Rosebud Sioux Tribe

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The Rosebud Indian Reservation has large areas of Ponderosa Pine forest scattered in its grasslands; and deep valleys are defined by steep hills and ravines, often with lakes dotting the deeper valleys. It's 922,759 acres include 20 communities. The tribal headquarters is located in the community of Rosebud.

The Rosebud Sioux Tribe, more properly known as Sicangu Lakota Oyate, or Burnt Thigh People, are descendants of the Sicangu Oyate of the Tetonwan Division of the Oceti Sakowin or Seven Council Fires. Historically, they were warriors and hunters and expert horsemen. Native plants and wildlife were very important to the Sicangu people and continue to be today.

Chief Spotted Tail (1823-1881), or Sinte Gleska, was born in the White River area around 1823. A Brule Lakota, Spotted Tail distinguished himself as a warrior and a leader. He negotiated with the U.S. Government at Fort Laramie and eventually signed a peace treaty in June 1866. As a result, Spotted Tail and his followers were given permission to hunt buffalo along the Republican River. In 1868, Spotted Tail was tricked into signing another treaty which gave away Lakota lands along the Republican and Platte Rivers, forcing the tribe to move 30 miles to the west. In 1870, Spotted Tail and Red Cloud visited Washington, D.C., where peace negotiations led to the Lakota being allowed to move to the upper White River. In 1873, Spotted Tail took part in a raid on a Pawnee camp that resulted in the deaths of more than 100 men. Spotted Tail kept his followers out of the hostilities that led to the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. However, later that year, he was forced to sign a treaty that gave away the Black Hills to the U.S. Government. Spotted Tail was murdered by Crow Dog on August 5, 1881.

Ben Reifel (1906-1990), a five-term U.S. Congressman, was born near Parmelee on the Rosebud Reservation in 1906. During his lifetime, he worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, served in the U.S. Army and received a doctoral degree from Harvard University. Reifel ran for office in 1960 and served until his retirement in 1971.


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