Sitting Bull was born around 1831 near Grand River, Dakota Territory. He was the son of Returns-Again, a renowned Sioux warrior.
Sitting Bull's original name was Jumping Badger, but he was renamed Tatanka Yotanka, or Sitting Bull, after he distinguished himself in battle at the age of 14.
Sitting Bull became a leader of the Hunkpapa Lakota tribe in the 1860s.
He led his people in many battles against the U.S. Army, including the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876.
Also Read: Famous Native Americans in American History
After the Battle of Little Bighorn, Sitting Bull and his followers fled to Canada. They returned to the U.S. in 1881 and were placed on the Standing Rock Reservation.
Sitting Bull performed in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show for a short time in 1885. He was a star attraction alongside Annie Oakley.
During his time at the show, Sitting Bull was introduced to President Grover Cleveland, who he thought proved his importance as chief. He was friends with Buffalo Bill and highly valued the horse that was given to him when he left the show.
Sitting Bull and Annie Oakley met in 1884 while they were both performing in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. They became friends, and Sitting Bull reportedly adopted Oakley as his daughter.
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Oakley was impressed by Sitting Bull's wisdom and his knowledge of Native American culture. Sitting Bull was impressed by Oakley's marksmanship and her determination.
In 1889, Sitting Bull joined the Ghost Dance movement, a religious movement that promised to restore the Native American way of life.
The U.S. government feared that the Ghost Dance movement would lead to violence, so they sent Indian police to arrest Sitting Bull.
On December 15, 1890, Sitting Bull was shot and killed during a struggle with the police. His death was a major blow to the Lakota people and to the Native American resistance movement.
Annie Oakley was deeply saddened by his death, and she wrote about him in her autobiography. She said that Sitting Bull was "a great man" and that she "learned a great deal from him."
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Family Overview
There is little known about Sitting Bull's parents. It may be assumed that his father was a Lakota leader, but his mother's name is unknown.
Polygamy was normal in many Native American tribes. Sitting Bull had many wives, which led to many children. This did not occur in every tribe or in every marriage, but it did occur in Sitting Bull's marriages.
Each of his children died young, with one dying alongside him. Despite their short lives, they had children that produced many descendants.
He had one wife that outlived all of his family and lived into the 1920s.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
Returns-Again (1799 - 1859) - He was the father of the infamous Sitting Bull. There is little known of him, but he was most likely a Lakota Tribe leader.
Unknown
Spouse:
Light Hair (unknown) - Little is known of her.
Four-Robes-Woman (unknown) - Little is known of her.
Snow-on-Her (unknown) - There is little known of her except a reference to her as the mother of one of his older daughters.
Seen-By-Her-Nation (1846 - 1897) - She had at least one son, but possibly three total children with Sitting Bull.
Four-Blanket-Woman (1847 - 1929) - Another wife of the Chief who also gave him children. She outlived many of his children, other wives, and him.
Children:
Her-Many-Horses (1863 - 1886) - She lived a short life and had two children.
Win-Walks-Looking-Woman (1868 - 1887) - Another daughter who did not live a long life. She was the wife of Andrew Running Fox, mother of Chase-near.
Crow Foot (1873 - 1890) - First son of Sitting Bull and known as his favorite. Crow Foot was killed along with his father on December 15, 1890, by a group of Indian agents. His murder was cowardly.
Lodge-in-Sight (1875 - 1900) - She was the third daughter of the chief. She also died young but had one child.
William Sitting Bull (1878 - 1909) - He was born around 1878 to Sitting Bull and Four-Robes-Woman. His native name was Nakicipa, which means "Runs-Away-From-Him." He was a twin, but his brother, Left-Arrow-In-Him, died in childhood. He was born in either southern Manitoba, Canada, or northeastern Montana, United States. His exact birthplace is unknown.
Left-Arrow-In-Him (1878) - died in infancy.
Siblings: None/Uknown