At the time of United States contact with the Sioux, the 'Sioux' was a loose confederation made up of the 'Seven Fireplaces': Teton, Yankton, Yanktonais, Mdewakanton, Wahpeton, Sisseton, and Wahpekute. It is the Teton division, whose dialect is Lakota, with whom I am concerned here. This article is particularly concerned with the Oglala group of Lakota Sioux, who now live on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.
By the nineteenth century, the political organisation of the Sioux was highly developed. Each Oglala belonged to a family, then a village or camp, then a band and ultimately the tribe or oyate in Lakota. For example, the Oglala, Hunkpapa, Brulé, Minneconjou, and so on were all sub-bands of the Lakota group, which in turn was a band of the Teton Sioux Nation. Each unit was politically discrete, that is, each unit, from camp to tribe, had its own governing body.
By the opening of the eighteenth century, the Oglala and Brulé bands of the Teton Sioux were hunting the 'buffalo plains', were wintering in wooded valleys, and each spring were travelling to the mouth of the Minnesota River to trade. During these trading fairs, the Mississippi or eastern Sioux brought the roaming western Sioux guns, ammunition, and European goods.
Early 19th century records find the Teton wintering on the eastern edge of the Black Hills, usually near the sacred mountain, Bear Butte. Written history perpetuates the view that the Sioux moved onto the Plains and into the Black Hills in the last 200 years, but Lakota oral history maintains the view that the Lakota emerged from an underworld in the heart of the Black Hills many thousands of years ago, and then radiated outwards to span the American continent. Sometimes, the annual Sun Dance was held near the Black Hills, at other times it was held on the Missouri River. Annually, all bands of the Sioux met for their grand council meeting, usually in the summer when the Sun Dance was taking place, and most frequently in the region of the Black Hills. Trading fairs took place up and down the Hills, attended by the Teton, Kiowa, Comanche, Prairie-Apache, Cheyenne, and Arapaho.
In 1803, the US took possession of the entire Plains region in its Louisiana Purchase. In 1825, the Oglala signed their first treaty with the United States, along with the Brulé, Yankton, and some Yanktonais. The main purpose of this treaty was stated in Article 1: "It is admitted by the Teton, Yancton and Yanctonies bands of Sioux Indians, that they reside within the territorial limits of the United States, acknowledge their supremacy, and claim their protection."
Trading companies were setting up posts all over the Black Hills/Missouri region. During the years 1805 and 1835, Oglala camps were situated in remote sections on the plains, but almost always within sight of the Black Hills, which were considered sacred land within which the Teton would not camp.
In 1834, under Bull Bear, the Oglala were persuaded by American fur traders to move from the Black Hills country, further west to the north or upper Platte region, claimed by the Cheyenne and Arapaho, in order to trap fur and trade it for other goods. The Oglala hunted buffalo near the forks of the Platte and then travelled up to Laramie to trade.
The Teton, especially the Brulé, began fighting the Pawnee, raiding their villages for goods and horses, and preventing them, eventually, to hunt near their ancient hunting grounds near the forks of the Platte.
© 2002 by Bornali HalderSite, Page and Article © Copyright 2002 by Bornali Halder