The Sioux Indians lived through out the northern plains of North America. They were famous for their bravery, fighting abilities, and political skills. The Sioux had many subgroups or small divisions. There was the Santee Sioux, also known as Dakota, who lived in what is now today Minnesota. The Yankton Sioux, also known as the Nakota, lived in the eastern Dakotas. Both the Yankton and Santee Sioux hunted small game and farmed. The Lakota, or Teton, Sioux hunted buffalo in the western Dakotas and in Nebraska.
The Sioux way of life revolved around the American bison, or buffalo. The basic social unit of the Sioux was the tiyospe, which is an extended family group that followed the buffalo herds together. Every part of the animal was used for food, clothing, shelter, or tools. Even the dried buffalo dung was used for fuel. The portable cone-shaped tipi, made from poles and buffalo hides, was the predominant type of Sioux dwelling.
White settlers and gold seekers overran the Sioux hunting grounds and killed many buffalo during the middle and late 1800's. In 1862 the Santee rebelled and fled westward. In 1868, some of the Lakota decided to live on a reservation but they were not experienced farmers and the land on the reservation was poor. Other Lakota, who was lead by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, remained outside the reservation. In 1876, after the group had refused government orders to enter the reservation, Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer led his troops against them. Custer and the troops he led were killed by the Sioux. This was called "Custer's Last Stand." U.S. Army troops forced them to enter the reservation. In 1890, the Ghost Dance cult brought new hope to the Sioux. Army leaders thought that the Indians meant to revolt, and they attacked them.
Today, about half of all Sioux live on reservations in the northern plains. The other half live in urban areas throughout the United States.