Little Crow: Spokesman for the Sioux – Gary Clayton Anderson. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1986.

     How far can a people be pushed? Is it better to fight or better to keep compromising. And how much is too much compromise? But what happens if you lose? Choices must be made and each has dire consequences. This was situation faced by most American Indian peoples during the 19th century. Here we see Little Crow (Taoyateduta) and his Mdewakanton Dakotas (Eastern Sioux) of Minnesota facing the encroachment of the United States onto their territory. Faced with the loss of the land and their culture, the Mdewakantons are divided over what to do. As the Great Sioux Uprising of 1862 looms, Little Crow must make a decision. Things you should watch for in the book and should be able to discuss include:

Who were the Mdewakantons? What other peoples were they related to? What was traditional Mdewakanton culture like? How did they live? What did men do? What did women do? What was their average year like? How did they make war, at least before the coming of white people?

Who is Little Crow (Taoyadetuda)? What is his family’s claim to leadership? What are Little Crows strengths and weaknesses? How does Little Crow become chief? What obstacles does he face in achieving this? What qualities do the Dakotas expect from their leaders?

As Mdewakantons encountered white Americans moving into Minnesota, they found the Americans wanted to “civilize” them. What does this mean? What specifically did the Americans want the Dakotas to do? How did this split Dakota society? Little Crow found he had to walk a bi-cultural road, so how did he try to both accommodate and resist American demands?

The Dakotas found their land base shrinking after every treaty with the United States. You should be able to explain how the treaty system worked. You should be to tell some of the details of the Treaty of 1837, Treaty of Mendota, Treaty of Traverse des Sioux, and Treaty of 1858. When it came to treaties, what did the Dakotas promise? What did the United States promise? Were promises fulfilled. What role did white traders have on the making and fulfillment of these treaties?

The author plays up the concept of “kinship.” How did kinship work in Indian societies? Who could be kin? What kinds of obligations did kinship create among people? What would happen if these obligations weren’t fulfilled? How could kinship ties be manipulated? How were white Americans brought into Dakota kinship? Usually, who were these American kin? What did the Dakotas expect from their American kin? What role, or lack of it, did kinship play in the Great Sioux Uprising of 1862?

What brought on the Great Sioux Uprising of 1862? What role did traders play in this? What is Little Crow’s dilemma? Why does he make the choice he does? Why are all white people not treated the same during the uprising, how are they treated differently and what makes the difference?  How does the United States react? How does the Uprising play out? What happens to the Dakotas? What happens to Little Crow?