Red Cloud was born in 1822 in Nebraska. He belonged to the Ogala Lakota, and was an important leader for them from after the Civil War through 1909. He gained a lot of experience as a warrior from fighting with neighboring groups of Natives, namely the Crow and Pawnee. He was involved in a lot of fighting with the US Army as well. He really tried his best to foster peaceful relationships with the government, even though they colonized their land and committed genocide. He tried to negotiate the best of terms. He offered wise advice to those he led. He died in 1909 in South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

The United States Army had several conflicts with Native tribes throughout Montana and Wyoming. The Cheyenne had allied themselves with the Arapaho and Lakota to try to keep control of their lands and rights. One specific incident was the Fetterman Massacre, which resulted in massive United States Army losses. (I thought it was really interesting to note that Crazy Horse was present and involved in this battle.) He was the only Native to defeat the United States Army so bad that they sued for peace on HIS terms. A treaty was signed in 1868 that established the Sioux Reservation. Of course, the promise to vacate those lands and leave them to the Natives went with the wind when it was discovered that there was gold in the Black Hills. (This I had heard about, and today it is an oil pipeline they want to run across their lands and burial sites with no respect.) This caused a war, which Crazy Horse led, known as the Sioux Wars.

Native history was SORELY taught in my elementary education, and barely mentioned in my secondary. I had heard of several famous names- Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, and Geronimo- yet had never heard Red Cloud mentioned. I think that is a shame, because his life and efforts are certainly worth mentioning. I learned so much about him from this book and the engagements between Native people and the United States government. This was a really, really good book.