One of the Native American tribes that experienced the hardships of trying to live peacefully with the new settlers was a tribe called the Sioux. The Sioux Nation has its own history that is still felt throughout their people today.
Geography
In the United States, the Sioux Indians currently live in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska on reservations. In Canada, the Sioux reservations are located in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Time Frame
The first recorded encounter was in 1640 by French explorers who discovered the Sioux living near the headwaters of the Mississippi River. By 1685 the Sioux territory was claimed by the French, pushing the Sioux down the Mississippi and away from the the buffalo plains, which were also claimed by the French.
Size
In 1640, there were 20,000 people in the Sioux nation. Even though they faced many hardships such as harsh weather, constantly searching for a new home and raids from the settlers, today the Sioux nation has 150,000 people in their tribe.
Identification
The Sioux Nation has had many different names throughout the years. Their proper name is Nadowessioux, from where we get the word, "Sioux." Those that were living between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi were called the Winnebagoes. The Assiniboines lived in the North, the Minetaree in Minnesota, and the rest lived between Arkansas and the Platte rivers.
History
As stated above, the first French explorers discovered a people group called the Sioux in 1640. By 1685, the French had formally taken over the land, causing the Sioux to be split into seven eastern and nine western tribes. However, during the wars with the French, the Sioux were pushed down the Mississippi and took possession of that land.
In the War of 1812, the Sioux Nation took sides with the British, doing whatever they could to get rid of the American settlers. We all know the Americans won that war, and by 1837, the Sioux succeeded to the American government their lands east of the Mississippi. In 1851 they sold 35 million acres to the government for $3,000,000, but the government neglected their part of the deal which caused hostilities to grow among the Sioux.
In 1862, the Sioux became enraged because the government failed to meet their part of the bargain, and about 1,000 settlers were killed during a Sioux uprising. After being subdued, 1,000 Sioux were arrested and thirty-nine were hanged.
The treaties made between the American government and the Sioux were violated on both sides, but one treaty allowed the Sioux to live in the Black Hills, until gold was discovered, and the government induced the Indians to leave the area again.
In the spring of 1876, due to the uprisings of the Sioux, a military force was sent against them, and in June of the same year, the Battle of Little Big Horn occurred where General Custer and his men were all killed, and this battle is considered one of the most significant victories in their history.
Congress had promised a certain amount of money to give to the Sioux Nation for supplies, but by accident, the money had been cut. After a famine hit the tribe, a war broke out, killing people on both sides. On January 21, 1891, a delegation of Sioux chiefs met with the Secretary of the Interior, and after four days, an agreement was made and misunderstandings were corrected. By 1899, there was a total of 27,215 Sioux divided into nineteen bands, mostly located in South Dakota.
Tags: Sioux Nation, Sioux were, American government, both sides, called Sioux, claimed French
