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Sitting Bull was born in 1831 in a tipi located near the Grand River passing through Standing Rock Indian Reservation in Dakota Territory.
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Sitting Bull father was killed by Crow warriors while moving his village.
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Several bands of the Sioux killed 600 settlers and soldiers in south-central Minnesota in response to poor treatment by the government and in an effort to drive the whites away.
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In 1864, two brigades of about 200 soldiers under Brigadier General Alfred Sully attacked a village. The defenders were led by sitting bull, Gall, and Inkpaduta. The Sioux were driven out, but battle continued into August.
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Sitting Bull led numerous war parties aganist Fort Berthold, Fort Stevenson, and Fort Buford and their environs from 1865 through 1868.
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The United States and the Oglala Miniconjou, and the Brule bands of Lakota people, Yanktonai Dakota, and Arapaho Nation signed a "peace treaty". The treaty guaranteed the Lakota ownership of the Black Hills, and futher land and hunting rights in South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. The Powder River Country was to be henceforth closed to all whites.
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Despite the Treaty of Fort Lamaire, Lt.Col. George Armstrong Custer led a military expedition from Fort Abranham Lincoln, near Bismarck, to explore the black hills for gold and to determine a good location for a military fort in the hills. Custers's annoucement of gold in the Black Hills triggered the Black Hills Gold Rush. Tensions increased between the Sioux and European Americans' seeking to move into the Black Hills.
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In 1875 the Northern Cheyenne, Hunkpapa, Oglala, Sans Arc, and Minneconjou camped together for a Sun Dance or cermony. It was here that Sitting Bull had a vision of him defeating the white men in a major battle. His prediction would soon be realized...
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On June 25, 1876, Custer’s 7th Cavalry advance party of General Alfred Howe Terry’s column attacked Cheyenne and Lakota tribes at their camp on the Little Big Horn River. The Cheyenne and Lakota fought back and quicky outnumbered custer's troops. The tribes led a couter-attaked aganist the soldiers on a nearby ridge and defeated the U.S troops, including Lt.Col. George Armstrong Custer.
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Over the year, the U.s Military increased their pressure on the Lakota and forced many to surrender. Sitting Bull refused to surrender and in May 1877 led his band across the border into Saskatchewan, Canada. He remained in exile for many years near Wood Mountain. Hunger and cold eventually forced Sitting Bull, his family, and nearly 200 other Sioux in his band to return to the United States and surrender on July 19, 1881. And eventually allowed to returned to the Standing Rock Agency in 1883.
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In 1884, Sitting Bull was allowed to leave the reservation to join Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West show as a Show Indian. He earned about $50 a week for riding once around the arena, where he was a popular attraction. Sitting Bull stayed with the show for only four months before returning home. During that time, he had become something of a celebrity and a romanticized warrior.
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After working as a performer, Sitting Bull returned to the Standing Rock Agency in South Dakota. Because of fears that he would use his influence to support the Ghost Dance movement, Indian Service agent James McLaughlin at Fort Yates ordered his arrest. Around 5:30 a.m. on December 15, 39 police officers and four volunteers approached Sitting Bull's house. However, Sitting Bull refused to comply with orders and a fight broke out. Police officer, Red Tomahawk, shot and killed Sittng Bull.
