Native American Struggles “Let me be a freeman – free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to think and talk and act for myself – and I will obey every law or submit to the penalty.” - Chief Joseph - Nez Pierce Tribe

Native American Struggles

Following Buffalo

Most plains Indians lived a nomadic lifestyle following buffalo herds. Generally the plains people lived in small bands of 500 people. Religion consisted of spiritual power of natural world. Gender roles of the Indians- –Females – reared children, cooked, prepared hides –Males – hunted, traded, and supervised military life of band

Threats to the Buffalo Railroad companies hired hunters to kill buffalos to feed workers and to prevent buffalo herds from blocking trains. Buffalo hides were made into leather goods in the East Buffalo Bill got his name for killing over 4,000 buffalos in less than 18 months.

Conflict and Reservations Indians weren’t a problem until the white man wanted to settle the plains. The Indian Peace Commission was set up which suggested moving Indians to reservations. –Oklahoma was supposed to be an Indian territory for Indians moved from the Southeast –Dakota Territory was set up for the Sioux Indians.

Reservations The Bureau of Indians Affairs was in charge of Indians. The government promised the Indians land, food, and supplies. All the things the government provided the Indians were of very poor quality. Even so, some Indian tribes agreed to live on the reservations but some held out or left the reservations.

Conflicts on the Plains Chief Red Cloud of Minnesota led a rebellion that looted and burned white men’s homes. The Lakota Sioux fought to control their hunting ground. The Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho staged a series of battle from 1865 to 1867.

Conflict on the Plains Crazy Horse, a Sioux, set an ambush for soldiers stationed at fort on the Bozeman Trail which was used for miners. –This was known as the Fetterman Massacre.

Conflict on the Plains Cheyenne and Arapaho attacked miners in Colorado by raiding wagon trains and stealing cattle and horses from ranches. Indians continued to attack travelers, mining camps, and ranchers. Colorado’s governor ordered Indians to surrender – he said he would give them food and protection. Chief Black Kettle brought Cheyenne to negotiate a peace treaty – while they were camped out, the government led a surprise attack Indians retaliated with widespread uprisings.

Little Bighorn According to a government promise “no white person or persons shall be permitted to settle upon, occupy, or even pass through these hills”. Unfortunately, gold was rumored in the hills, so the government sent out Custer to see if the rumor was true. It was and prospectors came running.

Little Bighorn

The Indians protested and the government then tried to buy the hills from Sitting Bull. He said he would not sell the land. Crazy Horse, Sioux and Cheyenne gather at the Little Big Horn River and Gen. Custer was asked round ‘em up and put them on a reservation. Custer and all his men were destroyed. Victory was short-lived, by 1881, the Cheyenne and Lakota moved to a reservation and Sitting Bull left for Canada.

Apache Wars The Apaches did not like their reservation in Arizona. Geronimo fled to Mexico were he led raids against settlers in Arizona. He was the last Native American to formally surrender to the US.

A Changing Culture Some white believed that Indians should give up their way of life and join the “white culture”. The Dawes Act proposed the break-up of reservations and that Indians stop identifying themselves with tribal groups. Indians were asked to send their children to “white schools” and Indians were to be given plots on land to farm. These plots of land were usually barren. The Dawes Act forever changes Indian culture.

Wounded Knee The Sioux asked their prophet, Wovoka, how they could regain their greatness. He told them to do the Ghost Dance. The Ghost Dance was a way to express their culture. This ritual began to spread and upset reservation officials who banned the ritual.

Wounded Knee Officials went to arrest Sitting Bull, thinking he was the leader of the movement. Sitting Bull was shot while trying to arrest him. Indians then fled in fear from the reservation and gathered at a creek called Wounded Knee. The government went to collect the Indians weapons but a fight started instead. This was the final physical conflict between Indians and white man.