The Life of Sitting Bull

The life of Tatanka Yotanka better known as Sitting Bull and the tragic events that led to his death will be discussed in this paper. Yotanka led a carefree life as a young boy with the Sioux tribe. He received early recognition from his tribe as a warrior and man of vision. During his youth he joined in the usual tribal raids for horses against traditional enemies such as the Crow and Assiniboin. This paper will explain the history behind Sitting Bull and how he grew into a warrior, a chief and how his life was tragically put to an end.

Yotanka was born in 1831 in the Grand River region of present-day South Dakota. Tatanka’s father did not at first name him Sitting Bull but rather Jumping Badger, which would be replaced with something more suitable at the appropriate time in his growth. “No one called the boy Jumping Badger, however, for his willful and deliberate ways earned him the nickname Hunkesni, or Slow.” Slow never hurried and did everything with care and therefore the name Slow was an appropriate name. While still a small child Slow learned to use a small boy’s bow hunting birds, rabbits, and other small animals. As he grew into a young man, he desired to prove himself to his people. At the young age of 10, he demonstrated both skill and courage when he killed his first buffalo. When Slow was 14, he was considered very young to join a war party. However, slow was very anxious for a chance to prove himself. The chance arrived when the rest of the party waited for the enemy to approach nearer, Slow quickly charged towards an enemy on his pony. The other tribe members changed their strategy and followed his lead. The enemy warriors were so shocked at the boldness of the attack that they began to retreat.

At the age of 15, Sitting Bull displayed great courage in a fight with the Flatheads in 1847. He galloped past their skirmish line, laughing and taunting them. In spite of the shower of arrows and the hail of Flathead bullets directed against him, Sitting Bull sustained only a minor foot wound. This display convinced all that not only was this young man courageous; his medicine was powerful as well.