Description
Cheyenne River Sioux: A Photographic History of South Dakota's Western Lakota Bands
This comprehensive photographic history documents the Cheyenne River Sioux people through rare images dating back to the 1860s. The book focuses on four bands of the Western Lakota Sioux who inhabited the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation: the Minnicoujou, Itazipco, Siha Sapa, and Oohenumpa.
Historical Context and Tribal Heritage
The Sioux constitute a diverse group of tribes who claimed and controlled almost a quarter of the continental U.S. from the late 1700s to the 1860s. The name Sioux was coined by French traders and was taken from the Anishinabe word Nadoweisiw-eg, meaning little snake or enemy. The rival Chippewa (Ojibway/Anishinabe) tribe used this term to describe the group. The Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, a central part of the Great Sioux Reservation, is home to four bands of the Western Lakota Sioux prominently featured in this book: the Minnicoujou, Itazipco, Siha Sapa, and Oohenumpa.
Rare Photographic Documentation
This collection presents authentic historical photographs spanning over a century, offering visual documentation of the Cheyenne River Sioux people, their traditions, and daily life. The images provide an invaluable record of tribal history during a pivotal period of American expansion and Native American displacement.
Personal Stories and Family Histories
Beyond the photographs, this book incorporates personal interviews and family stories that bring depth and authenticity to the historical narrative. These firsthand accounts preserve oral traditions and provide context to the visual documentation.
About the Author
Sprague, Donovin Arleigh: - Through a collection of rare photos dating back to the 1860s, as well as personal interviews and family stories, author Donovin Sprague paints a compelling and detailed history of the Cheyenne River Sioux people. In addition to his work as the Director of Education at the Crazy Horse Memorial, he is a instructor at Black Hills State University, Oglala Lakota College, and the Indian University of North America at Crazy Horse Memorial. Mr. Sprague is an enrolled tribal member of the Cheyenne River Sioux.