The life of Red Tomahawk, Sitting Bull’s assassin, unfolded against a backdrop of profound and turbulent change for the Lakota-Dakota people. Born into a world steeped in tradition and ancestral ways, he navigated the complex currents of a rapidly shifting landscape, ultimately choosing a path that placed him at the center of a tragic and controversial historical event. His story is not simply one of violence, but of adaptation, duty, and the painful collision of cultures in the late 19th century American West. Red Tomahawk’s name is forever linked to the death of a prominent Lakota Chief, Sitting Bull.
To understand Red Tomahawk, one must first appreciate the context of his time. The Lakota and Dakota nations, once masters of the Great Plains, found themselves increasingly encroached upon by the relentless westward expansion of the United States. Treaties were broken, traditional hunting grounds diminished, and the buffalo, the very lifeblood of their culture, were systematically decimated. Faced with starvation, displacement, and the erosion of their way of life, many Lakota and Dakota people resisted, leading to a series of bloody conflicts with the U.S. Army.
However, resistance was not the only path. As the power of the traditional warrior societies waned, some Native Americans saw a different way forward: adaptation and integration, albeit on the terms dictated by the dominant culture. For some, this meant accepting government rations, sending their children to boarding schools designed to assimilate them, and even joining the ranks of the Indian Police, a force composed of Native Americans tasked with maintaining order on the reservations under the supervision of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (B.I.A.).
This was the path chosen by Red Tomahawk. His decision to become a B.I.A. police officer was undoubtedly fraught with internal conflict. It meant abandoning the traditional role of the warrior, potentially alienating him from those who continued to resist, and enforcing the very laws that oppressed his people. Yet, it also offered a means of survival, a steady income, and perhaps, a way to protect his community from within the system.
The precise details of Red Tomahawk’s early life remain somewhat obscure. Historical records from this period are often incomplete or biased, reflecting the perspective of the dominant culture rather than the experiences of the Native American people. What is known is that he was a member of the Lakota people, and that he eventually found himself employed as a police officer on the Standing Rock Reservation, a sprawling territory encompassing parts of present-day North and South Dakota.
The Standing Rock Reservation became a focal point of tension in the late 1880s, fueled by the rise of the Ghost Dance movement. This spiritual revival, founded by the Paiute shaman Wovoka, promised a return to the old ways, the disappearance of the white man, and the resurrection of the buffalo. The Ghost Dance spread rapidly among the Lakota, offering hope and solace in a time of despair.
However, the U.S. government viewed the Ghost Dance with suspicion and alarm. They feared that it would incite further resistance and undermine their authority on the reservations. Agents on the reservations, often poorly informed and deeply prejudiced, interpreted the Ghost Dance as a prelude to war. They called for military intervention to suppress the movement and arrest its leaders.
Sitting Bull, the renowned Hunkpapa Lakota chief and spiritual leader, became a particular target of government suspicion. Although he did not actively participate in the Ghost Dance, he allowed his followers to practice it on the Standing Rock Reservation. The authorities saw him as a dangerous influence, a symbol of defiance who needed to be neutralized.
In December 1890, the B.I.A. agent at Standing Rock, fearing an uprising, ordered the arrest of Sitting Bull. A group of Indian police officers, including Red Tomahawk, were dispatched to Sitting Bull’s cabin to carry out the order. What transpired next is a matter of historical debate, shrouded in conflicting accounts and enduring controversy.
The official version of events claims that the police officers arrived peacefully at Sitting Bull’s cabin and attempted to take him into custody. However, a crowd of Sitting Bull’s followers gathered, and a confrontation ensued. In the ensuing chaos, one of Sitting Bull’s supporters fired a shot at the police officers. In the return fire, Sitting Bull was killed.
However, many Lakota people dispute this account. They believe that the police officers, acting on orders from the B.I.A. agent, deliberately assassinated Sitting Bull. They point to inconsistencies in the official reports and the fact that Sitting Bull was shot in the back of the head, suggesting that he was not facing his attackers.
Regardless of the precise circumstances, the death of Sitting Bull sent shockwaves through the Lakota community and across the nation. It extinguished one of the last symbols of Native American resistance and paved the way for the tragic events that would unfold at Wounded Knee just two weeks later.
Red Tomahawk, Sitting Bull’s assassin, became a figure of intense controversy. To the U.S. government and some white settlers, he was a loyal officer who had bravely carried out his duty. To many Lakota people, he was a traitor who had betrayed his own people and murdered a respected leader. He was forever branded as the man who killed Sitting Bull.
The burden of this act must have weighed heavily on Red Tomahawk. He lived the rest of his life under a cloud of suspicion and resentment. While he continued to serve as a police officer, he was never fully accepted by either the white community or his own people.
Red Tomahawk’s story is a complex and tragic one. It is a story of a man caught between two worlds, forced to make difficult choices in a time of immense upheaval. It is a reminder of the devastating impact of westward expansion on Native American communities and the enduring legacy of injustice and trauma that continues to resonate today.
The legacy of Red Tomahawk remains a point of contention. Some view him as a symbol of collaboration and betrayal, while others see him as a victim of circumstance, a man who did what he believed was necessary to survive in a rapidly changing world. Regardless of one’s perspective, his story serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities and ambiguities of the American West and the enduring struggle for justice and reconciliation. He will always be remembered for his involvment in the death of Sitting Bull.
Understanding the role of Red Tomahawk requires examining the broader historical context of the late 19th century, including the government’s policies of assimilation, the rise of the Ghost Dance movement, and the escalating tensions on the reservations. It also demands a critical assessment of the available historical sources, acknowledging the biases and perspectives that shape our understanding of the past.
Red Tomahawk’s actions were undoubtedly shaped by the prevailing power dynamics of the time. As a member of the Indian Police, he was subject to the authority of the B.I.A. agent and the U.S. government. Disobeying orders could have resulted in severe consequences, including the loss of his job and potential imprisonment. However, it is also important to recognize that Red Tomahawk had agency in his decision-making. He chose to become a police officer, and he chose to participate in the arrest of Sitting Bull.
Ultimately, the story of Red Tomahawk, Sitting Bull’s assassin, is a reminder that history is rarely simple or straightforward. It is a tapestry woven from conflicting narratives, competing interests, and the complex choices of individuals caught in extraordinary circumstances. By grappling with these complexities, we can gain a deeper understanding of the past and its enduring impact on the present. The life of Red Tomahawk is a testament to the difficult choices made during a painful period in history.