Big Foot
Leader of the Miniconjou band
" A mother was shot down with her infant; the child not knowing that its mother was dead was still nursing... The women as they were fleeing with their babies were killed together... and after most of them had been killed a cry was made that all those who were not killed or wounded should come forth and they would be safe. Little boys... came out of their places of refuge, and as soon as they came in sight a number of soldiers surrounded them and butchered them there " - ( Wounded Knee Massacre )
Who Was Big Foot? What was his life like?
Big Foot was born around the 1820s. He was the son of Lakota Sioux Chief Lorn Hone. People referred to him as "Spotted Elk" (Heȟáka Glešká) and "Big Foot" (Si Tȟaŋka). As the leader of the Miniconjou Lakota Sioux, he was a peaceful man and was successful for his diplomatic and political successes. He had three brothers who were to become leaders of the Miniconjou bands. Their names were Frog, Roman Nose, Touch the Clouds. The most important events in Big Foot’s life occurred in the 1890s. He did not support the Ghost-Dance Movement, even though he and his band attended. When he tried to bring his community to the reservation, troops captured them including Big Foot. Some tried to escape but soldiers recaptured them. In 1890, around the 28th of December, the troops began to harm the Native Americans. Approximately 200 people, women, men, children, and Big Foot were killed. This was called The Battle of the Wounded Knee Massacre.
Portrait of Big Foot
Famous portrait of Big Foot.
Painting of Big Foot
Painted by Michael Cassidy.
Big Foot's dead body
After the Wounded Knee Massacre, Big Foot's body lies dead.
Timeline
1820-1826? : Big Foot was born. 1870: Allies with Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. 1874: His father died. 1890: Big Foot headed South to the Pine Ridge Reservation. 1890: Becomes the leader of the Miniconjou Band massacred at Wounded Knee Creek. 1890: The troops of the Seventh Calvary, were caught with a Sioux band set by Big Foot. 1890: Big Foots band were at the Ghost-Dance ceremony. 1890: Did not support the Ghost- Dance Movement. 1890: Died after the Wounded Knee Massacre.
Works Cited
- Big Foot. New Perspectives on the West. 2001. Web. 4/27/12. <http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_s/bigfoot.htm>
- Morledge, Clarence Grant. Chief Big Foot Killed in the Battle at Wounded Knee with this full band by the Seventh. History of the American West. 1891. Web. 4/27/12. <http://memory.loc.gov/cg:-bin/query/D?hawp:1:./temp/~ammem-tjGP::>
- Biographies of Plains Indians: Big Foot. American Indian Relief Council. Web. 5/15/12. <http://www.nrcprograms.org/site.PageServer?pagename=airc_bio_bigfoot>
- ''Wakiya". Chief Big Foot/Spotted Elk. The Native American Taoist. Web. 5/15/12. <http://www.thenativeamericantaoist.com/2009/01/chief-big-foot-spotted-elk.html>