The final resting place of Tatanka Iyotake, more famously known as Sitting Bull, remains a subject of historical debate and local pride, intertwined with a narrative of cultural significance and territorial dispute. While a monument stands in his honor high on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River near Mobridge, in north-central South Dakota, the question of whether his remains truly lie beneath it is a complex one, steeped in history, conflicting accounts, and the enduring legacy of a prominent Lakota leader. This article delves into the known facts, the persistent controversies, and the ongoing efforts to properly honor Sitting Bull’s memory.
The current marker, a bust of Sitting Bull atop a granite pillar, serves as a focal point for remembrance. However, as of eighteen years ago, the memorial was showing signs of neglect. Reports indicated that the bust’s nose was chipped, possibly from vandalism or souvenir hunting, and the inscription "Tatanka Iyotake, Sitting Bull, 1831-1890" on the pillar was similarly damaged. The concrete base of the monument was often marred by broken beer bottles and scattered trash, a disheartening sight for a site of such historical importance.
This state of disrepair prompted action. In April of the year of the original article, two South Dakota men, Bryan Defender of McLaughlin and Rhett Albers of Mobridge, purchased the 40-acre property on which the monument stands. Their motivation stemmed from a desire to restore dignity to the site and ensure its preservation for future generations. The purchase was made from James Heupel of Oregon, whose father, Dan Heupel, played a key role in the events that led to the monument’s creation.
The story of how Sitting Bull’s remains came to be in South Dakota is central to the ongoing debate. According to James Heupel, his father was part of a group that traveled to Fort Yates, North Dakota, in 1953. Their mission: to retrieve Sitting Bull’s remains from their original burial site and rebury them on land that Dan Heupel owned within the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, across the Missouri River from Mobridge. This act was allegedly done at the request of Sitting Bull’s descendants, who sought a more fitting and secure final resting place for their ancestor.
Sitting Bull’s life was one of resistance and resilience. He rose to prominence in the 1870s as a leader of the Lakota Sioux, spearheading resistance against the encroaching U.S. Army. His leadership culminated in the iconic 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn, a decisive victory for the Native American tribes. Following the battle, Sitting Bull and a segment of his followers sought refuge in Canada, remaining there for five years before returning to the United States and surrendering. He was later killed in 1890 on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation during an attempted arrest by Indian police, a tragic end to a life dedicated to defending his people’s way of life. This makes the question of where is Sitting Bull buried? an important matter to consider.
The 1953 exhumation and reburial sparked a controversy that has persisted for decades, a dispute primarily between North Dakota and South Dakota. The irony of this situation is not lost on observers, given Sitting Bull’s own rejection of the European concept of land ownership. South Dakotans, particularly those involved in the 1953 reburial, assert that the expedition successfully retrieved all of Sitting Bull’s remains and reinterred them near Mobridge. North Dakotans, on the other hand, maintain that the group either missed some of the bones or retrieved the wrong remains altogether, and that Sitting Bull’s true burial site remains in Fort Yates.
Bernie Webb of Gettysburg, former president of the South Dakota Historical Society, firmly supported the South Dakota claim. He stated that the 1953 expedition was meticulous in its efforts, retrieving all of Sitting Bull’s bones. According to Webb, the remains were placed in an expensive casket and reburied on the bluff overlooking the Missouri River, encased in approximately 20 tons of concrete to ensure their security.
However, Tracy Potter of the Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation in North Dakota presented a contrasting view. He stated that the "semiofficial" position of North Dakota is that Sitting Bull’s remains still lie in Fort Yates. Potter described the South Dakota effort as an attempted "bone stealing" that ultimately failed, with the expedition retrieving the wrong bones.
A crucial piece of evidence in this debate comes from Robb DeWall’s book, "The Saga of Sitting Bull’s Bones," considered the definitive source on the reburial. DeWall’s research suggests that the Heupel group was indeed thorough in sifting through the soil at the original grave site, meticulously collecting the bones. Furthermore, a subsequent attempt to locate any remains that might have been missed proved unsuccessful, lending credence to the South Dakota claim.
Rhett Albers, one of the new owners of the monument site, cited DeWall’s book as a key factor in his belief that Sitting Bull’s remains are indeed located beneath the monument. Regardless of the ongoing debate, Albers emphasized that Sitting Bull deserves to be honored, and that the current state of the memorial was unacceptable. This leads back to the central question: where is Sitting Bull buried?
Albers and Defender’s purchase of the site, for $20,000 according to the Corson County assessor, represents a commitment to preserving Sitting Bull’s legacy. Albers had been interested in improving the site since moving to Mobridge thirteen years prior, and he and Defender had been planning the purchase for about three years. Their immediate plans included providing 24-hour security and cleaning up the area, aiming to restore a sense of dignity and respect to the site by summer.
Their long-term vision extends beyond simple maintenance. Albers and Defender hope to develop a visitor or cultural center, potentially in collaboration with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the owner of the adjacent memorial to Sakakawea, the Shoshone woman who guided the Lewis and Clark expedition. They also envisioned a possible partnership with the Crazy Horse Memorial near Custer, South Dakota. Notably, Korczak Ziolkowski, the sculptor who began the Crazy Horse Memorial, carved the bust of Sitting Bull from a piece of granite blasted from the Crazy Horse site, creating a tangible link between the two iconic figures.
Albers expressed a desire to work with all interested parties to create something positive, protect the site, and preserve its serenity. The story of where is Sitting Bull buried? is about more than just the location of bones; it’s about honoring a legacy.
In conclusion, while the debate over the precise location of Sitting Bull’s remains continues, the monument near Mobridge, South Dakota, serves as a powerful symbol of his enduring legacy. The efforts of individuals like Bryan Defender and Rhett Albers to restore and preserve the site represent a commitment to honoring Sitting Bull’s memory, regardless of where his bones may ultimately lie. The ongoing discussions and potential future developments surrounding the site promise to keep Sitting Bull’s story alive and relevant for generations to come.