alb3798285

Spotted Elk, Lakota Sioux Indian Chief

Spotted Elk holding peace pipe, no photographer credited, undated. Spotted Elk (1826 - December 29, 1890) was a chief of the Miniconjou, Lakota Sioux. He was considered a great man of peace, and was best known among his people for his political and diplomatic successes. During the 1870s, Spotted Elk allied his tribe against the US Army, together with half-brother Sitting Bull, cousin Crazy Horse and brother Touch the Clouds. When Sitting Bull was killed on Standing Rock Reservation, his followers fled for refuge at Spotted Elk's camp. Fearing arrest and government reprisals against his band, Spotted Elk led his band south to the Pine Ridge Reservation, at the invitation of Chief Red Cloud. He contracted pneumonia on the journey, surrendered peacefully and, with his band, was escorted to a campsite near Wounded Knee Creek. On the morning of December 29, 1890, Forsyth's soldiers entered the camp and demanded that the Lakota give up their weapons. A large gun fight quickly ensued and Spotted Elk was among those slain. The US forces killed 153 Lakota, mostly women and children in what became known as the Wounded Knee Massacre.

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Title:

Spotted Elk, Lakota Sioux Indian Chief

Caption:

Spotted Elk holding peace pipe, no photographer credited, undated. Spotted Elk (1826 - December 29, 1890) was a chief of the Miniconjou, Lakota Sioux. He was considered a great man of peace, and was best known among his people for his political and diplomatic successes. During the 1870s, Spotted Elk allied his tribe against the US Army, together with half-brother Sitting Bull, cousin Crazy Horse and brother Touch the Clouds. When Sitting Bull was killed on Standing Rock Reservation, his followers fled for refuge at Spotted Elk's camp. Fearing arrest and government reprisals against his band, Spotted Elk led his band south to the Pine Ridge Reservation, at the invitation of Chief Red Cloud. He contracted pneumonia on the journey, surrendered peacefully and, with his band, was escorted to a campsite near Wounded Knee Creek. On the morning of December 29, 1890, Forsyth's soldiers entered the camp and demanded that the Lakota give up their weapons. A large gun fight quickly ensued and Spotted Elk was among those slain. The US forces killed 153 Lakota, mostly women and children in what became known as the Wounded Knee Massacre.

Credit:

Album / LOC/Science Source

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Image size:

3165 x 4500 px | 40.7 MB

Print size:

26.8 x 38.1 cm | 10.6 x 15.0 in (300 dpi)

Keywords:

19TH CENTURY • AMERICA • AMERICAN INDIAN • AMERICAN INDIANS • AMERICAN • AMERICAN-INDIAN • BIG FOOT • BW • CELEBRITIES • CELEBRITY • CHIEF • FAMOUS PEOPLE • FAMOUS • FIGURE • FIRST PEOPLE • GHOST DANCE WARS • GREAT SIOUX NATION • HISTORIC • HISTORICAL • HISTORY • IMPORTANT • INDIAN • INDIANS (AMERICAN) • INDIGENOUS AMERICAN • INDIGENOUS NORTH AMERICAN • INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THE AMERICAS • INDIO • KILLED • LAKOTA NATION • LAKOTA SIOUX • LAKOTA • MALE • MAN • MEN • MINICONJOU • NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN • NATIVE AMERICAN • NATIVE AMERICANS • NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN • NOTABLE • PEACE PIPE • PEOPLE • PERSON • PERSONALITIES • PERSONALITY • PHOTO • PHOTOGRAPH • PIPE • PLAINS INDIAN • PRAIRIE INDIAN • SIOUAN • SIOUX NATION • SIOUX WARS • SIOUX • SITHA? KA • SPOTTED ELK • TETON SIOUX • TETON • TRIBAL • TRIBE • UNITED STATES • US • USA • WELL-KNOWN • WOUNDED KNEE MASSACRE