Crazy Horse: A Lakota Leader - Episode 3 Notes

Importance of Perspective in History

History is subjective, unlike math, with potentially many valid interpretations.
The "guide" (historian, storyteller) shapes our understanding of the past.
Different books on the same event offer varied perspectives.
Daniele Bellelli offers a unique historical tour as a university history professor, writer, martial artist, and philosopher.

Crazy Horse Series

The series is now four episodes due to extensive content.
Originally, plans included episodes on the lead-up to the Little Big Horn battle.
Future topics and series are under consideration.
A series on The Little Big Horn, from the American side, will be covered by the beginning of 2017.

Episode Dedication and Sponsors

This episode is dedicated to James Weddle from the Yankton Sioux tribe.
Sponsored by Geek Nation Tours (www.geeknationtours.com), offering tours of historical battlefields.
Also sponsored by Datsusaran and Onnit.
Check out their respective websites:
- Onnit: www.onnit.com/history for discounts on supplements, food, and workout gear.
- Datsusaran: dsgear.com (use code Daniela at checkout) for hemp-made bags and martial arts uniforms.
Website links available on historyonfirepodcast.com.

The Selection of Shirt Wearers

Between 1865-1868, the Oglala Lakota chose new leaders (Shirt Wearers).
Mountain sheepskin shirts were given as symbols of leadership but remained tribal property.
The Akechita (tribal police) selected candidates and brought them to a central tipi.
Initial candidates included American Horse, Young Menefred, and Sword, all sons of previous leaders.
Contrary to expectations, Crazy Horse, from a family lacking renown, was also chosen.

Significance of Crazy Horse's Selection

Crazy Horse's selection was met with widespread approval due to his personal achievements.
The four men smoked a pipe together, a tradition among Great Plains tribes signifying unity and sacredness to them.

Elders' Admonition to the Shirt Wearers

Elders emphasized responsibility and selflessness, advising them to:
- Avoid jealousy and tribal infighting.
- Remain calm, even in dire personal situations.
- Prioritize tribal welfare over personal interests.
Joseph Marshall, a Lakota author, eloquently described their duties:
- Help others before oneself, especially the vulnerable.
- Be impartial and avoid anger.
- Be generous, wise, and lead by example.
- Dedicate all actions to the service of the tribe.

Crazy Horse's Reluctant Leadership

Crazy Horse was pushed into a leadership role despite his reluctance.
His family initiated discussions for him to marry Black Shawl.
Due to Black Shawl's frail health, the wedding was delayed.

Raids Against Other Tribes

Following the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, Crazy Horse fought against tribes like the Crow, Shoshone, and Pony.
He and He Dog led a raid against the Crow, carrying ancient staffs wrapped in wolf skin, symbolizing leadership.

Confrontation with Settlers Near Fort Laramie

Crazy Horse joined a war party investigating settler activity near Fort Laramie, violating the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty.
George Harris, a civilian duck hunter, was shot by Crazy Horse, resulting in an amputated leg.

Buffalo Slaughter and its Impact

News of Southern Cheyenne's defeat and the arrival of American buffalo hunters reached the Lakota.
Buffalo hunters with repeating rifles and telescopic sights decimated buffalo herds.
Railroad expansion facilitated rapid transport of buffalo hides to eastern markets.
Buffalo skins were used globally for various purposes, devastating the Lakota's livelihood.
The U.S. Army saw buffalo hunters as agents that were completing the job of defeating the Indians for them.

Lakota Delegation to Washington

Some Lakota leaders wanted to discuss with the American government, but Crazy Horse opposed negotiation.
Red Cloud and others believed in meeting with U.S. representatives.

Battle Against The Crows

Crazy Horse and He Dog led a raid carrying spears, symbolizing a fight-to-the-death commitment.
The battle is known as the "fight when they chased them back to camp."
The Lakota walked horses, drank water, and challenged the Crow near present-day Xavier, Montana, in May 1870.
Lakota stole horses and retreated, pursued by the Crow.
The running fight's location was same as The Little Big Horn Battlefield six years later.
Crazy Horse killed an enemy, allowing the Lakota to escape with stolen horses.

Relationship with Black Buffalo Woman and Conflict With No Water

While Red Cloud visited Washington, Cazy Horse began having a relationship with black buffalo woman who was the niece of Red Cloud.
Crazy Horse had a secret relationship with Black Buffalo Woman, Red Cloud's niece, who was married to No Water.
No Water, a follower of Red Cloud, favored negotiation with Americans, contrasting with Crazy Horse's resistance.
During Red Cloud's trip to Washington, Crazy Horse and Black Buffalo Woman eloped.
Although Lakota women had the right to divorce, this situation led to tension because Black Buffalo Woman didn't declare herself as divorced.

No Water's Attack on Crazy Horse

No Water returned home to find his lodge empty and wife gone.
No Water found Crazy Horse and his wife in a Lakota camp.
No Water, seeking revenge, acquired a handgun under the guise of hunting.
He confronted Crazy Horse in a tipi, shooting him in the face below the left nostril.
Touch the Clouds stopped No Water from further harm, while Black Buffalo Woman fled.
No Water fled, believing he had killed Crazy Horse.
Black Twin offered No Water sanctuary and prepared for retribution with their Bad Faces subgroup.

Resolution and Consequences

Crazy Horse's friends sought war, but Touch the Clouds convinced him to let Black Buffalo Woman go to prevent internal conflict.
No Water sent three horses to Crazy Horse, which Crazy Horse's friends accepted for his behalf.
Crazy Horse allowed Black Buffalo Woman to leave on the condition that No Water would not punish her.
Black Buffalo Woman later gave birth to a lighter-skinned daughter, speculated to be Crazy Horse's child.

Loss of Shirt Wearer Status

Crazy Horse had to give up shirt due to his internal fights inside the tribe.
Crazy Horse was taken out of office because of that.
The result of this is that Lakota people give up on the four leaders system after that.
Crazy Horse, recovering from the gunshot, relinquished his shirt, preferring to be a plain warrior.

Red Cloud's Transformation

Red Cloud returned from Washington changed, advocating for reservation life due to his intimidation by U.S. power.
Promises made during the Fort Laramie Treaty were mostly verbal, weakening their position.
Lakota were politically divided between those following Red Cloud and those, like Crazy Horse, wanting to fight.

Marriage to Black Shawl and Brother's Death

Crazy Horse married Black Shawl to stabilize his life.
His younger brother, Little Hawk, was killed in South Central Wyoming.
Crazy Horse and Black Shawl traveled to recover Little Hawk's remains and mourned.

Crazy Horse's Vengeance

Crazy Horse went on a killing spree, targeting isolated settlers and soldiers.
He killed enough people until he was satisfied and then came back home.
Black Shawl supported him throughout his grief-driven actions.
He joined Big Road's village with Black Shawl and her family.
Crazy Horse mentored Black Shawl's younger brother, Red Feather, to replace Little Hawk.

Proclaimed War Chief

At a council in 1870, leaders proclaimed Crazy Horse as warchief for the Oglala and gave him the war club with knifes in it. He was better suited for this role.

Political Shifts and Alliances

Black Twin, No Water's brother, shared Crazy Horse's political views and lived near Big Road's village.
Crazy Horse was joining forces with a family member of the man that shot him.
The Oglala moved north, closer to the Umpapa, including Sitting Bull who wanted Red Cloud to see the truth.

Vision Quest and Tragedy Strikes Again

Crazy Horse was launching a raid against the Shoshone led by a very aggressive and old High Backbone.
Crazy Horse sees markings at Painted Cliffs, believes journey will end badly and wants to turn back.
High Backbone insists on continuing due to personal vendetta against the Shoshone for the death of his wife.
High Backbone doesn't care what crazy horse wants to say decides that they should go to the Shoshone camp.
They ended up attacking the camp and stealing horses. However, over 200 Shoshone warriors give chase.
Heavy rain and snow make travel slow.
High Backbone decides to make a stand; Crazy Horse disagrees, resulting in bad words and a plan for alternating defense.
High Backbone is killed by Shoshone warriors and Crazy Horse is beside himself with rage.
They find what's left of High Backbone bones and burry them.

The Death Of Crazy Horse's Daughter

Crazy Horse's daughter's death takes a toll on him.
In the year 1870, Crazy Horse's life has been a tragedy.
Cholera, Tuberculosis kill his daughter.
He cuts his hair. He asks a friend to take him where she had been put on a scaffold near bodies grave over 70 miles away and then Climed up onto platform and stayed laying right next to the corpse of his daughter for the next three days.
Crazy Horse and his wife gave away everything they owned.
Crazy Horse dotes on his daughter Her name was to be koki papi, which meant, they are afraid of her.

Prelude to War: Black Hills Gold Rush

General Sheridan uses rumors Gold in black hills to be an excuse to start a war and try to bypass Congress and other people that are standing in his way.
Sheridan sends an expedition under George Armstrong Custer to the Black Hills, who discovers gold.
Miners begin to pour into the Black Hills illegally.
The government asks the Lakota to sell the Black Hills.
Offer to buy fails, black sheild says that people in favor of selling their land for their children should go.
Tensions with Lakota increased. Lakota want the Whites to stop coming into their land but settlers don't, so things are about to explode.

Vision Quest and Determination

Crazy Horse saw the future with the buffalos getting wiped out etc, and yet he still wants to keep fighting.
Crazy Horse voice his determination to keep fighting, regardless of of hopelessness. Despite this vision.

Path To War

Failare to the Black Hills Commission.
President Grant calls Sheridan, General Sheridan to an emergency session at the White House.
Stop trying to evict them miners from the black hills to provoke a war with the Lakota.
Give the Lakota a dead line January 31st 1876 to come to the reservations or they will declare war.
Some native American troops under crook and Cheyenne find a Lakota village burn it down and steal almost all the horses except a few that sneak up and steall over 400 horses.

Preparing for war

The Cheyenne and Lakota people will die by a crazy horse camp.
He will welcome them saying, are you here because the white men are coming too. and I am glad that you have come. we are going to fight the white man.
Kresiors and Sitting Bull demonstrate huge generosity by asking older people to double-up with relatives and