In South Dakota 1831, a boy was born into the Hunkpapa people who were part of the Lakota Sioux Tribe. His name was Jumping Badger, but would soon be known as Sitting Bull. His father was chief of the tribe.

When he was ten, Sitting Bull killed his first buffalo. It was a very honorable moment for him and it showed that he had wisdom and bravery. It was a moment that earned him lots of respect. 

At fourteen, Sitting Bull joined a raid on a Crow camp. Because of his bravery, his father changed his name to Tatanka Yotanka, which means Sitting Bull. 

Hello, my name is Sitting Bull!

He continued being successful and helping his tribe. He helped ensure the tribes well-being, expanded their hunting grounds, and became a great warrior and leader. Things were going well for Sitting Bull, but it wouldn’t stay that way forever. 

In 1874, gold was found in South Dakota. Some of it was in the area owned by Sitting Bull’s tribe. White settlers began invading their territory and threatening the tribe to leave so they could get the gold.

But Sitting Bull was not going to stand by and let these people take their land. He joined other tribes who were being invaded and fought the settlers. This started the Great Sioux Wars against the United States army. 

During the battles, Sitting Bull was a religious leader who kept the tribe’s women and children safe. But after numerous battles, the US began doubling their efforts and decreasing the buffalo population which the tribe needed for food. 

Soon the tribe were struggling to survive and Sitting Bull decided to make a deal with the US army. He said he would surrender himself if they let his tribe return home. The US accepted and he was taken prisoner.

He was prisoner for two years then moved to a reservation where he could travel. During one of those trips, he met Annie Oakley, a sharpshooter, and became friends with her. He even nicknamed her “Little Sure Shot.”

With Annie Oakley, Sitting Bull started acting in a show called Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show, a show that starred a man named Buffalo Bill Cody telling the adventurous stories of his life. 

Sitting Bull specifically performed in the opening act but was part of the show for only about four months. In 1885, when he was 54 years old, he left the show and returned to his reservation.