Santee Sioux

History

Early in our Nation's history, the Whit House decided on carrying out the Indian Removal Act. This Act enforced that Indians would be forcefully removed from their grounds. The Santee Sioux were early victims of this act. The Indian Removal Act moved the Santee from their home in Minnesota to South Dakota and then took them one last move into Nebraska. Nebraska is the place where the government finally gave them some land. The Santee were made up of four different clans, the Mdewkantons, Wahpeton, Sissetons and the Wahpekutes. These four clans formed the Santee that "were boarder guards" for the Sioux nation that stretched all the way down to the Rocky Mountains. In their fist years in Nebraska the Santee struggled to survive. Many in their numbers had fallen prey to the Chippewa Indians and clashes with white settlers. With growing frustration the Santee's clashed against the white folks. The government took more and more land away from the Santee's with paying next to nothing. This started a revolution called the Dakota War of 1862 or the Santee Uprising of 1962. (see paragraph below) After this war, the Santee's numbers were diminished greatly and then were lowered even further after they were moved to a small village up the river in South Dakota. Here there was no food and over 300 people died of starvation in the first month. They were finally moved back to Nebraska and onto their present day reservation, feeling very slighted by the government and the white people's world.

Famous Leaders and Events

The Santee Sioux are known for their uprising in 1862 referred to as the Dakota War or Santee uprising. Tensions between the Santee and the United States were at its high after being removed from their homes and then given land, only for it to be taken away again. The people were starving and some resorted to stealing food. Two young men were out one day when they stole from a white settlement. The two young men ended up killing the settlers there. Instead of facing the consequences of their actions the boys convinced the chief to go to war with the white people. However, division between the tribe ensued. Half of the tribe didn't want to fight and even warned the settlers to get out. This division made it impossible for the Santee to get anywhere with their revolt. The Santee surrendered believing that they would get fair treatment. The Colonel in charge imprisoned 1800 Santee's, and without a proper hearing sentences 300 to death. However, because of Christian missionaries President Lincoln took notice and ordered that only 32 be killed in a mass execution. From there the Santee experienced more suffering at the governments hands until they finally made their home in Nebraska.

Religious Customs

The Santee Sioux have much the same religion as the Lakota sioux. The Santee see life as a big mystery. We can't comprehend the power or the migth that is behind the universe. They also, like the Lakota, believe in a great god named Waken Taken, to the Santee, everything shares the same spirit, and we all come from the womb of mother earth.

Fun Fact of the Day

The United States Government were actually the ones who created the Sioux Nation. They decided who would be classified under this title by comparing which tribes spoke languages that sounded like each other.