Little Wolf and Dull Knife led the rebellion known as the Great Northern Cheyenne Exodus.

The co-habitation of whites and Indians on American soil was a constant source of friction. The Treaty of Fort Laramie, signed in 1851, laid the groundwork for peace between northern Indians and the United States. Indians allowed settlers and soldiers peaceful passage through their land and the government promised protection from white invasion. By 1861, there was constant warfare and violent slaughter between Indians and Whites. Why did relations deteriorate between whites and Indians? Did whites and/or Indians hold to their promises laid out in the treaty? Answers can be found by examining the events leading to the Northern Cheyenne Exodus and the Exodus itself.

Primary Sources

“Fort Laramie Treaty,” 1868. Yale Law School, Lillian Goldman Law Library. Accessed April 1, 2010. Available from http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/nt001.asp

1. •The treaty itself was written and signed for the purpose of creating peace between the American people and the Northern Tribes described therein. It is posted in it’s entirety on Yale’s website.

Marquis, Dr. Thomas B., A Warrior Who Fought Custer. Minneapolis: The Midwest Company, 1931.

1. •Dr Marquis was the agency physician for the Cheyenne in the 1930’s. A small handful of Cheyenne who lived through the events of the Cheyenne Exodus were still present on the reservation when he served. Wooden Leg dictated his story and Dr. Marquis transcribed the events. Marquis fact checked the events with others who were present during those historic moments. This was the first published book which told the story of the Exodus from the perspective of a Cheyenne and is an invaluable resource for understanding Indian culture.

“Report to The President By The Indian Peace Commission, January 7, 1868.” Transcribed by Carolyn Sims, Furman University Department of History. Accessed April 5, 2010. Available from http://facweb.furman.edu/~benson/docs/peace.htm

1. •This letter describes in great detail the peace commission’s first hand observance of the reservations and the commissioner’s opinions on what steps needed to be taken to ensure peace and proper placement of Indians. This letter gives valuable insight into the thoughts and beliefs of the commissioners in regard to Indian treatment.

Other Sources

Boye, Alan, “Little Wolf of the Northern Cheyenne Led His People in Desperate Struggles for Survival in the 1870s.” Wild West; April2000, Vol. 12 Issue 6 pg. 18. Accessed April 1, 2010. Available from http://web.ebscohost.com.lsproxy.austincc.edu/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=7&sid=8d798e27-45c1-4bba-94a1-52aef8b7341b%40sessionmgr11&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=fph&AN=2839518.

1. •Taken from the book Holding Stone Hands, this article summarizes the story of chief Little Wolf. The article gives great insight into white’s dealings with Indian culture particularly through Little Wolf experience. Little Wolf is portrayed as a reasonable man who wants nothing more than to save the lives of his people.

Boye, Alan, “Northern Cheyenne Leader Dull Knife Fought to Avoid the Removal of His Poeple to Indian Territory.” Wild West; Dec 99, volume 12, issue 4, p12. Accessed April 1, 2010. Available from http://web.ebscohost.com.lsproxy.austincc.edu/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=7&sid=b63e0c75-3a90-4565-b8f2-cfe56433f836%40sessionmgr13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=fph&AN=2397729

1. •Also a summary of the book Holding Stone Hands, this article tells the story of chief Dull Knife. Chief Dull knife is remembered as a great hero and this telling of his story encourages that sentiment. It paints Dull Knife as a hardy warrior and brave leader.

Brown, Dee, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. New York: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2009.

1. •This book is written in clear, storytelling format. It was very useful for dates and events and, although clearly written with empathy for the Indians, did a good job of dealing with facts fairly and accurately.

Campbell, Gregory R., “Changing patterns of health and effective fertility among the northern Cheyenne of Montana, 1886-1903. “American Indian Quarterly,” summer91, Volume 15, issue 3. [Database online] Accessed April 13, 2010. Available From http://web.ebscohost.com.lsproxy.austincc.edu/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=7&sid=b63e0c75-3a90-4565-b8f2-cfe56433f836%40sessionmgr13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=fph&AN=2397729

1. •This medical examination of the Cheyenne reservation gives valuable insight into the humbling conditions of the reservation Indian. It describes the poverty and sickness on the reservation in detail.

“Chief Dull Knife College,” Accessed April 9, 2010. Available from http://www.cdkc.edu/

1. •Contains information about Chief Dull Knife College and the reservation which it is located in.

CWSAC, “Sand Creek,” Accessed April 10, 2010. Available from http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/co001.htm

1. •A very brief summary of the events of the Sand Creek Massacre.

Monnett, John H., Tell Them We Are Going Home, the Odyssey of the Northern Cheyennes, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2001

1. •A detailed look at the events of the Cheyenne Exodus. A valuable resource full of first hand quotes and perspectives from whites and Indians alike, including commissioners, Cheyenne Chiefs, ranchers, military personnel, and more.