January 18, 2019 ▸ History, People

Episode 359: Crazy Horse – A Tale of Massacres, Visions, and Betrayal

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On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we go to the old west and look at life, death, struggle, and battles of the Lakota Sioux warrior called Crazy Horse. Born around 1840 in what is currently Rapid Springs, South Dakota, he was called something radically less impressive when he was a kid. Due to his abnormally light skin and curly hair, he was called “Light-Haired Boy” by his mother, and the name stuck. He was a quiet, isolated child, and many think this is because of his different physical appearance. But he had a big heart and cared deeply about his people, so much so that when he was only five years old, he even gave away a few months’ worth of his family’s food in one night when his village was suffering a harsh winter. This spirit stayed with him all the way to his death—if you were on his side! Eventually, he fought in some battles and earned his father’s old nickname of Crazy Horse (and his father changed his name to Worm!).

As he was nearing adulthood, Crazy Horse decided to go on a vision quest, like you do. However, he eschewed the ritualistic one performed in his society and went out onto the plains to do it by himself. While there, he received a vision that he should always dress plainly, never put more than one feather in his hair, never horde material possessions, and never wear a war bonnet. He did this his entire life, and many thought his lifestyle granted him mystical abilities to never get harmed in battle, because, boy, did he battle!

When he was just a teen ager, he fought in one of his first major skirmishes, and he charged at the front of all the others along with an infamous old warrior named Hump. He saved Hump’s life doing things that only Crazy Horse would do, and the two of them were fast friends and war buddies until Hump’s death in battle sometime later.

Eventually, the White Man started to settle in Lakota territory and expand. Forts, soldiers, railroads, and land grabs came with them. This lead to a horrible incident surrounding a cow, a dead chief, and a massacre of soldiers called the Grattan Massacre. This in turn led to more and more US troops heading to the area and more and more massacres, treaties, and broken treaties. The most important of these was a treaty that barred white people from the Black Hills, which General Custer broke by looking for gold. This led to a massive escalation until the Battle of Little Big Horn where Crazy Horse and Chief Sitting Bull destroyed him and his forces.

So, why did Crazy Horse stay to deal with US Army oppression when even leaders like Sitting Bull high tailed it Canada? How many massacres was he a part of? Did he ever get harmed in battle? What happened with the woman he fell in love with, and why did it lead to her husband shooting Crazy Horse in the jaw? How many times did the US screw him with bad deals? How did he die, why did it deal with a white soldier protecting a Sioux? What’s up with his monument that will be the largest in the world once complete? Listen, laugh, learn.

Very Thorough Bio: http://indians.org/indigenous-peoples-literature/crazy-horse-oglala.html