Sitting Bull

Led Native American resistance against U.S. encroachment and preserved Lakota sovereignty

Sitting Bull (1831–1890), a Hunkpapa Lakota leader, became a symbol of Indigenous resistance during the Great Sioux War of 1876. His visionary leadership at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876 led to the defeat of Lieutenant Colonel George Custer's 7th Cavalry, a pivotal moment in Native American history.

Beyond warfare, Sitting Bull advocated for cultural preservation, rejecting assimilation policies. After surrendering in 1881, he joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West show to educate audiences about Lakota traditions. His refusal to cede tribal lands during the Ghost Dance movement led to his assassination in 1890, sparking the Wounded Knee Massacre.

Films like Sitting Bull: A Stone in My Heart (2006) and books such as The Lance and the Shield by Robert Utley document his enduring influence. Sitting Bull's legacy as a spiritual and political leader remains central to Indigenous rights movements.