Neither Wolf Nor Dog

The Lakota, an indigenous nation with origins in the Great Lakes region of the United States. Also known as the Teton Sioux, the Lakota are one of the three prominent subcultures of the Sioux. The majority of the modern Lakota population is now settled in North and South Dakota, but Lakota territory once stretched as far as the Ohio River basin. The Black Hills of South Dakota have long been sacred for the Lakota, serving as the center of their spiritual and cultural universe. In the 19th century, gold was discovered in the region, leading to increased conflict with European settlers. The U.S. government violated its own treaties and sought to seize the land, resulting in the Black Hills War (1876-77). The most significant battle of this time was the Battle of the Greasy Grass, also known as the Battle of Little Bighorn. Led by Lakota leaders Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, the Lakota, along with their Cheyenne allies, achieved a decisive victory against General Custer’s forces.

However, the victory was short lived, as the U.S. government retaliated by forcing the Lakota onto reservations and implementing assimilation policies. One such policy was the introduction of Industrial Schools, which took children away from their families and forced them to assimilate to mainstream white American culture. Although the traumatic legacy of these policies remains to this day, Lakota elders and activists continue to assert their sovereignty over the Black Hills, which remain an important cultural site for Lakota people such as Dan and Grover. For author and narrator Kent Nerburn, the Black Hills are the site of a transformative experience and a new understanding of the importance of preserving Lakota culture.