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"The Standing Rock Sioux Reservation is situated in North and South Dakota. The people of Standing Rock, often called Sioux, are members of the Dakota and Lakota nations (standingrock.org)." When the reservation was established in 1864, there was about 4 million acres. After the Indian Wars in the 19th century, the territory was reduced in size which made the land readily available for settlers. The Standing Rock Sioux Reservation was originally established as part of the Great Sioux Reservation. Sitting Bull, a highly respected chief, was buried on the reservation near his birthplace.

Standing Rock Reservation

Standing Rock Reservation

Monument to Chief Sitting Bull

Monument to Chief Sitting Bull

Chief Gall fought alongside Sitting Bull at Little Big Horn in 1876.

Chief Gall fought alongside Sitting Bull at Little Big Horn in 1876.
Around the 1700s, the Sioux, along with other tribes left their home to live on the Great Plains (modern North and South Dakota). They moved because they were being pushed out by fellow tribes who were also being pushed out of their own land by European settlers. The Sioux made many treaties with the Americans, but they weren't always respected. Sioux people hunted buffalo, but with the harsh winters, more and more buffalo were dying, and when the first railroad was built across the Great Plains, it made the migration pattern change.

This is when the Sioux began to go hungry. Members of the Sioux tribe began dying off and the United States army signed a treaty with the Sioux, saying that they would never let setters move onto their land. Four years later, explorers found gold and the treaty was broken. Because of this broken treaty,  a battle began- The Battle of Little Big Horn. The Sioux won under their chief Sitting Bull.

Standing Rock Indian Reservation is the sixth largest reservation in the United States. Originally a 4 million acre area, the reservation was reduced after the Indian Wars of the 19th Century, resulting in more land for European-American settlers. The people of the Standing Rock Sioux tribal Nation are often called the Sioux. Standing Rock Reservation is also the birthplace of one of Lakota's greatest warriors and revered medicine man, Sitting Bull. There is a grave site in dedication to him. There is also a marker standing for Sacagawea, who traveled with Lewis and Clark to the Pacific Ocean.
http://www.travelsd.com/About-SD/Our-History/Plains-Indians/Sioux-Tribes/Standing-Rock-Sioux-Tribe http://www.standingrocktourism.com/ http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/northamerica/after1500/history/sioux.htm