Native American Heritage Month Spotlight Red Cloud Oglala
This month, in celebration of Native American Heritage Month, we will be highlighting some of the many remarkable contributors to Indian country. In no way is this list comprehensive or extensive. For the next few weeks we will present a brief biography a day.
Red Cloud (1822-1909) a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe is remembered as an important figure in the 19th century land battles between Native Americans and the U.S government.
Red Cloud successfully fought off the development of a road through the Montana territory and Wyoming for two years. His bravery caused Ulysses S. Grant to give abandon the forts in the northern part of Montana.
During the early 19th century, Red Cloud was one of the few Native Americans invited to speak at the Whitehouse. Red Cloud impressed crowds with his eloquence and diplomatic skills but could do little to preserve his lands in face of gold fever. Once the precious metal was found in the Black Hills, the Sioux were soon pushed from their sacred lands. Red Cloud continued to work on behalf of his people and is remembered as leader who never gave up.
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