Sitting Bull (Tatanka-Iyotanka)
Played by August Schellenberg
1831- 1890
Sitting Bull was a Lakota Chief and was highly respected among his people. He participated in many battles, against other tribes and the U.S. government alike. August Schellenberg was a good choice for the role: he played it convincingly and looks like Sitting Bull enough for the purposes of the movie. The main conflict between Sitting Bull and the US government expressed in the film is his refusal to settle on the reservation--a restriction with a deadline of January 31, 1876. This decree was in violation of the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 that left the Black Hills, sacred to the Lakota and other tribes, in Dakota territory. The reason for the violation: gold.[7] Slowly, other chiefs were forced to surrender and move onto reservations, but Sitting Bull refused and fled to Canada. In the film, Sitting Bull is required to remain at peace with the Crow, a long-time enemy, and does so until some of his people create conflict between the two tribes by stealing some horses, at which point he becomes very angry. Eventually, everyone travels back to Dakota to surrender because they cannot find enough food. |
When he surrenders his gun, he says, "I wish it to be remembered that I was the last man of my tribe to surrender my rifle." [7] The movie does show this. What the movie does not express however, is that Sitting Bull was shuttled around from reservation to reservation before spending some time with Buffalo Bill's Wild West [7] making money for just showing himself, having his picture taken, and for giving autographs. After this, he settled at Standing Rock, defiantly resisting giving up his old ways but letting his child go to Christian school.
His demise comes at the end. December 15, 1890, he is shot by a policeman in a fight that occurs due to his followers resisting his arrest. His arrest was ordered because the people in charge worried that he may join the Ghost Dancers--people dancing and chanting for the downfall of the white people.[7]
His demise comes at the end. December 15, 1890, he is shot by a policeman in a fight that occurs due to his followers resisting his arrest. His arrest was ordered because the people in charge worried that he may join the Ghost Dancers--people dancing and chanting for the downfall of the white people.[7]