Osprey Men-at-Arms 344 : The Tribes of the Sioux Nation

The horse culture of the tribes of the High Plains of North America lasted only some 170 years; yet in that time the sub-tribes of the Teton or Western Sioux people imprinted a vivid image on the world's imagination by their fearless but doomed fight to protect their hunting grounds from the inevitable spread of the white man. Michael Johnson outlines the history, social organisation, religion and material culture of the Santee, Yankton and Teton Sioux, accompanied by rare early photographs include portraits of many of the great war chiefs and warriors of the Plains Indian Wars, and eight colour plates by Michael Johnson recording details of Sioux traditional costume. This provides an in-depth study of the origins, development and history of the Sioux culture and peoples, covering all seven of their divisions, in peacetime and at war. Beginning with the rise of the Tetons, and detailing Western Sioux history from 1804 to 1850, before moving on to look at the Minnesota uprising of 1862 and the clashes at Laramie. Finally detailed coverage is provided of the climactic and cataclysmic 'final struggle', in the decades of the Frontier wars, and an assessment of the changes and constrictions applied following the creation of the reservations. Also included are biographical profiles of the principal Sioux leaders.

Contents

• Introduction
• Sioux Tribal Structure
• The Rise of the Teton-Sioux
• From Laramie to Laramie
• The Santee-Sioux Uprising of 1862-63
• The Final Conflict 1870 to 1890
• Teton Social Organisation
• Sioux Beliefs
• Material Culture and Dress
• Santee
• Yankton
• Teton
• Ceremonial Society Men's Attire
• Sioux Ceremonial Shirts and Leggings
• Western Sioux Women's Dress
• Warbonnets - Origin and Use
• The Aftermath 1890-1990
• Sioux Leaders
• Bibliography