Oglala

Another “camp circle” within the Indian village on the Little Bighorn was that of the Oglala, one of the seven tribes of the Lakota or western Sioux. In 1876, the Oglala numbered about 4,180 people, of which, an estimated 1,450 (or 35%) were present in the Indian village at the time of the battle. Most of the absent Oglala families were living at the Red Cloud Agency in northwestern Nebraska.The most prominent Oglala leaders in the village that day were the heads of various Oglala bands (or tiyošpaye). These men included:

Big Road Canku Tanka (c1834-1897). Oyuhpe Band
A prominent warrior, Big Road participated in the Fetterman Fight, and in the Battle of the Little Bighorn Battlefield. He surrendered with Crazy Horse in May of 1877, and after Crazy Horse's killing, he fled to Canada, not returning until 1881. Big Road (american-tribes.com)

Little Hawk Cetan Cik’ala (c1836-1899). Hunkpatila Band
By his early 30s Little Hawk became one of the headmen in the Hunkpatila band. With Yellow Eagle, joint leaders of a 45-lodge camp of Hunkpatila, he signed the Fort Laramie treaty early in June 1868. After the establishment of Red Cloud Agency in 1871 the Northern Oglala bands all split into agency and 'northern' factions. The Hunkpatila sub-bands led by Old Man Afraid of His Horse, Young Man Afraid of His Horse, and Tongue, all settled at the agency. Those sub-bands led by Yellow Eagle, Iron Crow/Jumping Shield, Little Hawk, and of course Crazy Horse, stayed in the north until the surrenders of 1877. Little Hawk (american-tribes.com)

Lone Man Wicasa Isnala (c1850-1934). Cankahuhan Band-

White Twin Cekpa Ska. Hokayuta Band-

Flying Hawk Cetan Kinyan (c1852-1931). Wakan Band
He fought at Custer’s Last Stand and counted the warrior Crazy Horse as a close friend, as well as his cousin. He met ten US Presidents and ranked Teddy Roosevelt above them all. He was present at the death of Sitting Bull in 1890 and attended the massacre of Wounded Knee. He then travelled the world as a star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West troupe. Chief Flying Hawk – A Great Native American in Troubling Times — History is Now Magazine, Podcasts, Blog and Books | Modern International and American history

High White Man Wasicu Wankatuya (c1829-1909). Siksicela Band

Knife Chief Mila Yatapika (c1837-1920). Wazhazha Band
A prominent band leader, Knife Chief was severely wounded during the Battle of the Little Bighorn. His grandson, Frank Fools Crow, was later a respected spiritual leader on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Learn More: The family’s history is recounted in: Thomas E. Mails, Fools Crow (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1979).

In addition to the above civil leaders, the Oglala camp was also protected by a men’s society (or akitcita) known as Last Child Society (Hoksi Hakakta). Prominent members of this society in June 1876 included:

Respects Nothing Takuni Oholasni (c1854-1923). Oyuhpe Band-

Pretty Weasel Itunkasan Waste (c1857-1927). Cankahuhan Band-

Iron Hawk Cetan Maza (c1834-1908). Cankahuhan Band- Learn More: Iron Hawk’s version of the Little Bighorn battle can be found in Richard E. Jensen (ed.), Voices of the American West, Volume 1: The Indian Interviews of Eli S. Ricker, 1903-1919 (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2005) pp. 314-318.

Perhaps the best-known participant in the battle, Crazy Horse, was an Oglala. Another well-known Oglala participant was He Dog, a lifelong friend of Crazy Horse.

Many Oglalas surrendered with Crazy Horse in the spring of 1877 at Fort Robinson, Nebraska. Crazy Horse was murdered there on September 6, 1877.