Sitting Bull and family

In 1881, Sitting Bull, the legendary Lakota Sioux leader, was at a pivotal moment in his life. Known for his role as a fierce and respected warrior, Sitting Bull had earned his place in history as one of the most iconic Native American figures, particularly for his leadership in the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, where he led the Lakota and Cheyenne forces to a decisive victory over General George Armstrong Custer and his troops.

However, by 1881, Sitting Bull's life had taken a significant turn. After the defeat of Custer, tensions between Native American tribes and the U.S. government had escalated. The U.S. Army launched a series of campaigns against Native Americans in an attempt to suppress their resistance and force them onto reservations. The once-mighty Lakota were under increasing pressure from both the military and settler expansion.

In 1881, Sitting Bull, who had fled to Canada with his followers after the battle, returned to the United States, primarily due to hunger and a lack of resources. The U.S. government had been offering amnesty to Native leaders, and Sitting Bull surrendered to authorities at Fort Buford in North Dakota. He was forced to surrender, and shortly thereafter, he and his followers were relocated to the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota.

At this point in his life, Sitting Bull was no longer leading his people in battle but had become a symbol of Native resistance. While he was living on the reservation, he was not content with the situation. He continued to voice his opposition to U.S. policies and the oppression of his people, but he was also reluctant to participate in the American system, which had taken so much from his people.

In 1881, Sitting Bull also began to make appearances as part of the Wild West shows, a type of entertainment that was popular at the time. These shows, often featuring former soldiers, Native Americans, and others, offered staged reenactments of frontier life. Sitting Bull appeared as one of the featured "attractions," but these shows were highly controversial as they often depicted Native Americans in a stereotypical manner.

Though Sitting Bull’s time as a warrior had ended, his spirit as a leader did not wane. Throughout 1881, he continued to assert his role as a spiritual and cultural leader for the Lakota, even while confined to the reservation. His courage and resilience became an enduring legacy that inspired future generations of Native Americans.

By the end of the year, Sitting Bull had become a symbol of Native American resistance to American colonization and policies, though his position was complicated by his forced relocation and his participation in the increasingly commercialized Wild West shows. He would continue to be a voice for his people, but the challenges facing Native Americans would only increase in the years to come, culminating in the tragic massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890, several years after Sitting Bull’s death in 1890.