Book Review: The Sioux: People of the Great Plains

The Sioux: People of the Great Plains: American Indian Nations by Anne M. Todd, Consultant Lydia Whirlwind Soldier, Bridgestone Books, imprint of Capstone Press, Mankato, Minnesota, 2003.

A good review of the Sioux, Oceti Sakowan people--the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota.  Buffalo hunting was central to their way of life.  Initially relations were good between the Sioux and the White settlers.  However when Oregon opened up the came in greater numbers, and then even greater with the gold rush.  The settlers were scaring the buffalo away and using all the grass.  The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 lead to many Indians living on reservations with the government promising supplies to the Indians.  The supplies were usually late, or of poor quality.  Im 1862 the Dakota broke out in war against the settlers and 700 settlers were killed.  The government executed 38 Dakota warriors in December of 1862 in Mankato, Minnesota.  

The Bozeman trail opened in 1866.  The Laramie treaty of 1868 promised the Lakota that South Dakota would remain Indian land.  However when George Armstrong Custer and others began exploring the area looking for gold, the Lakota were not happy.  Th government offered to buy the Black Hills.  The Sioux refused.  This lead to the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1871.  As a result of the defeat of Custer much pressure was put on the Sioux to all go to reservations.  Economic and war pressure lead to this result.  Crazy Horse was killed after he surrendered.  

The Ghost Dance lead to a Sioux revival of sorts.  The government outlawed the dance.  This leaded to the massacre of Wounded Knee and the death of Sitting Bull.