- Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse (ca. 1840 - September 5, 1877) was a respected war leader of the Oglala Lakota, who fought against the U.S. federal government in an effort to preserve the traditions and values of the Lakota way of life.
- Russell Means
Russell Means (born November 10, 1939) is one of contemporary America's best-known and prolific activists for the rights of American Indians. Means has also pursued careers in politics, acting, and music.
- Red Cloud
Red Cloud (Lakota: Makhpiya Luta), (1822-December 10, 1909) was a war leader of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux). One of the most capable enemies the U. S. military ever faced, he led the successful war in 1866-1868 known as Red Cloud's War over control of the Powder River Country in northwestern Wyoming and southern Montana. Later he led his people in reservation life.
- Black Elk
Black Elk (Hehaka Sapa) (c. December 1863 - August 17 or August 19, 1950 (sources differ) was a famous "Wichasha Wakan" (Medicine Man or Holy Man) of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux). He was a second cousin of Crazy Horse. Black Elk participated, at about the age of twelve, in the Battle of Little Big Horn of 1876, and was wounded in the massacre that occurred at Wounded Knee in 1890. In 1887, Black Elk travelled to England with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, …
- Big Foot
Big Foot (Si Thanka) (1824? - December 29, 1890), also known as Spotted Elk, was the name of a chief of a sub-group of the Lakota Sioux. He was son of chief Lone Horn, and became a chief upon the death of his father. He was a highly renowned chief, with skills in war and negotiations. He was killed in 1890 in South Dakota, along with almost 300 other members of his tribe, …
- Lame Deer
Lame Deer, (in Lakota "Tahca Ushte"; 1900 or 1903-1976, sources differ), also known as John Fire, John (Fire) Lame Deer and later The Old Man, was a Lakota holy man. Lame Deer was an Oglala-Lakota Sioux born on the Rosebud reservation. His father was Silas Fire Let-Them-Have-Enough. His mother was Sally Red Blanket.
- American Horse
American Horse (ca. 1820?-1876) was a minor headman of the Miniconjou Lakota during the Plains Indian wars of the last half of the nineteenth century. More commonly known as Iron Plume, he was probably present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn and was mortally wounded at the Battle of Slim Buttes. Following the native victory over General George Armstrong Custer at the Little Bighorn in June 1876, the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne moved eastward where by early fall, …
- American Horse
American Horse (1840-December 16, 1908) was a chieftain of the Oglala Sioux during the Sioux Wars of the 1870s. He was also the nephew of the elder American Horse and son-in-law of Red Cloud. Born as "Wasechun-tashunka" to Sitting Bear in the Black Hills of present day South Dakota, American Horse became known as a prominent warrior during the Bozeman Trail War in 1866.
- Billy Mills
William ("Billy") Mills (born June 30, 1938) is the only American ever to win an Olympic gold medal in the 10,000 meter run which he did at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. That race has been called the greatest upset in Olympic history. Born in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, Billy Mills, a Native American (Oglala Lakota (Sioux)), was raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He was orphaned at the age of 12. Mills took up running while attending the Haskell Institute, …
- Charmaine White Face
Charmaine White Face is an Oglala Tetuwan (Lakota language speaker) from the Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation) in North America. She is known for her work in support of Native American rights, in particular as coordinator of the Defenders of the Black Hills volunteer organization centered around efforts to encourage the United States government to honor the Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851 and 1868.
- Joseph M. Marshall III
Joseph M. Marshall III is a Lakota historian, writer, teacher, craftsman, administrator, and public speaker. His first language is Lakota. He can craft a Lakota bow in the traditional style, has helped found a hospital and a university, and makes his home on the Northern Plains with his wife. Also, he helped in the cause to put wolves back into Yellowstone National Park. Joseph Marshall III has several notable television connections and appearances.
- Alex White Plume
Alex White Plume is currently serving as Tribal President for the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. From November 2004 to June 29, 2006, he served as Vice-President for the tribe. However, after Cecilia Fire Thunder, the tribal president, was impeached, White Plume assumed the role as president. He will remain in this position until the November 2006 tribal election, or Fire Thunder successfully fights her impeachment.
- Spotted Tail
Sinte Gleska was a Brulé Lakota tribal chief. Although a great warrior in his youth, he declined to participate in Red Cloud's War, having become convinced of the pointlessness of opposing the white incursions into his beloved homeland; he became a statesman, speaking for peace and defending the rights of his tribe.
- Rain-In-The-Face
Rain-in-the-Face (also known as Ito-na-gaju or Exa-ma-gozua) (c. 1835 - September 14, 1905) was a warchief of the Lakota tribe of Native Americans. His mother was a Dakota related to the band of famous Chief Inkpaduta. He was among the Indian leaders who defeated George Armstrong Custer and the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at the 1876 Battle of Little Big Horn. Born in the Dakota Territory near the forks of the Cheyenne River about 1835, …
- Short Bull
* Short Bull, Arnold, a member of the Sicangu (Brulé) Lakota tribe of Native Americans, instrumental in bringing the Ghost Dance movement to the Lakota living on reservations in South Dakota. * Short Bull, Grant (c1852-1935) was an Oglala Lakota, a member of the Soreback band and a brother of He Dog.
- He Dog
He Dog (Lakota: "Sunka Bloka") (ca. 1840-1936). A member of the Oglala Lakota, He Dog was closely associated with Crazy Horse during the Great Sioux War of 1876-77.
- Floyd Red Crow Westerman
Floyd Red Crow Westerman, born in 1936, is a Dakota musician, activist and actor born on the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Sioux reservation in the U.S. state of South Dakota. The elder Dakota in the late 20th century became a leading actor depicting Native Americans in American films and television. He is sometimes credited as "Floyd Crow Westerman".
- Conquering Bear
Mato Wayuhi was a Brulé Lakota chief who signed the Fort Laramie Treaty in 1851. He was killed in 1854 when troops from Fort Laramie stormed his encampment to arrest a Sioux who had shot a calf belonging to the Mormons. Little Thunder took over as chief after his death. Conquering Bear was born around 1800 a Brulé Lakota otherwise a Sioux. At the Fort Laramie treaty council in 1851, …
- Cecilia Fire Thunder
Cecilia Fire Thunder (born October 24, 1946, Pine Ridge, South Dakota) has worked as a nurse, and served as tribal president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota from her electoral win on November 2, 2004 up until her impeachment on June 29, 2006.
- Chief Gall
Gall (c. 1840 - 1895) (tribal name Pizi) was a battle leader of the Hunkpapa Lakota and was one of the commanders who took part in the Battle of Little Bighorn. Born in present day South Dakota around 1840, Gall was recognized as an accomplished warrior during his late teens and became a chief in his twenties. He served under Sitting Bull during the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, and later fled to Canada with him until his surrender.
- White Bull
White Bull (Sioux: "Pte-san-hunka") (April 1849 - June 21, 1947) was the nephew of Sitting Bull, and a famous warrior in his own right. White Bull participated in the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876. For years it was said White Bull boasted of killing Lt. George Armstrong Custer at the infamous battle. Other sources say White Bull himself never made that claim but admitted to struggling with Custer.
- Many Horses
Many Horses should not be confused with the daughter of Sitting Bull, who has the same name.
- Kicking Bear
Kicking Bear (1846-1904), also called Mato Wanartaka, was an Oglala Lakota who became a band chief of the Minneconjou Lakota Sioux. He fought in several battles during the War for the Black Hills, including the Battle of Little Big Horn (Greasy Grass). Also a holy man, he was active in the Ghost Dance religious movement of 1890, and had traveled with fellow Lakota Short Bull to visit the movement's leader, Wovoka (a Paiute holy man living in Nevada).
- Iron Tail
- Frank Fools Crow
Frank Fools Crow, (died 1989) was a Native American Lakota Sioux spiritual leader. He was the nephew of Black Elk. He was the subject of a biography written by Thomas Mails. In 1975 he was invited to offer a prayer before the United States Senate. In 1983, he presented the fifth and current Chief Illiniwek Indian regalia to the University of Illinois.
- Lone Horn
Lone Horn, also known as One Horn (Lakota: "Ha-wón-je-tah", c.1790 to 1875, born in present day South Dakota) was chief to the Minneconjou Teton Lakota. Lone Horn was father to Big Foot and Touch the Clouds, and was uncle of Crazy Horse. He participated in the signing of the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868. He died peacefully at the Cheyenne River. After Lone Horn's death in 1875, Big Foot became the chief.
- Kevin Locke
Kevin Locke (Lakota name: Tokeya Inajin, meaning "The First to Arise") is a Lakota/Anishinaabe Native American flutist and hoop dancer. Locke has done much work to learn and record Lakota Sioux traditional flute music, especially Love songs. He is frequently cited as an ambassador of Native American culture to the rest of the United States, and the world. In fact, he has served as a cultural ambassador for the United States Information Service since 1980, …
- Black Buffalo Woman
Black Buffalo Woman was Crazy Horse's love interest, whom she had known since childhood. She was the daughter of Red Cloud's brother, and was the first cousin of He Dog and Red Heart Bull. Though she was married to a man named No Water, she married Crazy Horse in 1870 anyway as Lakota were allowed to divorce their husbands at any time for any reason. Despite this, No Water was enraged by his wife's elopement.
- Dick Wilson
Dick Wilson (1934 - 1990) was the Oglala tribal chairman on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota from 1972 - 1976. The 1992 documentary film "Incident at Oglala" by Michael Apted posits that Wilson was a corrupt leader who embezzled funds given by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and gave high-paying posts to family members and others loyal to his regime.
- Bloody Knife
Bloody Knife (1840-25 June 1876) was a Native American scout with the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment who was killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
- Mary Crow Dog
Mary Crow Dog, also known as Mary Brave Bird (born 1953 on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota), is a Native American writer and activist. She is the author of two books, "Lakota Woman" and "Ohitika Woman", and was the subject of the 1994 TNT and Jane Fonda produced movie "Lakota Woman, Siege at Wounded Knee", starring Irene Bedard as Mary Crow Dog, …
- Black Moon
Black Moon "Wi Sapa" (c1821--March 1, 1893). Miniconjou Lakota headman with the northern Lakota during the nineteenth century, not to be confused with the Hunkpapa leader by the same name.
- Moving Robe Woman
- Crow King
Crow King was a Hunkpapa Sioux war leader at the time of the Battle of Little Big Horn.
- Chris Chavis
Tatanka (born Christopher Chavis on June 8, 1961), is a Native American professional wrestler best known for his work with World Wrestling Entertainment from 1991 to 1996 and from 2005 to 2007. His ring name is a Lakota word that literally means "bull buffalo". He is descended from the Lumbee Native American tribe.
- Delphine Red Shirt
Delphine Red Shirt (born 4 June 1957) is an Oglala Lakota Sioux writer. She has served as the Chairperson of the United Nations NGO Committee on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People from 1995 to 1996, and as the United Nations Representative for the Four Directions Council: International Indigenous Organization from 1994 to 1997. She is currently a syndicated columnist for Indian Country Today, and the Hartford Courant.
- Young Man Afraid Of His Horses
Young-Man-Afraid-Of-His-Horses ["Tasunkakokipapi"] (1830-1900), also translated as "His-Horses-Are-Afraid" and "They-Fear-Even-His-Horses", was a chief of the Oglala Sioux. Commonly misinterpreted, his name is meant to mean, roughly translated, …
- Black Shawl
Black Shawl was the second wife of Crazy Horse, whom she married in 1871. She had a daughter by the same year, whose name was They Are Afraid of Her. They Are Afraid of Her died at age three, likely of cholera. Black Shawl also suffered the same disease, and was treated by Dr. Valentine McGillycuddy. She was the sister of Red Feather, and died in 1920.
- Richard Twiss
Richard Twiss (b. June 1954 Rosebud Lakota/Sioux Reservation in South Dakota) is an American minister and author. He is a member of the Rosebud Lakota/SiouxTribe. He is the Co-Founder and President of Wiconi (wee-choe'-nee / Lakota/Sioux - "life") International. In 1972, Twiss was a participant in the forced occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Building in Washington, D.C., with the radical political group, …
- Hollow Horn Bear
Hollow Horn Bear (Sioux name Matihehlogego was a Brulé Sioux leader during the Indian Wars on the Great Plains of the United States. Hollow Horn Bear was born in what today is Sheridan County, Nebraska. He was the son of chief Iron Shell. Although he initially raided the Pawnee, he later was involved in harassing forts along the Bozeman Trail with other Sioux leaders between 1866 and 1868.