Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (SUMMARY AND CHARACTERS)

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee begins with an overview of the relations between Native Americans and white settlers from the late−1400s to the mid−1800s. Initially peaceful, these relations become more tense as white emigration from Europe to the United States increases.

The government wants Navaho land for settlements and mining, so the U.S. Army kills or displaces all Mescalero Apaches and Navahos in the region. Many Navahos die when they are forced to live at the Bosque Redondo reservation. Ultimately, the Navahos sign a peace treaty and are allowed to return to what is left of their land.

Manipulated by deceptive treaties, the Santee Sioux surrender most of their land for money and provisions they mostly do not receive. Little Crow does not want to fight the military might of the United States but has no choice when some of his men kill white settlers. The Santees are ultimately overpowered by the Army and by a Santee traitor.

White settlers ignore a treaty and begin settling on Native−American territory. After Cheyennes and Arapahos meet with the Colorado governor to try to maintain peace, many Cheyennes are mutilated or massacred in their Sand Creek village. The Cheyennes split, some going north to join the Northern Cheyennes and the Teton Sioux in Powder River country, while others go south, below the Arkansas River, where they are coerced into signing away their land in Colorado.

The Cheyennes learn that soldiers are building a fort in the Powder River country. A Cheyenne warrior tries to warn some Arapahos of coming soldiers, but they do not believe him, and their village is destroyed by one military column. A group of Sioux chase the half−starved, frozen soldiers of two other military columns and attempt to beat them in battle but are overpowered.

The government says it wants to buy transportation rights in the Powder River country, but it deploys soldiers even before a treaty is discussed. Angry at this deception, the Sioux fight a successful guerrilla war, cutting off the soldiers’ supply lines, trapping soldiers in isolated battles, and derailing a train. Ultimately, the government withdraws its troops and settles for a peace treaty.

Some of the exiled Southern Cheyennes and Arapahos, encouraged by the Sioux’s successes, try to return to their old tribal lands. This action results in a war between the Army and several Native−American tribes, including the Cheyennes, the Arapahos, the Comanches, and the Kiowas. At the end of the fighting, all tribes except the Kiowas surrender and go to reservations.

Red Cloud finds out that the peace treaty he signed included items he did not know about. Donehogawa, an educated Native American, is Commissioner of Indian Affairs at the time. He invites Red Cloud and several other Sioux to state their case to President Grant in Washington, D.C. Red Cloud is successful, but Donehogawa loses his influence due to political pressure and resigns.

Several Apaches refuse to live on a reservation and instead they engage in a guerrilla war. Settlers massacre a peaceful band of Apaches at Camp Grant, prompting President Grant to send out a commission to talk to the Apache chiefs. After much fighting, most of the Apaches settle on reservations or live in exile in Mexico.

The Modocs do not receive treaty provisions from the government and return to their old lands, the U.S. military comes to remove them, and Captain Jack takes his people to a stronghold. Hooker Jim’s band kills some settlers in revenge, then forces Captain Jack into killing General Canby, which instigates a war. Hooker Jim and his men surrender to the soldiers, then track down Captain Jack, who is hanged.

The Kiowas are forced to go to a reservation. They resolve to leave the reservation to fight the white hunters who are destroying the buffalo but are overpowered. Some tribes choose to go back to the reservation, while others hunt buffalo at Palo Duro Canyon, the last remaining range. The Army destroys their village and forces the Kiowas to surrender.

A force of several thousand Native Americans fights to save the sacred Black Hills. They win a major battle by destroying General Custer’s army at the Little Bighorn, but the government uses the battle as justification for taking the Black Hills. They also send more troops to make most of the Native Americans surrender. Sitting Bull and some of his people escape to Canada.

The Nez Percés are told to give up their land and report to a reservation. Young Joseph advocates peace but is forced to fight when some of his men kill white settlers. The Nez Percés try to flee to Canada to join Sitting Bull, and some make it. However, after a surprise attack by the Army, most of Chief Joseph’s people surrender and are sent to Indian Territory.

The Northern Cheyennes at Fort Robinson are transferred to Indian Territory, where many die. Some stay, while others attempt to return to their old lands. Soldiers chase the latter, killing several Cheyennes in the process. The Northern Cheyennes split again. Some are captured and sent back to Fort Robinson, where most are killed in an escape attempt. Others spend the winter in hiding, then surrender.

The peaceful Poncas are sent to Indian Territory with other hostile Native−American tribes. Several die, including the son of Standing Bear, who tries to take the body to their old burial grounds. General Crook captures them but intervenes on their behalf, helping Standing Bear win a court case that gives him the right to stay on his land. Other Poncas try and fail to enforce this new right to return to their land.

Through the skills of a chief, Ouray the Arrow, the Utes successfully retain one rich portion of their land as a reservation. A new agent, Nathan C. Meeker, tries to convert the Utes to his religion. His efforts instigate a battle between the Utes and the Army. The local government uses the incident as justification for taking the rest of the Ute land.

Order breaks down following the departure of an agent who has established peace on the White Mountain reservation. Many Apaches leave the reservation and engage in raids. General Crook is sent to establish order. He gets Geronimo to surrender, but Geronimo leaves the reservation again when he thinks he is about to be arrested. Another general and several thousand men are enlisted to hunt down Geronimo and his twenty−four warriors. Geronimo surrenders.

The government lures Sitting Bull back to the United States under false promises of amnesty. Many Sioux agree to sell their land, under the threat of having it taken away from them by force. The religious Ghost Dance becomes the craze among Native Americans on reservations, and the government tries to suppress it. The government chooses to arrest Sitting Bull, who gets killed in the process.

Following Sitting Bull’s death at Standing Rock reservation, many Native Americans there attempt to flee to Red Cloud’s Pine Ridge reservation. The Army intercepts them and attempts to disarm them. After a shot is fired, the armed soldiers open fire with heavy artillery on the mainly unarmed Native Americans, killing most of them.

General of the United States Army who battled Indian tribes of the South in early 1800s and who later enacted a policy of relocating eastern Indian tribes west of the Mississippi River.

Navaho chief, led attacks against the Army and resisted being sent to Bosque Redondo reservation before finally surrendering.

Army colonel at Fort Fauntleroy who is later killed by Captain Jack.

Ruthless Army general, commanded New Mexico Army in campaigns against Navahos.

Former trader, negotiated with Navahos before successfully campaigning against them.

Chief of Mdewkanton Santee Sioux who led the struggle against the Army.

Army colonel, leader of Sixth Minnesota Regiment in battles against Santee Sioux, who oversaw the conviction and hanging of 38 Santee Sioux.

Southern Cheyenne warrior, leader of Dog Soldiers who is later killed in a battle against Forsythe’s Scouts.

Brothers who are the sons of a Cheyenne woman and white man. They help the Cheyennes negotiate and communicate with the Army.

Southern Cheyenne chief who sought peace with the Army.

Army major on friendly terms with the Indians. He is relieved of post as commander at Fort Lyon.

Commanded Colorado Volunteers and sought to bring Indians under military authority.

Oglala Sioux chief who fought and won a war against the Army.

Army general and the leader of the Army’s campaign in Powder River country.

Army colonel, engaged in treaty negotiations with Red Cloud.

Head of 18th Infantry Regiment, led Battle of the Hundred Slain/Fetterman Massacre, and was dismissed after losing the battle.

Negotiator at the peace council to end Red Cloud’s war and later helped direct anti−Indian campaigns.

Army general who ordered destruction of Indian camps.

Southern Cheyenne chief and leader of the Dog Soldiers who was killed in battle with Army soldiers.

Army general with command of Kansas forts who ordered Custer to destroy hostile Indian tribes.

An Army general who fought many campaigns against Plains Indians before dying at Battle of Little Bighorn.

An Iroquois who adopted the name Ely Samuel Parker and served as Commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

As Secretary of the Interior, he assured the Sioux that they could live outside their reservation and trade and receive goods.

Apache chief and leader of tribes’ fierce resistance against the Army.

Apache war chief imprisoned and killed by soldiers.

Chief of Aravaipa Apaches who is sent to Camp Grant reservation and imprisoned by the Army.

Modoc chief who sought to keep his tribe in California Lava Beds and was betrayed by Hooker Jim and hanged by the Army.

Modoc chief who disagreed with Captain Jack’s strategy and later betrayed Captain Jack to the Army.

Kiowa chief who led struggle against the Army and was repeatedly jailed. He killed himself in Texas.

Kiowa chief who led expedition against the Army.

Kiowa chief who led delegation to Washington, D.C., and won release of Satanta and Big Tree.

Sioux chief and leader of the Hunkpapas who led Indians to victory at Little Bighorn.

Oglala chief and an advocate of defending the Black Hills who helped win battles at Rosebud and Little Bighorn.

An Army general who defeated the Apaches and led Army soldiers in battle at Rosebud and campaigns against Plains Indians. He later resigned his post under pressure.

Chief of the Nez−Percé tribe who gave a famous speech upon surrendering to Colonel Miles.

Nicknamed Bear Coat by the Indians, he led the Army’s campaign to defeat and capture the Nez Percés.

Northern Cheyenne chief who argued that the tribe should settle down and go to Red Cloud’s agency.

Northern Cheyenne chief who led a band of Cheyennes north to the Tongue River valley.

Ponca chief who successfully argued that he was a “person” and a U.S. citizen.

Secretary of the Interior, nicknamed Big Eyes by Indians, who returned the Poncas to their reservation.

Chief of the Utes who attempted to placate the U.S. but was forced onto a reservation in Utah.

Indian agent who tried to convert Utes to an agrarian lifestyle. His policies set the stage for the conflict between the Utes and the Army.

Issued propaganda against Utes and authored the article that inspired “The Utes Must Go!” slogan.

Apache chief who was made notorious through rumors of his atrocities and was forced onto a reservation in 1894.

Apache chief, leader of Warm Spring band, who was killed in 1880 after making raids in Mexico and the U.S.

A Minneconjou who had a vision of Christ in Nevada and began the Ghost Dance religion.

The stager of Wild West Show in which Sitting Bull performed.

Leader of band of Minneconjous who was killed at his camp at Wounded Knee in 1890.

The Minneconjou whose dispute with Army soldiers sparked battle at Wounded Knee.