The History of the Oglala: The Scattering of One’s Own

This blog delves into the rich and fascinating history of the Oglala, one of the prominent subtribes of the Lakota people. We will also discuss Oglala’s cultural heritage, significant contributions, and enduring importance within the broader Lakota nation.

We need to learn about the history of Native American Indians. Today, we are fortunate that there are various sources to know about them, such as reading native American historical fiction. An excellent example of that is Greg Bruorton’s “Red Hand’s Prize.” The book is a riveting historical novel about the American frontier’s rugged setting. While it may be fiction, books like Bruorton’s can encourage today’s readers to learn more about them, such as the history of the Oglala and their pivotal role in shaping the identity of Native American communities. In this blog, we will illuminate the Oglala’s traditions, struggles, and resilience as we learn about their history and wider impact.

The History of the Oglala: A Tale of Victory and Tragedy

In Lakota language, Oglala means “to scatter one’s own.” The Oglala Lakota Nation is one of the seven subtribes of the Lakota people. The Lakota, also known as Teton Sioux, are Native American people. They currently occupy lands located in North Dakota and South Dakota. The Oglala live in the Pine Ridge Reservation. The Oglala Lakota trace their roots to the larger Lakota group, which, according to oral traditions and linguistic evidence, originated in the Great Lakes region before migrating westward onto the Great Plains.

The story of the Oglala is an amalgamation of victory and tragedy. The tribe has survived culturally despite the persistence of colonialism, settler expansion, and government policies that are not favorable to them. What they have gone through results in a story of resistance, dispersion, and the ongoing struggle for cultural survival. To understand their past better, we will look into the key periods of their history starting with their early days before European contact.

Photo by: Brett Wharton

The Early Life of the Oglala

The Oglala were primarily nomadic but had settled around the Black Hills by the 17th century. This place is considered a sacred region that remains central to their identity and spirituality. In order to survive, they follow the vast herds of bison across the plains. The beasts provided them with food, clothing, and materials for their everyday life.

The Oglala society was organized into bands. Each band has a chief or a council of elders who serve as their leaders.  They also have warriors who embody their bravery, skill in battle, and the protection of their families and territory. The Oglala’s social structure was built around kinship and communal decision-making. In the 18th century, the Spanish settlers introduced horses, which improved the Oglala’s hunting and warfare practices. However, it also challenged the Oglala way of life.

The Warriors and Leaders of Oglala in the 19th Century

The Oglala became one of the Lakota’s most potent and influential bands in the early 19th century. Their success against the U.S. military and rival tribes can be attributed to their strategic use of horses on the battlefield. Leaders like Red Cloud, Crazy Horse, and Sitting Bull emerged as symbols of resistance against U.S. encroachment. The Fort Laramie Treaty was signed in 1851, recognizing Lakota’s control over much of the region. However, the treaty would soon be broken as gold was discovered in the Black Hills, and settlers rushed to claim the land.

The U.S. Government Policies and The Breaking of the Oglala

The 1870s and 1880s were a period of devastating change for the Oglala. The U.S. government turned to policies such as forced relocation, the establishment of reservations, and the implementation of the Dawes Act (1887) to divide the Oglala. In 1890, the massacre at Wounded Knee happened. Over 150 Lakota men, women, and children died. As a result, many tribes, including the Oglala, moved to reservations.

The Wounded Knee forced the Oglalas to adopt new ways of life. Their once-thriving nomadic lifestyle of the Oglala was replaced with turned into a sedentary existence. It led them to struggle to maintain their cultural identity.

Photo by: Andrew James

The Oglala in the 20th Century and Beyond

In the mid-20th century, the Oglala began to reclaim and revitalize their cultural practices. Activism was represented by the American Indian Movement (AIM) in the 1960s and 1970s. Many leaders like Russell Manes also exist to help draw national attention to the struggles of the Oglala people, including issues of poverty, education, and the preservation of their sovereignty.

The history of the Oglala Lakota is a story of remarkable resilience. The Oglala have endured centuries of hardship from their early days as brave hunters and warriors on the Great Plains to their displacement and scattering. Despite the challenges that they have encountered, the Oglala remain a significant force in the cultural, social, and political life of Native Americans.

Their efforts to preserve their language, culture, and rights are a powerful example for Indigenous communities worldwide in the ongoing struggle for self-determination, justice, and cultural survival. This is more relevant than ever in today’s ever-changing world.

Be inspired by the courage of Native American Indians with Greg Bruorton’s “Red Hand’s Prize.” The book is now available in leading bookstores. You may also check “Baby Jane,” another gripping work of Mr. Bruorton set in a military backdrop. The book follows the story of Sergeant CRAIG DONNELLY, a paratrooper in the esteemed 82nd Airborne Division, who discovers an abandoned infant, barely hours old, on the fringe of Fort Bragg’s Sicily Drop Zone. You can purchase “Baby Jane” on Amazon, ReadersMagnet Bookstore, and Barnes & Noble.