The Sioux Nation, a powerful and influential group of Native American tribes, boasts a rich and complex history that spans centuries. Traditionally, this history was preserved and passed down through generations via oral tradition. Tribal historians, elders, and skilled storytellers meticulously recounted significant events, ensuring the continuity of their cultural heritage. This oral tradition was supplemented by a unique form of record-keeping: winter counts, also known as story robes. These were painted hides meticulously marked with pictographs, each representing a noteworthy event of a particular year. These visually stunning chronicles served as invaluable aids in remembering and recounting the tribe’s collective experience.
The foundation of the Great Sioux Nation lies in the "Oceti Sakowin," which translates to "Seven Council Fires." This term refers to the seven allied bands that comprised the nation, each distinguished by its dialect. The Santee spoke Dakota, the Yankton communicated in Nakota, and the Teton used Lakota. Remarkably, many Sioux people continue to speak their ancestral languages today. Among the older generation, these languages may be their first language, while younger members often learn them as a second language, with English being their primary mode of communication.
Origins and Early History
The genesis of the Sioux Nation is shrouded in both historical accounts and captivating origin stories. Lakota creation narratives place the nation’s birth within the sacred Black Hills of South Dakota. According to tribal oral tradition, the Sioux people once dwelled within the earth, residing in an underground realm. They emerged onto the surface world through Wind Cave, a significant landmark in the Black Hills.
However, historians offer a different perspective. They suggest that the Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota peoples migrated to the region from the woodlands of present-day Minnesota. This migration theory posits a gradual westward movement, driven by various factors such as resource availability and intertribal dynamics.
Rise to Power and the Buffalo Culture
By the late 18th century, the Sioux Nation had reached the zenith of its power, dominating the northern Plains. Their way of life was intricately linked to the buffalo, a majestic animal that roamed the vast grasslands in abundance. The Sioux tribes followed the migratory patterns of the buffalo herds, relying on them for sustenance, clothing, and shelter. The buffalo provided meat for food, hides for clothing and tepees, and bones for tools. Due to its crucial role in their survival, the buffalo was considered sacred, a symbol of life and prosperity.
Treaty of Fort Laramie and the Black Hills Dispute
A turning point in the history of the Sioux Nation came with the signing of the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868. This treaty established the Great Sioux Reservation, a vast territory stretching from the Missouri River to the Wyoming-Dakota border. The treaty promised the Sioux Nation ownership of this land and guaranteed their right to self-governance within its boundaries.
However, the discovery of gold in the Black Hills in 1874 shattered this fragile peace. The Black Hills held profound spiritual significance for the Sioux people, as they believed it was the place where they emerged onto the Earth’s surface. The U.S. government, driven by the allure of gold and the desire to expand westward, attempted to persuade the Native Americans to sell the Black Hills.
When these efforts proved futile, the government issued an ultimatum: all Indians living outside the designated reservations were ordered to return by January 31, 1876, or face forced relocation. This order was met with resistance from various Sioux bands, including those led by the renowned war leaders Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull.
The Battle of Little Bighorn
The government’s attempt to enforce its ultimatum led to a series of conflicts, culminating in the infamous Battle of Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876. Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and his 7th Cavalry regiment attacked a large encampment of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors near the Little Bighorn River in southeastern Montana, close to the present-day Crow Reservation. The Native American forces, vastly outnumbering Custer’s command, decisively defeated the U.S. Army. Custer and all his men were killed in the battle, a stunning victory for the Sioux and a major blow to the U.S. government’s efforts to control the Plains.
The Ghost Dance and the Wounded Knee Massacre
In the late 1880s, a new religious movement known as the Ghost Dance swept across the Plains Indian tribes, including the Sioux Nation. This spiritual revival offered hope to the people, promising a return of the buffalo, the disappearance of white settlers, and the resurrection of deceased ancestors. The dancers believed that through ritualistic dancing and prayer, they could restore their traditional way of life and usher in an era of peace and prosperity.
However, the Ghost Dance alarmed government officials and settlers, who misinterpreted it as a prelude to war. On December 29, 1890, as the 7th Cavalry was disarming Big Foot’s band of Lakota Sioux at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota, a shot rang out. This single gunshot triggered a horrific massacre. The U.S. soldiers opened fire on the Lakota people, killing nearly 300 men, women, and children. The Wounded Knee Massacre stands as a tragic symbol of the U.S. government’s brutal treatment of Native Americans and marks the end of major armed conflict between the U.S. Army and the Sioux Nation.
The Sioux Nation Today
Despite the hardships and injustices they have faced, the Sioux people have persevered. Today, there are nine federally recognized Sioux tribal governments within the state of South Dakota, six with established reservation boundaries and three without. These include the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and Yankton Sioux Tribe. In addition to these, there are Sioux tribes located in Minnesota, as well as two branches in Canada.
Timeline of Key Events
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1600 | The Dakota (Sioux) Nation primarily inhabits the area now known as Minnesota. |
| 1659 | Pierre-Esprit Radisson and Médard Chouart Des Groseillers are the first white men to contact the Sioux in Wisconsin. |
| 1679 | Daniel Greysolon, sieur du Luth claims the area around Mille Lacs Lake for France after reaching a large Sioux village. |
| 1743 | Sons of explorer La Vérendrye encounter the Sioux while reaching the Rockies. |
| 1743-1749 | Acquisition of horses and guns transforms the lives of Plains Indians, including the Sioux. |
| 1762 | Britain gains control of Minnesota east of the Mississippi River after defeating France. |
| 1763 | King George III issues a proclamation banning colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. |
| 1771 | The first major smallpox outbreak decimates the Sioux population. |
| 1775 | Standing Buffalo and his Teton Sioux band reach the Black Hills. |
| 1775-1783 | The Northwest Ordinance declares "utmost good faith" towards Indians in the U.S. territory. |
| 1787 | Congress passes the Northwest Ordinance, protecting Indian land rights. |
| 1787 | Congress assumes power to regulate commerce with Indian tribes under the U.S. Constitution. |
| 1789-1850 | The U.S. government acquires 450 million acres of Indian land through treaties. |
| 1803 | Tribes of the Louisiana Purchase Territory come under U.S. jurisdiction. |
| 1826 | Treaty of 1826 with the Assiniboine tribe. |
| 1837 | Second major smallpox outbreak devastates the Sioux. |
| 1834 | Congress reserves most of the trans-Mississippi West for exclusive Indian use. |
| 1842 | The first wagons cross Sioux country on the Oregon Trail. |
| 1851 | Fort Laramie Treaty recognizes Sioux ownership of 60 million acres of land. |
| 1851 | Treaty with Assiniboines, Blackfeet, Gros Ventres, and Crows for a hunting area. |
| 1852 | Treaty of Fort Laramie Amended. |
| 1853-1857 | The United States acquires 157 million more acres of Indian land through treaties, most of which are violated. |
| 1855 | Treaty with the Blackfeet Nation. |
| 1855 | Fort Stewart is built on the Missouri River. |
| 1857 | Sitting Bull kills the "Hohe" family. |
| 1860 | Fort Kipp is built on the Missouri River. |
| 1860 | The Mining Boom brings a large non-Indian population to Montana. |
| 1861 | Fort Poplar is built on the Missouri River. |
| 1862 | Congress passes the Pacific Railway Act and the Homestead Act. |
| 1862 | Sioux wars begin with the Santee uprising in Minnesota. |
| 1865 | The United States negotiates a treaty with "friendly" Sioux bands. |
| 1866 | Indian lands are confiscated for railroad construction. |
| 1866 | Red Cloud declares war, leading to the annihilation of Colonel Fetterman and his troops. |
| 1867-1868 | The Indian Peace Commission negotiates final treaties with Indians. |
| 1868 | Fort Buford military reserve is established from Assiniboine land. |
| 1868 | The Fort Laramie Treaty establishes the Great Sioux Reservation. |
| 1868 | End of the Treaty Making Period. |
| 1869 | Sitting Bull captures a mail carrier. |
| 1868-1869 | A Sub-Agency is built to furnish rations to various tribes. |
| 1870 | The Baker Massacre occurs. |
| 1870 | Grant’s Peace Policy is implemented. |
| 1871 | Fort Peck Agency is established. |
| 1871 | The U.S. no longer recognizes Sioux tribes as autonomous groups. |
| 1872 | The United States aids the Fort Peck Agency. |
| 1872 | The Grand Peace Council is held at Fort Peck. |
| 1873 | The Fort Peck Agency opens at the confluence of the Milk and Missouri Rivers. |
| 1874 | A reservation is set aside for Blackfeet, Assiniboine, Gros Ventre, and Sioux tribes. |
| 1875 | L.A. Fitch is sent to Fort Peck to educate Indians. |
| 1875 | An order is issued for Indians to return to the reservation. |
| 1876-1877 | The Sioux Campaign with Sitting Bull takes place. |
| 1876 | The Battle of the Little Big Horn occurs. |
| 1877 | The Fort Peck Agency is moved to Poplar River. |
| 1877 | Sitting Bull flees into Canada. |
| 1879 | Presbyterians secure permission for a mission on the reservation. |
| 1880 | Indians are compelled to settle on the reservation. |
| 1880 | The 11th Infantry is established at Poplar Creek. |
| 1880 | A military post is established north of Poplar. |
| 1880 | A Presbyterian Mission is established at Fort Peck. |
| 1881 | Chief Gall surrenders. |
| 1881 | The First Indian Tribe is Allowed to Sue the Gov’t. |
| 1881 | Sitting Bull surrenders at Fort Buford. |
| 1883 | Rev. George Wood establishes a church in Wolf Point. |
| 1883 | Sun Dance and other Sioux customs are forbidden. |
| 1883 | Buffalo are exterminated in Northeastern Montana. |
| 1883 | Starvation occurs on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. |
| 1885 | A proposal is made to divide the reservation. |
| 1885 | Northwest Rebellion in Sask., Canada. |
| 1886 | An order is issued prohibiting Sundances. |
| 1886 | A new contract is authorized for the reservation. |
| 1886 | The Fort Peck agreement is signed, establishing the reservation’s confines. |
| 1887 | Congress passes the Dawes General Allotment Act. |
| 1887 | A treaty is signed giving the United States 17,500,000 acres of land. |
| 1887 | Railroads are built through the Reservation. |
| 1887 | A teacher moves into Wolf Point. |
| 1888 | Congress passes the act fixing the boundaries of the three reservations. |
| 1888 | The Act of Congress establishes the Fort Peck Reservation. |
| 1889 | Rations of beef to Indians on the reservation are cut. |
| 1889 | The Sioux Act reduces reservations to their present size. |
| 1889 | Montana achieves statehood. |
| 1889 | Ghost Dance Religion. |
| 1889 | Wounded Knee Massacre. |
| 1893 | The Army abandons Camp Poplar River. |
| 1895 | Capt. Wm. Sprole suggests a canal from the Missouri River. |
| 1896 | Government aid to Indian Missions is discontinued. |
| 1897 | Catholics establish a mission at Fort Peck. |
| 1902 | Makaicu Presbyterian church is established. |
| 1904 | Manisda Presbyterian church is established. |
| 1905 | Canipa Presbyterian church is organized. |
| 1908 | The Allotment Act for land on Fort Peck is passed. |
| 1908 | Congress contemplates irrigation projects for the Fort Peck Reservation. |
| 1909 | The Yankton and Assiniboine Council elects a Business Committee. |
| 1912 | Good Voice Hawk’s Winter Count is interpreted. |
| 1913 | Surplus lands on the reservation are opened for homestead entry. |
| 1924 | Indians are Granted U.S. Citizenship. |
| 1926 | Indians receive checks for $100 each. |
| 1927 | Fort Peck Tribes Constitution. |
| 1927 | A large encampment of Indians is at Chicken Hill for the Fourth of July. |
| 1928 | Docket J-31 in U.S. Court of Claims. |
| 1930 | Senate Joint Resolution No. 167. |
| 1930 | Docket J-31 Amended. |
| 1931 | Irrigation Activities: The Little Porcupine unit has 2400 acres. |
| 1933 | Docket J-31 Dismissed U.S.C.C. |
| 1933 | Submarginal Lands Act. |
| 1934 | U.S. Supreme Court Refusal. |
| 1934 | The Indian Reorganization Act authorizes self-government for all tribes. |
| 1946 | The Indian Claims Commission is Established. |
| 1948 | United Nations Convention on the Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. |
| 1950 | Docket 62 in Indian Claims Commission. |
| 1952 | Docket 62 Dismissed I.C.C. |
| 1954 | Appeal Docket I-53 Dismissed U.S.C.C. |
| 1954 | U.S. Supreme Court Refusal. |
| 1960 | Fort Peck Tribes Constitution & By-laws Revised. |
| 1967 | Indian Policy Statement on Policy and Legislation. |
| 1972 | Congress passes the Indian Education Act of 1972. |
| 1978 | Indian Claims Commission Dissolved. |
| 1979 | Assiniboine Claims Council Reformed. |
| 1979 | Hearnings on S. 1796. |
| 1980 | Act of Congress. |
| 1981 | Docket 10-80-L Filed U.S.C.C. |
| 1981 | U.S.C.C. Judgement. |
This timeline offers a glimpse into the long and often tumultuous history of the Sioux Nation. From their origins and rise to power on the Great Plains to their struggles with the U.S. government and their ongoing efforts to preserve their culture and sovereignty, the Sioux people have demonstrated remarkable resilience and strength. Their story is a vital part of American history, and their contributions to the cultural landscape continue to be significant.