On July 4, 2026, the United States will celebrate the two-hundred fiftieth anniversary of its creation following the long and violent revolution against British rule. The milestone will be the focus of extravagant celebrations and reminders of America’s long journey and how much work remains to be done. And while we celebrate with fireworks and cookouts, let us not forget the people who also called North America home and are a part of the continent’s history. The Bureau of Indian Affairs currently lists five hundred seventy-four Native American tribes, but the full number remains unknown. What we do know is that the continent was once home to millions of indigenous people who customs and groups are remnants of what they once were. In this book which caught me by surprise, Author Mark Lee Gardner revisits the Great Sioux Nation, one of the most significant tribes in all North America.

I have previously read books focused on both Crazy Horse (c. 1840 -1877) and Sitting Bull (c. 1831 -1890) and was able to approach Gardner’s work with a basic understanding of the tribe. It is not a prerequisite for readers to have familiarity with either figure as the author thoroughly explores their lives and the Oglala Lakota leader Red Cloud (1822-1909) who plays a significant role in the narrative. And while their biographical stories are interesting, the author’s discussion of their customs and traditions are crucial to understand events in the future as the United States asserts its dominance over North America. On the side of American military might are men whose names are cemented in history such as U.S. Calvary Officer George Armstrong Custer (1839-1876) and Gen. William T. Sherman (1820-1891). And when the two forces collide, it is a mix of trust, deception, and brutality not for the faint of heart.

There are several critical events which form the backbone of the book. The Treaties of Fort Laramie in (1851) and (1868) were intended to resolve pertinent issues between the U.S. Government and Native American tribes but became sources of anger, and proof to the natives that the Americans could not be trusted. The story is intricate and I strongly recommend taking notes or creating highlights as it progresses. In addition to the names mentioned, others appear in the story as the relationship between Native Americans and the U.S. Government becomes increasingly complicated. And as one would expect, there is collateral damage. I learned for the first time the stories of Sioux captive Fanny Kelly (1845-1904) and Catherine Weldon (Caroline Schlatter) (1844-1921) who forms a close friendship living with Sitting Bull and the Sioux. Each account is interesting but for distinct reasons. On a side note, I strongly recommend S.C. Gwynne’s ‘Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History’, which is phenomenal and focuses heavily on white settlers held captive by native tribes. Despite the experiences of Kelly and Weldon, the war between America and the Indians continued to heat up. But Americans soon learned that defeating the Indians would not be easy and for the native, the Black Hills and other areas of the continent were far more valuable than the self-destructing gifts white soldiers offered. And when the Indians realize that the Americans would never let them live in peace, the story changes as two different sagas play out. And by the time each story plays out, Indians and Americans lay dead and life for the natives was never the same again.

The battles fought are revisited and these are the more difficult parts of the book. Frankly, there is no other way to explain what happens but to say that violence reigned supreme. However, this is the history not taught in schools. The cycle of negotiations, treaties, broken promises, and warfare repeats itself with tragic consequences. As a reader, I could see the writing on the wall that the native tribes could not hold out forever and would eventually succumb to American weapons. But the broken promises and view of the Indians as “savages” are also tragic. And these are two factors which contributed to the decimation and extinction of Native American tribes. Eventually, some of the Sioux leaders realize that the reservation cannot be escaped. But others would hold out and the hardliners teach American troops a tough lesson on more than one occasion. The carnage following Custer’s last stand is also revisited, and readers interested in the full story will enjoy James Donovan’s ‘A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn – the Last Great Battle of the American West‘, which provides a wealth of information on Custer’s life, the battle itself and the aftermath as the routing of U.S. troops stunned Washington. Although the battle at Little Bighorn was a setback for American troops, it did stop the tide from continue to turn against the Indians as America continued to expand west, and the finale we know is coming soon approaches. The Sioux resign themselves to the fate awaiting them, and the life on a reservation soon begins. And to this day, Native American descendants continue to live on reservations which have become epicenters of poverty and addiction. But they have not forgotten and neither should we.

I wish I could say that there is a happy conclusion to this story but nothing of the sort happened. No one rides off into the sunset. America continued its westward expansion, and Native Americans were forced to give up the lands they had called home. Some converted to Christianity and adopted Europeans ways while others remained loyal to the heritage of their tribe. And yet others were paraded around as attractions to be gawked at during stops in towns across America. Even today, the Indian is a mascot and imitated but the people of the Sioux, Comanche, Cherokee, and scores of other tribes were real people whose lives were changed in the name of American independence. We cannot rewrite the past, but we can ensure it is not forgotten. Gardner tells the story with the right balance of facts, suspense, and drama. It is well-researched and beautifully written. The subject matter is not “light reading”, but if you decided to purchase this book then I must assume you are aware that the story is not a “feel good” account. This is the reality of America’s creation and the people who died for it. Highly recommended.

“It shouldn’t be forgotten that the immigrant people, Euro-Americans, who displaced the Plains Indians always held themselves up as “civilized,” as vastly superior to the Lakotas and other native tribes. And yet there was nothing civilized in the way the U.S. government, its Indian agents, and its citizens lied to and stole from the Lakotas. There was nothing civilized in the way the U.S. Army attacked Indian villages, killing and maiming women and children. There was nothing civilized in the deaths of Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull.” – James Donovan

ASIN: ‎B09CQ2QL8R
Publisher:‎ Mariner Books, June 21, 2022