BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE – TIMELINE & CHARACTERS
IN CLASS HANDOUT… DO NOT TAKE HOME!!!
Timeline of Events
The United States of America has already claimed the lands that make up the contiguous
(attached) United States, the California Gold Rush is over, Native American tribes are living on
reservations, and American settlers are continuing to make their way west…
Sioux and Cheyenne Indians leave their reservations to protect their sacred lands in the Black
Hills (Montana) from white miners looking for gold (these lands were originally promised to the
Indians in a treaty). What would you do and how far would you go to protect your land?
Event 1: 1876 - Battle at Little Big Horn (Montana)
Lieutenant Colonel George Custer led ~260 U.S. soldiers against the Sioux and
Cheyenne forces… Custer’s entire force was defeated… sparking anger among
Americans
Event 2: 1876 – Henry Dawes Meets With Red Cloud & Other Sioux Leaders
Chief Red Cloud is made to sign a treaty (or perish). This treaty forces his people to
move to the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Event 3: 1877 – Colonel Miles Leads a Force of American Soldiers to “Meet” with Sitting Bull
After a brief battle Sitting Bull realizes he has no chance of winning and is forced to
retreat to Canada. Sitting Bull and his people are welcomed but must follow two rules…
o They cannot attack the United States while living in Canada
o They cannot attack/raid other tribes living in Canada
Event 4: 1881 – Life in Canada is Harsh for Sitting Bull
Hunger and cold eventually force Sitting Bull to return to the United States. The
Standing Rock (Lakota Tribe) Reservation in Dakota Territory is his destination.
Event 5: Charles Eastman Arrives in Pine Ridge Reservation
After reading letters from Elaine, Charles learns of the hardships and death on
reservations in Dakota Territory. He travels to Dakota Territory to help his people by
becoming their doctor.
Event 6: Paiute Indian Religious Leader (Wovoka) Gains A Following
Wovoka’s popularity soared as deaths due to illness continued on the reservations.
Christianity offered no solution so many Lakota Indians turned to Wovoka for answers
and hope. Whites became fearful of the message Wovoka preached.
