Part 1.7 – Resistance and Warrior Legacy

A Nation That Would Not Yield

From the moment the United States broke its treaty obligations, the Oglala Lakota and their allies made a conscious decision: they would not disappear. What followed was one of the most remarkable periods of Indigenous resistance in North American history. The Lakota did not go quietly—they fought with courage, honor, and determination, led by legendary warriors whose names would echo for generations.

The era of armed resistance, from the 1850s through the 1890s, was a defining chapter in the history of the Oglala and the greater Lakota Nation. This was a time of warfare, but also of spiritual leadership, community solidarity, and the preservation of sovereignty.

The Great Sioux War of 1876–77

The spark that ignited the most famous phase of Lakota resistance was the U.S. government’s violation of the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, particularly the invasion of the Black Hills following the gold rush of the 1870s. As tensions escalated, the U.S. military launched campaigns to force the Lakota and Cheyenne onto reservations.

In response, many bands took to the plains under the leadership of legendary figures:

• Sitting Bull (Tatanka Iyotake): A spiritual leader and Hunkpapa Lakota chief who led ceremonial resistance and inspired unity across bands.
• Crazy Horse (Tȟašúŋke Witkó): A fearless Oglala war leader who refused to sign treaties and led his people in open defiance.

The Battle of the Little Bighorn

On June 25, 1876, in what is now southeastern Montana, the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho decisively defeated Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer’s 7th Cavalry. This historic victory, known as the Battle of the Little Bighorn (or the Battle of Greasy Grass), shocked the U.S. government and elevated Lakota resistance to international attention.

Despite their success, the Lakota knew the retaliation would be brutal. The U.S. responded with overwhelming military force, launching a relentless winter campaign. Many bands surrendered by 1877 due to starvation and exposure. Crazy Horse was captured and later killed under suspicious circumstances.

The Flight of Sitting Bull

Refusing to submit, Sitting Bull led his followers north to Canada, seeking sanctuary among the Cree. He remained in exile for nearly five years. When he returned in 1881, it was with the understanding that he could live in peace.

He remained a spiritual leader and advocate for his people. In 1890, as tensions rose around the Ghost Dance movement, Sitting Bull was arrested and killed by Indian police at Standing Rock—an act that further deepened the wounds of the Lakota Nation.

The Ghost Dance and Wounded Knee

By the late 1880s, hope was rekindled through a spiritual revival known as the Ghost Dance. This pan-Indigenous movement preached that the buffalo would return, white oppression would end, and the world would be renewed.

The U.S. government viewed the Ghost Dance as a threat. In December 1890, soldiers surrounded a group of Lakota at Wounded Knee Creek. During a disarmament attempt, gunfire erupted. The U.S. Army massacred over 250 Lakota men, women, and children in what became one of the darkest moments in American history.

The Wounded Knee Massacre did not end the Lakota spirit—but it marked the end of formal armed resistance.

The Warrior Legacy Lives On

The resistance era forged a warrior identity that endures in the hearts of Oglala Lakota people. Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, Gall, and Red Cloud are not just historical figures—they are family, ancestors, and guides.

• Veterans who defend the nation and honor Lakota warrior codes
• Youth who stand up for land, water, and language rights
• Artists, educators, and leaders who resist assimilation through cultural revitalization

Modern movements like the 1973 American Indian Movement’s occupation of Wounded Knee, the #NoDAPL protests at Standing Rock, and ongoing sovereignty battles all reflect this warrior lineage.

Conclusion: We Are Still Here

The Lakota Nation’s resistance to colonization is a story of heartbreak and heroism, but it is also a story of victory. We did not vanish. We survived.

Through every treaty violation, military campaign, and cultural assault, the Oglala Lakota have upheld our sovereignty, our spiritual traditions, and our sacred obligation to future generations.

We are not a people of the past. We are a nation of warriors. And we are still here.

External Resources

• National Park Service – Little Bighorn Battlefield
• PBS – Warriors of the West
• History.com – Wounded Knee Massacre

Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ – We are all related.