rock Agency in 1929, at the age 80
Eugene Little Soldier(Akichitahchigala) Born ca 1863; young and fought with arrows against Reno; 1890, detailed to take Sitting Bull at Ghost Dance outbreak. among Indian police who participated in the arrest and killing of Sitting Bull 1890; living 1928; (not Sitting Bull's son of the same name) 1929, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, awarded $20 per month pension for Indian Police Service.
Little Wolf Hunkpapa Sioux, fought in the Little Big Horn battle.
Lone Bull, a/k/a One Bull Hunkpapa warrior in the Little Big Horn battle, Brother of Lazy White Bull; nephew of Sitting Bull He rescued Good Bear Boy on Reno's skirmish line in the Little Big Horn battle.
Lone Man, a/k/a John Loneman, Isnawichah Circa 1850, Oglala Sioux, His wife names Mary .1890, detailed to take Sitting Bull at Ghost Dance outbreak. He died April 1918 on Standing Rock.
Long Dog Hunkpapa Sioux fought in the Little Big Horn battle.
Looking Elk aka Oliver Looking Elk (Hehakawaketo)Born ca 1845; Hunkpapa Sioux. He refused to take Good Bear Boy off the field while under fire. He was among Indian police who participated in the arrest and killing of Sitting Bull 1890; living 1928 on Standing Rock Agency.
No Two Horns Sioux fought in the Little Big Horn battle he was at the Standing Rock Agency in 1929.
Old Bear Hunkpapa Sioux, fought in the Little Big Horn Battle.
Old Bull Sioux, fought in the Little Big Horn and reported at Standing Rock Agency in 1929.
One Elk Sioux fought in the Little Big horn battle, he was reported at Standing Rock Agency in 1929.
Rain-in-the-Face, Itonagaju
Circa 1835, Hunkpapa Sioux he fought in the little Big Horn Battle in the the valley fight. Some say he killed Tom Custer. He died September 14, 1905, Standing Rock, N.D.
Rectum, a/k/a Guts, Open Belly
Tasupe, Hunkpapa Sioux, He was killed in the valley fight on June 25, 1876, Little Big Horn Battlefield, Montana Territory
Red Face Ite Luta, Hunkpapa Sioux, he was killed fighting Custer's column
June 25, 1876, Little Big Horn Battlefield, Montana Territory
Red Fish Sioux, warrior He was in the Custer fight at the Little Big Horn Battle.
Red Horn Buffalo Hunkpapa Sioux, he was wounded while charging the soldiers trying to escape at the Little Big Horn battle.
Scabby Head Blackfeet Sioux, A Chief, fought in the Little Big Horn Battle.
Scarlet Bear, a/k/a Two Heart or Strong
Blackfeet Sioux, Fought alongside Kill Eagle during the Little Big Horn Battle
Scarlet Eagle, a/k/a Sitting Crow
Blackfeet Sioux , he fought alongside Kill Eagle during the Little Big Horn Battle.
Scarlet Thunder, a/k/a Iron Horn
Blackfeet Sioux, he fought alongside Kill Eagle during the Little Big Horn Battle
Shoots Walking, a/k/a Walcott Shoots Walking Wakutemani born ca 1850;
Hunkpapa Sioux, Reported that Custer's soldiers acted erratic or drunk
1890, detailed to take Sitting Bull at Ghost Dance outbreak, among Indian police who participated in the arrest and killing of Sitting Bull in 1890; living 1928 on Standing Rock Agency . 1926, attended Battle 50 Year Anniversary.
Spotted Horn Bull (Tatanka-he-gle-ska) Hunkpapa Sioux,Married to a full cousin of Sitting Bull; he was killed with Sitting Bull on December 15, 1890, He joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show
Sitting Bull (Tatanka Yatanka) His name means literally "Buffalo-he-sits-down" or "Buffalo Bull Sitting Down" (26); Hunkpapa medicine man and chief; a powerful leader but not a warrior, he was not personally engaged in the battle, and was confined close to his teepee with a badly crippled leg, having been kicked by a wounded pack animal the previous day; his vision during a Sun Dance on June 14th predicted the Indian's victory; he called off the Indian attack on Reno and Benteen's troops on June 26 ; killed at his camp on the Grand River in North Dakota on December 15, 1890
Strong Dog Hunkpapa Sioux, fought in the Little Big Horn Battle
Swift Bear Mato Ohanko, Hunkpapa Sioux he was killed on June 25, 1876, Little Big Horn Battlefield, Montana Territory.
The Man Who Walks With His Dogs
Blackfeet Sioux he fought alongside Kill Eagle in the Little Big Horn battle.
Two Bulls Hunkpapa Sioux, He estimated there were 600-800 warriors at the little Big Horn battle
White Buffalo Bull, a/k/a White Bull
Tatanka Ska, Hunkpapa Sioux he was killed in the valley fight on June 25, 1876, Little Big Horn Battlefield, Montana Territory
White Bull, a/k/a Joseph White Bull
Minniconjou Sioux, White Bull, Nephew of Sitting Bull He fought in the valley, Reno Hill, Battle Ridge; wounded ankle 1929, at Standing Rock Agency; he was among some Sioux and 3 Cheyenne who chased 3 soldiers south along the west bank of the river to the Reno fight, only one who escaped to rejoin Reno on the bluffs at the Little Big Horn battle. He died July 21, 1947
White Cow Walking Sioux fought in the Little Big Horn battle and was at Standing Rock Agency in 1929.
White Eyebrows Hunkpapa Sioux, Brother of Beautiful White Cow fought in the Little Big Horn battle.
White Face Bear Sioux,he fought in the Little Big Horn Battle at Standing Rock Agency in 1929.
White Gut Hunkpapa Sioux, fought in the Little Big Horn Battle.
White Hair on Face Hunkpapa Sioux fought in the Little Big Horn Battle.
Worm Sioux, fought in the little Big horn battle.
Young Black Moon, a/k/a Young Black Moon, Hanwi Sapa Cincala Hunkpapa Sioux, War Leader, Fox Warrior Society
Led charges against Reno; killed in valley fight Warrior society leader in the charges against Reno; killed soon after Reno's skirmish line deployed; on White Buffalo's list of 29 Sioux dead Black Moon, died on June 25, 1876, Little Big Horn Battlefield, Montana
Young Eagle Sioux, fought in the Little Big Horn Battle and was reported at Standing Rock Agency in 1929.
Young Hawk Hunkpapa Sioux, fought in the Little Big Horn battle and he attended Battle 50 Year Anniversary in 1926.

1876 - Sell & Starve Bill

1876 - Congress states that the Lakota (Sioux) will not receive any more treaty-guaran-teed rations until they agree to sell the Paha Sapa. The Lakota call this the "Sell or Starve"
option. On June 25, the Lakota and other allies defeat Custer and the celebrated 7th Cavalry at the Little Bighorn. Later in the year, another commission comes to the Lakota
Nation. From sworn statements from those present, the following facts emerge: About one-half of the nation is in the north on a hunting trip, thus, representation of less than
10% of the people meet with the commission. An agreement was signed, understood as a lease on the land. Later that year, George Hearst purchases a prospecting claim in Black
Hills for $70,000 he has borrowed from his mother.
At Standing Rock the government obtained only forty-eight signatures of men agreeing to relinquish the Black Hills.

1877 - Congress took the Black Hills

Congress votes to take Black Hills from the Sioux in open violation of the 1868 Treaty, which requires three-fourths of the adult Sioux, males to approve. Government officials obtained only a few signatures.
The United States Government introduced the Sell or Starve Bill or the Agreement of 1877. The Lakota people starved but refused to sell their sacred land so the U.S. Congress illegally took the Black Hills from the Great Sioux Nation.

1877 - First school teacher

Mrs.Van Solen taught in first school building on Standing Rock. She was the Daughter of Eagle Plume(Mrs Galpin).

1877 - Indian forced to accept conditions

The Governments control of the Sioux people was harsh and unbending.Access to hunting grounds was firmly denied and with no horses or guns the people were forced to accept government food rations and clothing distributions. The government imposed farming on the Sioux, something that was culturally new to them but dought, grasshoppers and alkaline soil made it almost impossible.

1878 - Group sent to Hampton

Hampton Institute in Hampton, Va., a non-sectarian Christian vocational school for educating ex-slaves admits Indian students. Its motto is “education for the Head, the Hand, and the Heart.” Many young people from Standing Rock are sent to Hampton.

1879 - Standing Rock student went to Carlisle indian School

1879 - First group of young Sioux people went to Carlisle Indian School.
The Carlisle Indian School is founded in Pennsylvania in an aggressive U.S. government campaign to "civilize" Indian children. Children from reservations across the West are sent to the school in order to assimilate into white culture. This assimilation includes cutting their hair, burning their clothing and forcing them to wear European American dress. They are forbidden to speak their Native language, and punishment for infractions is severe. The school is a breeding ground for disease, and many children die there.

1880 - Stage line open

Stage Coach line open from Fort Yates to Winona to Bismarck.

1880 - The Last Sun Dance

The Lakotas and Dakotas of Standing Rock Agency combined to hold a Sun Dance and it caused great controversy. The Government officials and some military personnel accused the agent of letting his charges sink into barbarism rather than keeping them on the path to civilization.

1881 - McLaughin become agent

Major James McLaughlin became agent at Standing Rock after leaving the Devil Lake Sioux Reservation.

1881 - Sitting Bull Surrenders

1881 - Chief Sitting Bull and 186 of his followers return from Canada and surrender at Fort Buford. The chief is imprisoned for two years instead of being pardoned, as promised. Sitting Bull voluntarily had his son Crowfoot to surrender his gun.

1883 - Sitting Bull’s surrender list

Sitting Bull’s surrender list

Upon arrival at Fort Randall, it was determined that one of the families, Shoot the Bear's, should have been left at the agency and they were returned. A total of 167 people were turned over to military authorities.

1. Sitting Bull's Family
2. White Dog's Family
3. Four Horns' Family
4. One Bull's Family
5. High Bull's Family
6. Fire Cloud's Family
7. Elk Horn's Family
8. Bone Tomahawk's Family
9. Broken Arrow's Family
10. Spotted Eagle's Family
11. Brave Thunder's Family
12. Black Bird's Family
13. Hairy Coat's Family
14. Shoot the Bear's Family [returned to Standing Rock Agency]
15. Scarlet Thunder's Family
16. Zume's Family
17. Took Their Gun's Family
18. Blue Cloud's Family
19. Yellow Dog's Family
20. Fought The Bear's Family
21. Brave Bear's wife and child
22. Hunted Alone's Family
23. The Deaf Woman's Family
24. Big Leg's Family
25. His Many Old Man's Family
26. The Bear That Looks Back Family
27. Scarlet Thunder's Family
28. Bad Head
29. Feeble White Cow
30. The Rider
31. Mosquito's Family
32. High in the Cloud's Family
33. Mrs. Crazy Dog

The families were returned to Standing Rock Agency on April 1883, totaling 152 people

1883 - Ex parte Crow Dog

Ex parte Crow Dog,
In August 1881, Crow Dog, “belonging to” the Brule Sioux Band, killed Spotted Tail, who signed the treaty of 1868 as the principal Chief of the Brule Sioux. “The killing,” according to court records, “took place at their agency upon the Great Sioux Indian reservation, in the first judicial district of Dakota Territory.” Crow Dog was convicted of murder by the district court of Dakota territory, and sentenced to death.

In November 1883 the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on writs of habeas corpus and certiorari filed on behalf of Crow Dog. In the case Ex Parte Crow Dog, decided December 1883, the Supreme Court reversed the territorial court decision, and ruled that, “the First District Court of Dakota is without jurisdiction to find or try an indictment for murder committed by one Indian upon another in the Indian country, and a conviction and sentence upon such indictment are void, and imprisonment thereon is illegal.”

The Supreme Court’s decision in Ex Parte Crow Dog includes a fine-grained analysis of the jurisdiction of the district courts of the Territory of Dakota, sections of the revised U.S. statutes pertaining to “crimes arising within the maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States,” the provisions of the treaty of April 29th, 1868 and an agreement with “certain bands of the Sioux Indians, &c.” approved by Congress February 28th, 1877.

The eighth article of the 1877 agreement provided that the signatory Sioux “be subject to the laws of the United States, and each individual shall be protected in his rights of property, person and life.” The Supreme Court decided that the words of that agreement “can have no such effect as that claimed by them”—that the Sioux were subject to U.S. law, “not in the sense of citizens, but … as wards subject to a guardian … as a dependent community who were in a state of pupilage.”

Under the unwritten law of the Sioux, a murderer could be exiled from the tribe or the victim's family could kill him unless it agreed to restitution. To avoid further bloodshed, the families of Spotted Tail and Crow Dog agreed on a settlement: Crow Dog gave Spotted Tail's family fifty dollars, eight horses, and a blanket to "cover" the crime. This settled the case for the Sioux, but when white settlers in South Dakota learned that their friend Spotted Tail had been murdered, they summoned a grand jury. Crow Dog was tried for murder in the territorial court at Deadwood, South Dakota. Not surprisingly, he was convicted and sentenced to death.

The convicted medicine man asked permission to return home in Rosebud to settle his personal affairs before his execution. The court allowed him to leave and set a date for him to surrender. On the day he was to return, a snowstorm raged in Deadwood. Court officials, knowing that no white man would walk several hundred miles in a blizzard to be executed, were certain Crow Dog would not appear. They waited at the courthouse, betting with one another on the likelihood of his arrival. On schedule Crow Dog emerged from the blizzard to surrender himself to the authorities. He instantly was transformed from a local villain into a celebrity, and newspapers celebrated his courage and stoic nobility. Lawyers volunteered to appeal his case, and in 1883 they brought it to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The lawyers argued that because he had killed Spotted Tail on a reservation, Crow Dog was subject to tribal, not United States, law. In Ex parte Crow Dog (exparte is Latin for "on behalf of"), the Supreme Court upheld this argument and ruled that the Dakota territorial court was without jurisdiction. All nine justices agreed that the Sioux Treaty of 1868, which established the reservation in the Dakota Territory, did not explicitly limit tribal self-government. As a result the Sioux tribe retained exclusive judicial jurisdiction over all reservation affairs.

1883 - Indian Offenses became law

In 1883 the government issued a set of Indian Offense that strictly forbid all traditional ceremonies and aimed at the center of Dakota and Lakota spiritual life. All traditional lifeways and ceremonies were banned by law. These included giveaways, the sun dance, rites of purification and social dances.

1885 - Sitting Bull tours with Buffalo Bill

1885 - Sitting Bull tours with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.

1885 - Agreement with The Wild West Show

Thus, the following document was drawn up and signed by both Burke and Sitting Bull, as well as other witnesses and Indian Agents. This agreement entered into this sixth day of June, 1885, between John M. Burke, General Manager of the ‘Buffalo Bill Wild West Show,’ and Sitting Bull and party, consisting of ten people.

I, John M. Burke, do hereby agree to pay Sitting Bull Fifty ($50.00) Dollars per week to be paid weekly every Saturday night; Five (5) Indians at Twenty five ($25.00) Dollars per month each, to be paid monthly; and William Halsey, Interpreter, to be paid Sixty ($60.00) Dollars per month, also to be paid monthly. It is also agreed that Sitting Bull is also to receive One hundred and twenty five Dollars as a present, and the first two weeks of pay in advance, being a total ($225.00) Dollars before leaving his home at Standing Rock Agency, DT. The receipt of which is hereby acknowledged. Sitting Bull and party do hereby agree to travel with the ‘Buffalo Bill Wild West Show’ in consideration of the above named renumerations, for their services rendered during the exhibitions of the aforesaid Show, and under continuous control of said management for summer season of four months (1885) and if extended to be at same terms. John M. Burke does also agree to pay all expenses of the party from Standing Rock to the show, and to pay all expenses of the party from the show to Standing Rock at expiration of this contract. P.S. Sitting Bull is to have sole right to sell his own Photographs and Autographs. The document has been signed twice by Burke, is witnessed by Indian Agents and military officers and bears Sitting Bull’s large, halting signature.

1886 November 11 - Standing Rock was erected

The ceremony was held for the unveiling of the Standing Rock. Fire Cloud of the Fire Heart Band was selected to do the ceremonies.

1889 - The Sioux Bill

The allotment provision was a special provision for the Dakota and Lakota. It was the goal of the Federal government to allot 160-320 acres farmsteads to each Indian family, then open the reservation to non-Indian settlements dissolving the Indian landbase and ending the reservation system. The government believed the surest way to bring about assimilation of the Indian people was to make them self-sufficient farmers. Indidividual land ownership would break up tribalism in which the land was used in common. The wisdom of the day was that Indian people would suddenly drop their values, teachings, languages, and cultural practices if they moved onto individual plots of land.

1887 - homesteading

1887

The Standing Rock Indian Reservation was opened to homesteading

1890 - Black Hills Council

The Lakota began to organize Black Hills Council on their reservations for the purpose of seeking the return of the sacred Black Hills.

1890, December 15 - Death Of Sitting Bull

December 15, 1890 – Sitting Bull killed. The Indian police made the arrest before dawn on the 15th of December 1890. Sitting Bull initially agreed to accompany the police. His followers began to congregate and a fight started. In the ensuing melee Sitting Bull and seven of his followers were killed and three of his men were wounded. Six of the police were killed or died of their wounds, and one private of the police had to have his foot amputated. The Indian police thirty-four in number drove Sitting Bull’s followers numbering one hundred and fifty, from the camp and fortified themselves in the cabins until the troops arrived. The followers of Sitting Bull fled to Cheyenne Agency.

1890 - Account of Sitting Bull's Death

An Account of Sitting Bull's Death by James McLaughlin Indian Agent at Standing Rock Reservation (1891) OFFICE OF INDIAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION, . 1305 ARCH STREET, PHILADELPHIA Jan. 19th, 1891. The following graphic and,reliable account of the death of Sitting Bull and of the circumstances attending it will be read with interest by many readers. It was written by Major James McLaughlin, who for many years has occupied the post of Indian Agent at Standing Rock, Dakota, and was sent to us by my request. Agent McLaughlin is a good example of what an Indian Agent should be&emdash;experienced, faithful and courageous. The report which he has so kindly sent us is worthy of especial attention at this time. It proves that while there are bad Indians there are also good ones. The unostentatious courage and fidelity of the Indian police, who did not hesitate to sacrifice their lives in the service of a Government not of their own race, is worthy of remembrance. HERBERT WELSH, Cor. Sec'y I. R. A. UNITED STATES INDIAN SERVICE, STANDING ROCK AGENCY, NORTH DAKOTA, Jan. 12th, 1891. My Dear Mr. Welsh. Your letter of the 16th ultimo was duly received, and should have been answered earlier, but I have not had a moment to spare since its receipt. The newspaper reports regarding the arrest and death of Sitting Bull have nearly all been ridiculously absurd, and the following is a statement of the facts: I was advised by a telegram from the Indian Office, dated Nov. 14th, I890, that the President had directed the Secretary of War to assume a military responsibility for the suppression of any threatened outbreak among the Sioux Indians, and on December 1st, 1890, another telegram instructed me that as to all operations intended to suppress any outbreak by force, to "co-operate with and obey the orders of the military officers commanding on the reservation." This order made me subject to the military authorities, and to whom I regularly reported the nature of the " Messiah Craze " and the temper of the Indians of the reservation. As stated in my letter to you, dated November 25th last, the Messiah doctrine had taken a firm hold upon Sitting Bull and his followers, and that faction strove in every way to engraft it in the other settlements; but by close watching and activity of the police we prevented it from getting a start in any of the settlements outside of the upper Grand River, which districts were largely composed of Sitting Bull's old followers, over whom he always exerted a baneful influence, and in this craze they fell easy victims to his subtlety, and believed blindly in the absurdities he preached of the Indian millennium. He promised them the return of their dead ancestors and restoration of their old Indian life, together with the removal of the white race; that the white man's gunpowder could not throw a bullet with suflicient force in future to injure true believers; and even if Indians should be killed while obeying this call of the Messiah, they would only be the sooner united with their dead relatives, who were now all upon the earth (having returned from the clouds), as the living and dead would be reunited in the flesh next spring. You will readily understand what a dangerous doctrine this was to get hold of a superstitious and semi-civilized people, and how the more cunning "medicine men" could impose upon the credulity of the average uncivilized Indian. This was the status of the Messiah craze here on November 16th, when I made a trip to Sitting Bull's camp, which is forty miles south-west of Agency, to try and get Sitting Bull to see the evils that a continuation of the Ghost dance would lead to, and the misery that it would bring to his people. I remained over night in the settlement and visited him early next morning before they commenced the dance, and had a long and apparently satisfactory talk with him, and made some impression upon a number of his followers who were listeners, but I failed in getting him to come into the Agency, where I hoped to convince him by long argument. Through chiefs Gall, Flying-By and Gray Eagle, I succeeded in getting a few to quit the dance, but the more we got to leave it the more aggressive Sitting Bull became so that the peaceable and well-disposed Indians were obliged to leave the settlement and could not pass through it without being subjected to insult and threats.The "Ghost Dancers" had given up industrial pursuits and abandoned their houses, and all moved into camp in the immediate neighborhood of Sitting Bull's house, where they consumed their whole time in the dance and the purification vapor baths preparing for same, except on every second Saturday, when they came to the Agency for their bi-weekly rations. Sitting Bull did not come into the Agency for rations after October 25th, but sent members of his family, and kept a bodyguard when he remained behind while the greater portion of his people were away from the camp; this he did to guard against surprise in case an attempt to arrest him was made. He frequently boasted to Indians, who reported the same to me, that he was not afraid to die and wanted to fight, but I considered that mere idle talk and always believed that when the time for his arrest came and the police appeared in force in his camp, with men at their head whom he knew to be determined, that he would quietly accept the arrest and accompany them to the Agency, but the result of the arrest proved the contrary. Since the Sioux Commission of 1889 (the Foster, Crook and Warner Commission) Sitting Bull has behaved very badly, growing more aggressive steadily, and the Messiah doctrine, which united so many Indians in common cause, was just what he needed to assert himself as "high priest," and thus regain prestige and former popularity among the Sioux by posing as the leader of disaffection. He being in open rebellion against constituted authority, was defying the Government, and encouraging disaffection, made it necessary that he be arrested and removed from the reservation, and arrangements were perfected for his arrest on December 6th, and everything seemed favorable for its accomplishment without trouble or bloodshed at that time; but the question arose as to whether I had authority to make the arrest or not, being subject to the military, to settle which I telegraphed to the Commissioner of Indian Aflairs on December 4th, and on the 5th received a reply which directed me to make no arrests whatever, except under orders of the military, or upon an order from the Secretary of the Interior. My reason for desiring to make the arrest on December 6th, was that it could be done then with the greater assurance of success and without alarming the Indians to any great extent, as the major portion of them would have been in for rations at the Agency, forty miles distant from where the arrest would have been made, and I also foresaw, from the movements of the military, that the order for his arrest would soon be issued, and that another ration day (two weeks more) would have to elapse before it could be so easily accomplished. On December 12th the following telegram was received by the Post Commander of Fort Yates, who furnished me with a copy: Headquarters, Department of Dakota St. Paul, Minn. December 12th, 1890 To Commanding Officer, Fort Yates, North Dakota:-- The Division commander has directed that you make it your especial duty to secure the person of Sitting Bull. Call on Indian Agent to cooperate and render such assistance as will best promote the purpose in view. Acknowledge receipt, and if not perfectly clear, report back. By command of General Ruger. (Signed) M. BARBER, Assistant Adjutant General" Upon receipt of the foregoing telegram the Post Commander sent for me, and held a consultation as to the best means to effect the desired arrest. It was contrary to my judgment to attempt the arrest at any time other than upon one of the bi-weekly ration days when there would be but a few Indians in Sitting Bull's neighborhood, thus lessening the chances of opposition or excitement of his followers. The Post Commander saw the wisdom of my reasoning, and consented to defer the arrest until Saturday morning, December 20th, with the distinct understanding, however, that the Indian police keep Sitting Bull and his followers under strict surveillance to prevent their leaving the reservation, and report promptly any suspicious movements among them. Everything was arranged for the arrest to be made on December 20th; but on December 14th, at 4 P.M., a policeman arrived at the Agency from Grand River, who brought me a letter from Lieutenant of Police Henry Bull Head, the officer in charge of the force on Grand River, stating that Sitting Bull was making preparations to leave the reservation; that he had fitted his horses for a long and hard ride, and that if he got the start of them, he being well mounted, the police would be unable to overtake him, and he, therefore, wanted permission to make the arrest at once. I had just finished reading Lieut. Bull Head's letter, and commenced questioning the courier who brought it, when Col. Drum, the Post Commander, came into my office to ascertain if I had received any news from Grand River. I handed him the letter which I had just received, and after reading it, he said that the arrest could not be deferred longer, but must be made without further delay; and immediate action was then decided upon, the plan being for the police to make the arrest at break of day the following morning, and two troops of the 8th Cavalry to leave the post at midnight, with orders to proceed on the road to Grand River until they met the police with their prisoner, whom they were to escort back to the post; they would thus be within supporting distance of the police, if necessary, and prevent any attempted rescue of Sitting Bull by his followers. I desired to have the police make the arrest, fully believing that they could do so without bloodshed, while, in the crazed condition of the Ghost Dancers, the military could not; furthermore, the police accomplishing the arrest would have a salutary effect upon all the Indians, and allay much of the then existing uneasiness among the whites. I, therefore, sent a courier to Lieut. Bull Head, advising him of the disposition to be made of the cavalry command which was to cooperate with him, and directed him to make the arrest at daylight the following morning. Acting under these orders, a force of thirty-nine policemen and four volunteers (one of whom was Sitting Bull's brother-in-law, "Gray Eagle") entered the camp at daybreak on December 16th, proceeding direct to Sitting Bull's house, which ten of them entered, and Lieut. Bull Head announced to him the object of their mission. Sitting Bull accepted his arrest quietly at first, and commenced dressing for the journey to the Agency, during which ceremony (which consumed considerable time) his son, "Crow Foot," who was in the house, commenced berating his father for accepting the arrest and consenting to go with the police; whereupon he (Sitting Bull) got stubborn and refused to accompany them. By this time he was fully dressed, and the policemen took him out of the house; but, upon getting outside, they found themselves completely surrounded by Sitting Bull's followers, all armed and excited. The policemen reasoned with the crowd, gradually forcing them back, thus increasing the open circle considerably; but Sitting Bull kept calling upon his followers to rescue him from the police; that if the two principal men, "Bull Head" and "Shave Head," were killed the others would run away, and he finally called out for them to commence the attack, whereupon "Catch the Bear" and "Strike the Kettle," two of Sitting Bull's men, dashed through the crowd and fired. Lieut. "Bull Head" was standing on one side of Sitting Bull and 1st Sergt. "Shave Head" on the other, with 2d Sergt. "Red Tomahawk" behind, to prevent his escaping; "Catch the Bear's " shot struck Bull Head in the right side, and he instantly wheeled and shot Sitting Bull, hitting him in the left side, between the tenth and eleventh ribs, and "Strike the Kettle's" shot having passed through Shave Head's abdomen, all three fell together. "Catch the Bear," who fired the first shot, was immediately shot down by private of police "Lone Man," and the fight then became general&emdash;in fact, a hand-to-hand conflict &emdash;forty-three policemen and volunteers against about one hundred and fifiy crazed Ghost Dancers. The fight lasted about half an hour, but all the casualties, except that of Special Policeman John Armstrong, occurred in the first few minutes. The police soon drove the Indians from around the adjacent buildings, and then charged and drove them into the adjoining woods, about forty rods distant, and it was in this charge that John Armstrong was killed by an Indian secreted in a clump of brush. During the fight women attacked the police with knives and clubs, but in every instance they simply disarmed them and placed them under guard in the houses near by until the troops arrived, after which they were given their freedom. Had the women and children been brought into the Agency there would have been no stampede of the Grand River people; but the men, realizing the enormity of the offence they had committed by attacking the police, as soon as their families joined them, fled up Grand River, and then turned south to the Morian and Cheyenne Rivers. The conduct of the Indian police upon that occasion cannot be too highly commended. The following is an extract of the official report of E. G. Fechet, Captain 8th Cavalry, who commanded the detachment of troops sent to Grand River:-- "I cannot too strongly commend the splendid courage and ability which characterised the conduct of the Indian police commanded by Bull Head and Shave Head throughout the encounter. The attempt to arrest Sitting Bull was so managed as to place the responsibility for the fight that ensued upon Sitting Bull's band, which began the firing. Red Tomahawk assumed command of the police after both Bull Head and Shave Head had been wounded, and it was he who, under circumstances requiring personal courage to the highest degree, assisted Hawk Man to escape with a message to the troops. After the fight, no demoralization seemed to exist among them, and they were ready and willing to cooperate with the troops to any extent desired." The following is a list of the killed and wounded casualties of the fight: Henry Bull Head, First Lieutenant of Police, died 82 hour after the fight. Charles Shave Head, First Sergeant of Police, died 25 hours after the fight. James Little Eagle, Fourth Sergeant of Police, killed in the fight. Paul Afraid-of-Soldiers, Private of Police, killed in the fight. John Armstrong, Special Police, killed in the fight. David Hawkman, Special Police, killed in the fight. Alexander Middle, Private of Police, wounded, recovering. Sitting Bull, killed, 56 years of age. Crow Foot (Sitting Bull's son), killed, 17 years of age. Black Bird, killed, 43 years of age. Catch the Bear, killed, 44 years of age. Spotted Horn Bull, killed, 56 years of age. Brave Thunder, No. 1, killed, 46 years of age. Little Assiniboine, killed, 44 years of age. Chase Wounded, killed, 24 years of age. Bull Ghost, wounded, entirely recovered. Brave Thunder, No. 2, wounded, recovering rapidly. Strike the Kettle, wounded, now at Fort Sully, a prisoner. This conflict, which cost so many lives, is much to be regretted, yet the good resulting therefrom can scarcely be overestimated, as it has effectually eradicated all seeds of disaffection sown by the Messiah Craze among the Indians of this Agency, and has also demonstrated to the people of the country the fidelity and loyalty of the Indian police in maintaining law and order on the reservation . Everything is now quiet at this Agency, and good feeling prevails among the Indians, newspaper reports to the contrary notwithstanding. No Indians have left this Agency since the stampede of December 15th, following the conflict with the police, and no others will. There were three hundred and seventy-two men, women and children left at that time, of whom about one hundred and twenty are males over sixteen years of age, and of whom two hundred and twenty-seven are now prisoners at Fort Sully, and seventy-two are reported to have been captured at Pine Ridge Agency some time ago. With kind regards, I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, James McLaughlin, Indian Agent Mr. Herbert Welsh Philadelphia, Pa. [TEXT: James McLaughlin, Account of the Death of Sitting Bull and of the Circumstances Attending It (Philadelphia, 1891)]

1890 - Indian Boarding schools and Day schools started

1890's Indian Boarding and Day Schools
Primary goal of "killing the Indian" within education for many Lakota children

1890, December 29 - Massacre at Wounded Knee

December 29, Massacre at Wounded Knee. The Big Foot’s band along with people from Sitting Bull's band fled south in hopes of reaching Red Cloud band for safety. They were intercepted and surrendered peaceably, however the following morning when efforts were made to disarm them a fight started. The troops opened fire on men, women and children. The troop ran down people and killed them from newborn babies and children to old men.
This was the Wounded Knee Massacre were 300 men, women and children were massacred.