Spotted Elk (
Lakota
Lakota may refer to:
* Lakota people, a confederation of seven related Native American tribes
*Lakota language, the language of the Lakota peoples
Place names
In the United States:
* Lakota, Iowa
* Lakota, North Dakota, seat of Nelson County
* La ...
: Uŋpȟáŋ Glešká, sometimes spelled ''OH-PONG-GE-LE-SKAH'' or ''Hupah Glešká'': 1826
approx – ), was a
chief of the
Miniconjou, Lakota Sioux. He was a son of
Miniconjou chief Lone Horn and became a chief upon his father's death. He was a highly renowned chief with skills in war and negotiations. A
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
soldier, at
Fort Bennett, coined the nickname (Si Tȟáŋka) – not to be confused with (also known as ''Ste Si Tȟáŋka'' and ''Chetan keah'').
[Michno, 303]
In 1890, he was killed by the U.S. Army at
Creek, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation ''Wazí Aháŋhaŋ Oyáŋke''), South Dakota, USA with at least 150 members of his tribe, in what became known as the
Wounded Knee Massacre.
Early life
Spotted Elk (
Lakota
Lakota may refer to:
* Lakota people, a confederation of seven related Native American tribes
*Lakota language, the language of the Lakota peoples
Place names
In the United States:
* Lakota, Iowa
* Lakota, North Dakota, seat of Nelson County
* La ...
: Uŋpȟáŋ Glešká) was born about 1826, the son of
Lakota Sioux chief Lone Horn (''Heh-won-ge-chat''). His family belonged to the Miniconjou ("Planters by the River") subgroup of the Teton Lakota (Sioux). In 1877, Spotted Elk became the chief of his tribe upon his father's death at the age of 87.
Chief Spotted Elk
Skillful diplomat
As chief, Spotted Elk (who later became known by the name of 'Big Foot' or ''Sitȟáŋka''), was considered a great man of peace. He was best known among his people for his political and
diplomatic successes. He was skilled at settling mass quarrels and was often in great demand among other Teton bands.
Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse alliance
During the 1870s, Spotted Elk and his brother
Touch the Clouds
Touch the Clouds ( Lakota: Maȟpíya Ičáȟtagya or Maȟpíya Íyapat'o) (c. 1838 – September 5, 1905) was a chief of the '' Minneconjou'' Teton Lakota (also known as Sioux) known for his bravery and skill in battle, physical strength and ...
(
Lakota
Lakota may refer to:
* Lakota people, a confederation of seven related Native American tribes
*Lakota language, the language of the Lakota peoples
Place names
In the United States:
* Lakota, Iowa
* Lakota, North Dakota, seat of Nelson County
* La ...
:''Maȟpíya Ičáȟtagya'') allied their bands against the US Army, together with
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull ( lkt, Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake ; December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota leader who led his people during years of resistance against United States government policies. He was killed by Indian agency police on the Standing Rock I ...
(
Lakota
Lakota may refer to:
* Lakota people, a confederation of seven related Native American tribes
*Lakota language, the language of the Lakota peoples
Place names
In the United States:
* Lakota, Iowa
* Lakota, North Dakota, seat of Nelson County
* La ...
: ''Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake'') and
Crazy Horse (
Lakota
Lakota may refer to:
* Lakota people, a confederation of seven related Native American tribes
*Lakota language, the language of the Lakota peoples
Place names
In the United States:
* Lakota, Iowa
* Lakota, North Dakota, seat of Nelson County
* La ...
:''Tȟašúŋke Witkó'') . Spotted Elk saw no major action during the
Great Sioux War of 1876-77
The Great Sioux War of 1876, also known as the Black Hills War, was a series of battles and negotiations that occurred in 1876 and 1877 in an alliance of Lakota Sioux and Northern Cheyenne against the United States. The cause of the war was the ...
. However, his tribe – the
Miniconjou, Lakota Sioux – suffered during the war, after which they surrendered.
Reservation placement
Following the
Sioux Wars
The Sioux Wars were a series of conflicts between the United States and various subgroups of the Sioux people which occurred in the later half of the 19th century. The earliest conflict came in 1854 when a fight broke out at Fort Laramie in Wyo ...
, the government placed the Miniconjou on the
Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, South Dakota. Spotted Elk encouraged adaptation to reservation life, by way of developing
sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture is farming in sustainable ways meeting society's present food and textile needs, without compromising the ability for current or future generations to meet their needs. It can be based on an understanding of ecosystem ser ...
and building schools for Lakota children. He was amongst the first
American Indians to raise
corn
Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn (North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. Th ...
in accordance with government standards. Spotted Elk also advocated a peaceful attitude toward white settlers.
Ghost Dance conversion and evangelism
New religious movement
Due to poor living conditions on the reservations, the Lakota struggled greatly to survive. In some cases, Indian agents were corrupt, undertaking fraud and stealing Lakota supplies/annuities. By 1889 they were in despair, and looked for change.
The radical solution came in the form of the ''
Ghost Dance'' movement, a new religion initiated by
Paiute prophet ''Wovoka''. Spotted Elk and the Lakota became among the most enthusiastic believers in the 'Ghost Dance' ceremony when it arrived among them, in the spring of 1890. Although governmental reservation rules outlawed the practice of the religion, the movement swept like a wildfire through the camps and local Indian agents reacted with alarm. Some agents successfully suppressed the dancers, while others called for federal troops to restore order.
Chief Red Cloud offers refuge
After , when
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull ( lkt, Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake ; December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota leader who led his people during years of resistance against United States government policies. He was killed by Indian agency police on the Standing Rock I ...
was killed on
Standing Rock Reservation, his followers fled for refuge at the camp of his former-ally and half-brother, Chief Spotted Elk. Fearing arrest and government reprisals against his band, Spotted Elk led his band south to the
Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, at the invitation of
Chief Red Cloud
Red Cloud ( lkt, Maȟpíya Lúta, italic=no) (born 1822 – December 10, 1909) was a leader of the Oglala Lakota from 1868 to 1909. He was one of the most capable Native American opponents whom the United States Army faced in the western ...
(
Lakota
Lakota may refer to:
* Lakota people, a confederation of seven related Native American tribes
*Lakota language, the language of the Lakota peoples
Place names
In the United States:
* Lakota, Iowa
* Lakota, North Dakota, seat of Nelson County
* La ...
: ''Maȟpíya Lúta''). Red Cloud hoped that his fellow chief could help make peace. Seeking safety, flying a white flag and with no intention of fighting, Spotted Elk contracted
pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...
on the journey to Pine Ridge.
Death at Wounded Knee Massacre
Peaceful surrender
On December 28, 1890,
Maj. Samuel M. Whitside's battalion of the
7th Cavalry intercepted the
Lakota
Lakota may refer to:
* Lakota people, a confederation of seven related Native American tribes
*Lakota language, the language of the Lakota peoples
Place names
In the United States:
* Lakota, Iowa
* Lakota, North Dakota, seat of Nelson County
* La ...
. Ill with pneumonia, Spotted Elk surrendered peacefully, with his band; the cavalry took them into custody, escorting them to a campsite near
Wounded Knee Creek, Pine Ridge, where they were to set camp. The site was already established with a store and several log houses.
Wounded Knee Massacre
The night before the massacre,
Col. James W. Forsyth arrived at Wounded Knee Creek and ordered his men to position four
Hotchkiss cannons around the area in which the Lakota had been forced to camp.
On the morning of December 29, 1890, Forsyth's soldiers entered the camp and demanded that the Lakota give up their weapons. In the ensuing confrontation, a firearm was discharged. It was later believed to have been by a deaf man, Black Coyote, who presumably did not hear the command to put down his rifle. A large gun fight quickly ensued. The US forces killed more than 250 Lakota, mostly non-combatants (women and children) and Spotted Elk was among those killed.
Notes
References
* Michno, Gregory
''Lakota Noon: The Indian Narrative of Custer's Defeat.''Missoula, MT:
Mountain Press Publishing Company
Mountain Press Publishing Company is an American book publishing company based in Missoula, Montana. It specializes in western U.S. history, natural history, and non-technical earth science, geology, and ecology.
The company began in 1948 ...
, 1997. .
External links
U-s-history.com Lakota Chief Big Foot
Lakota Chief Big Foot
Lakota Chief Big Foot and the Ghost Dance
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spotted Elk
1826 births
1890 deaths
1890 crimes in the United States
Native American people of the Indian Wars
Murdered Native American people
Big Foot (chief)
Lakota leaders
People murdered in South Dakota
Deaths by firearm in South Dakota
Miniconjou people
19th-century Native Americans