Tribute to Medicine Bear

Crazy Horse, Oglala Sioux born 1849; died September 5, 1877

CRAZY Horse, the greatest military genius of the Sioux Confederation, was born in 1849, Crazy Horse first came to the notice of writers about 1875, but the name was an old one, and was handed down from generation to generation. His family was highly regarded by the Indians, and had been-entrusted with the Sioux history, which was portrayed on buckskin, for some eight hundred years. The buckskin was destroyed by fire many years ago.
Crazy Horse was an imposing figure, about six feet tall. He married a Cheyenne woman, and this resulted in close ties between his band of the Sioux and the Cheyennes. He was also a son-in-law of the famous Red Cloud.

Crazy Horse played an important part in the affairs of -the Sioux, and was fearless in battle. He had a super. stitious belief that he could not be killed by a bullet, and was disdainful of gunfire. He had lost two close friends and apparently had little desire to live. He is supposed to have told friends he was looking for death.

Indian police suspected that Crazy Horse might be plaguing an outbreak, and on September 5,1877, a group of fortythree policemen were sent to arrest him. In the scuffle following the attempt to arrest Crazy Horse, a bayonet was run through his stomach. With police clinging to his arms and his friends trying to help him, Crazy Horse said: "Let me go, my friends, you have hurt me enough." At ten o'clock that night he called Indian Agent Jesse. M. Lee to his side, and spoke to him, shortly after which he died.

His superstition that he would not be killed by gunfire was good to the last - It was a bayonet thrust which ended his life. He was secretly buried by his parents somewhere in teh hills in the vicinity of where he was camped when he was arrested.

There is no authentic photograph of Crazy Horse. He refused to pose, saying: "Why would you wish to shorten my life by taking my shadow from me?"

Crazy Horse's last words to Agent Lee follow.

We Preferred Our Own Way of Living"
My friend, I do not blame you for this. Had I listened to you this trouble would not have happened to me. I was not hostile to the white men. Sometimes my young men would attack the Indians who were their enemies and took their ponies. They did it in return.

We had buffalo for food, and their hides for clothing and for our teepees. We preferred hunting to a life of idleness on the reservation, where we did not get enough to eat, and we were not allowed to leave the reservation to hunt.

We preferred our own way of living. We were no expense to the government. All we wanted was peace and to be left alone. Soldiers were sent out in the winter, who destroyed our villages.

Then "Long Hair" (Custer) came in the same way. They say we massacred him, but he would have done the same to us had we not defended ourselves and fought to the last. Our first impulse was to escape with our squaws and papooses, but we were so hemmed in that we had to fight.

After that I went up on the Tongue River with a few of my people and lived in peace. But the government would not let me alone. Finally, I came back to the Red Cloud Agency. Yet I was not allowed to remain quiet.

I was tired of fighting. I went to the Spotted Tail Agency and asked that chief and his agent to let me live there in peace. I came here with the agent (Lee) to talk with the Big White Chief but was not given a chance. They tried to confine me. I tried to escape, and a soldier ran his bayonet into me.

I have spoken.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The American legend Crazy Horse is best known for his battle skills, and especially his defeat of General Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. But he was not just a political leader. He was also a spiritual leader, who led by example and loved his people and culture. His legacy continues to live on in the hearts and minds of the Lakota people who honour and respect his name.
Crazy Horse is a legend in the non-Indian community too, where his name is used by rock musicians to sell records, by a brewing company to sell beer and by a retail clothing manufacturer to sell a line of casual fashions. For more information refer Crazy Horse Defense.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

get this Album!!!!!

In The Spirit of Crazy Horse

Songs for Leonard Peltier<BR< Track:
1. Please Sign Here
2. Eagle Horse
3.Dakota Wind
4. Pray For The People
5. Anna Mae
6. Not For sale
7. Stolen Land
8. You’re A Brave One
9. Song From Leonard Peltier
10. A Crime That Isn’t Mine
11. Blow Dakota Blow
12. Patroit
13. Bury My Heart
14. Leonard Peltier

Four Winds Trading Company

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx