Two Strike was a prominent Sioux leader who lived during a crucial period in Native American history. Born in 1831 in present-day South Dakota, Two Strike was a witness to and participant in a series of conflicts and struggles that shaped the fate of his people. He fought in the Sioux Wars against the US government, resisted the destructive policies of the Dawes Act, and played a role in the tragic Wounded Knee Massacre. Despite his opposition to the dominant forces of his time, Two Strike's leadership and vision continue to inspire and resonate today. In this article, we will explore the life and times of Two Strike, his contributions to the Sioux Nation, and the impact of his actions on Native American history.
Early Life and Childhood of Two Strike
Birth and Childhood
Two Strike, also known as Isna La-Wica (Lone Man), was born in 1831 in the Lakota Sioux Nation. His exact birthplace is unknown, but it is believed to be in the present-day state of South Dakota. Two Strike's childhood was spent in the traditional Lakota way of life, hunting, fishing, and gathering with his family.
Family and Community Background
Two Strike was a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe, one of the seven bands of the Sioux Nation. His family had a strong tradition of leadership, with his father being a respected warrior and his grandfather being a prominent chief. Two Strike grew up in a close-knit community, with strong ties to his extended family and other members of his tribe.
Economic and Social Conditions in the Sioux Nation
The Sioux Nation faced numerous challenges during Two Strike's childhood. The arrival of European settlers brought disease, displacement, and conflict. The Sioux were forced to adapt to changing economic conditions, including the transition from a nomadic lifestyle to a more sedentary one. The Sioux also faced pressure to assimilate into mainstream American culture and abandon their traditional ways of life.
Two Strike's Involvement in the Sioux Wars
The Battles of Little Bighorn and Rosebud Creek
Two Strike played a significant role in the Sioux Wars of the late 19th century. He was present at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, where Sioux and Cheyenne warriors defeated General George Custer's Seventh Cavalry. Two Strike also fought in the Battle of Rosebud Creek a week before Little Bighorn, which was a significant strategic victory for the Sioux.
Role in the Campaign Against the Nez Perce Tribe
Two Strike was also involved in the campaign against the Nez Perce tribe in 1877. The Nez Perce, led by Chief Joseph, were seeking refuge from the US Army, but were pursued and eventually forced to surrender. Two Strike and other Sioux warriors participated in the conflict, although their involvement was limited.
Leadership During the Siege of the Wagon Box
Two Strike's leadership abilities were demonstrated during the Siege of the Wagon Box in 1867. The Sioux, led by Crazy Horse, were attacking a wagon train and were repelled by a group of US Army soldiers who had taken shelter in a wagon box. Two Strike encouraged his fellow warriors to retreat, realizing that the soldiers had the advantage.
Two Strike's Resistance Against the Dawes Act
Overview of the Dawes Act and Its Impacts
The Dawes Act of 1887 aimed to assimilate Native American tribes into American society by dividing their land into individual allotments. The act had devastating consequences for the Sioux, as it resulted in the loss of their communal land and a significant reduction in their population.
Two Strike's Opposition to the Act
Two Strike was a vocal opponent of the Dawes Act, recognizing the threat it posed to Sioux culture and sovereignty. He spoke out against the act, urging his fellow tribe members to resist its implementation.
Two Strike's Efforts to Preserve Sioux Land and Culture
Two Strike also worked tirelessly to preserve Sioux land and culture. He participated in negotiations with the US government, advocating for the rights of his people. He also continued to live a traditional Lakota lifestyle, maintaining his connection to his ancestral lands and traditions.
Two Strike's Role in the Wounded Knee Massacre
Background and Context of the Massacre
The Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890 was a tragic event in which hundreds of Sioux men, women, and children were killed by US Army soldiers. The massacre occurred in the context of growing tensions between the government and the Native American tribes, as well as the Ghost Dance movement, which was seen as a threat to American dominance.
Two Strike's Position on the Conflict
Two Strike was present at Wounded Knee and witnessed the brutality of the US Army's actions. He was a vocal opponent of the government's policies and believed that the Sioux had the right to resist forced assimilation.
Two Strike's Actions During the Massacre
It is unclear what specific actions Two Strike took during the Wounded Knee Massacre. However, his presence at the site and his outspoken opposition to the government's policies demonstrate his commitment to his people and their struggle for autonomy and rights.
Imprisonment and Trial of Two Strike
The Aftermath of the Wounded Knee Massacre
After the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, tensions between the Lakota Sioux and the United States Army were at an all-time high. Two Strike, a prominent Lakota leader, was among those who had resisted the government's attempts to take their land and force them onto reservations. The massacre only intensified Two Strike's resolve to fight for his people's rights.
Two Strike's Imprisonment and Trial
In 1891, Two Strike was arrested and charged with "inciting to riot and murder" for his role in leading a resistance against the government's policies. He was imprisoned at Fort Sheridan in Illinois, where he awaited trial for almost a year. During his trial, Two Strike maintained his innocence and argued that he was only resisting the government's unjust actions. Despite his defense, he was found guilty and sentenced to three years in federal prison.
Two Strike's Death and Burial
After serving his sentence, Two Strike returned to his homeland in South Dakota. He continued to resist the government's attempts to take their land and maintain their way of life until his death in 1915. He was buried in the traditional Lakota way, with his body facing west and with his favorite horse buried next to him. His legacy as a fierce and unyielding defender of his people lives on today.
Legacy and Impact of Two Strike's Life and Actions
The Significance of Two Strike's Resistance and Leadership
Two Strike's resistance against the government's policies was significant in that it demonstrated the strength and resolve of the Lakota people in the face of overwhelming oppression. His leadership inspired others to fight back against the injustices they faced, and to this day, he is remembered as a hero and symbol of resistance.
Two Strike's Influence on the Sioux Nation and Native American Rights
Two Strike's legacy extends beyond his own tribe and has impacted the Native American rights movement as a whole. His willingness to stand up against the government's policies paved the way for others to do the same, and his fight for his people's rights is still relevant today. He is a reminder that the battle for indigenous rights is ongoing and that we must continue to resist injustice.
Historical and Cultural Representations of Two Strike
Two Strike's life has been depicted in various forms of media, including books, movies, and artwork. His story serves as a powerful reminder of the effects of colonization and the importance of resisting oppression. His legacy is celebrated today by the Oglala Lakota and beyond, as a testament to the strength and resilience of indigenous peoples.In conclusion, Two Strike's life and times offer a powerful testimony to the courage, resilience, and determination of the Sioux people. His legacy continues to inspire and inform ongoing struggles for justice, recognition, and sovereignty among Native American communities. By remembering and honoring Two Strike and his fellow Sioux leaders, we acknowledge the richness and complexity of Native American history and culture, and commit ourselves to a more just and equitable future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Two Strike?
Two Strike was a Sioux leader who lived from 1831 to 1915. He fought in the Sioux Wars, resisted the Dawes Act, and played a role in the Wounded Knee Massacre.
What was the Sioux Wars?
The Sioux Wars were a series of conflicts between the US government and the Sioux Nation from 1854 to 1890. They were sparked by tensions over land, resources, and sovereignty, and resulted in significant losses for the Sioux.
What was the Dawes Act?
The Dawes Act of 1887 was a US law that aimed to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream American culture. It divided reservations into individual plots of land for Native American families, with the goal of encouraging farming and private property ownership. However, it led to the loss of millions of acres of Native American land and undermined traditional cultural practices.
What was the Wounded Knee Massacre?
The Wounded Knee Massacre was a tragic event that occurred on December 29, 1890, when US soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed Sioux men, women, and children at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. The massacre was a result of tensions between the Sioux and the US government over territory, resources, and religious practices.
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It is a pity that so many interesting names of well-known Indians have been mistranslated, so that their meaning becomes very vague if it is not wholly lost. In some cases an opposite meaning is conveyed.
For instance there is the name, "Young-Man-Afraid-of- His-Horses." It does not mean that the owner of the name is afraid of his own horse -- far from it!
Tashunkekokipapi signifies "The young men [of the enemy] fear his horses." Whenever that man attacks, the enemy knows there will be a determined charge.
The name Tashunkewitko, or Crazy Horse, is a poetic simile. This leader was likened to an untrained or untouched horse, wild, ignorant of domestic uses, splendid in action, and unconscious of danger.
The name of Two Strike is a deed name. In a battle with the Utes this man knocked two enemies from the back of a war horse. The true rendering of the name Nomkahpa would be, "He knocked off two."
I was well acquainted with Two Strike and spent many pleasant hours with him, both at Washington, D. C., and in his home on the Rosebud reservation. What I have written is not all taken from his own mouth, because he was modest in talking about himself, but I had him vouch for the truth of the stories. He said that he was born near the Republican River about 1832.
His earliest recollection was of an attack by the Shoshones upon their camp on the Little Piney. The first white men he ever met were traders who visited his people when he was very young.
The incident was still vividly with him, because, he said, "They made my father crazy," [drunk].
This made a deep impression upon him, he told me, so that from that day he was always afraid of the white man's "mysterious water." Two Strike was not a large man, but he was very supple and alert in motion, as agile as an antelope. His face was mobile and intelligent. Although he had the usual somber visage of an
Indian, his expression brightened up wonderfully when he talked. In some ways wily and shrewd in intellect, he was not deceitful nor mean.
He had a high sense of duty and honor. Patriotism was his ideal and goal of life. As a young man he was modest and even shy, although both his father and grandfather were well-known chiefs. I could find few noteworthy incidents in his early life, save that he was an expert rider of wild horses. At one time I was pressing him to give me some interesting incident of his boyhood. He replied to the effect that there was plenty of excitement but "not much in it."
There was a delegation of Sioux chiefs visiting Washington, and we were spending an evening together in their hotel. Hollow Horn Bear spoke up and said: "Why don't you tell him how you and a buffalo cow together held your poor father up and froze him almost to death?" Everybody laughed, and another man remarked: "I think he had better tell the medicine man (meaning myself) how he lost the power of speech when he first tried to court a girl."
Two Strike, although he was then close to eighty years of age, was visibly embarrassed by their chaff. "Anyway, I stuck to the trail. I kept on till I got what I wanted," he muttered. And then came the story. The old chief, his father, was very fond of the buffalo hunt; and being accomplished in horsemanship and a fine shot, although not very powerfully built, young Two Strike was already following hard in his footsteps.
Like every proud father, his was giving him every incentive to perfect his skill, and one day challenged his sixteen-year-old son to the feat of "one arrow to kill" at the very next chase. It was midwinter. A large herd of buffalo was reported by the game scout. The hunters gathered at daybreak prepared for the charge. The old chief had his tried charger equipped with a soft, pillow-like Indian saddle and a lariat. His old sinew-backed hickory bow was examined and strung, and a fine straight arrow with a steel head carefully selected for the test.
He adjusted a keen butcher knife over his leather belt, which held a warm buffalo robe securely about his body. He wore neither shirt nor coat, although a piercing wind was blowing from the northwest. The youthful Two Strike had his favorite bow and his swift pony, which was perhaps dearer to him than his closest boy comrade.
Now the hunters crouched upon their horses' necks like an army in line of battle, while behind them waited the boys and old men with pack ponies to carry the meat. "Hukahey!" shouted the leader as a warning. "Yekiya wo!" (Go) and in an instant all the ponies leaped forward against the cutting wind, as if it were the start in a horse race.
Every rider leaned forward, tightly wrapped in his robe, watching the flying herd for an opening in the mass of buffalo, a chance to cut out some of the fattest cows. This was the object of the race. The chief had a fair start; his horse was well trained and needed no urging nor guidance. Without the slightest pull on the lariat he dashed into the thickest of the herd.
The youth's pony had been prancing and rearing impatiently; he started a little behind, yet being swift passed many. His rider had one clear glimpse of his father ahead of him, then the snow arose in blinding clouds on the trail of the bison. The whoops of the hunters, the lowing of the cows, and the menacing glances of the bulls as they plunged along, or now and then stood at bay, were enough to unnerve a boy less well tried. He was unable to select his victim.
He had been carried deeply into the midst of the herd and found himself helpless to make the one sure shot, therefore he held his one arrow in his mouth and merely strove to separate them so as to get his chance. At last the herd parted, and he cut out two fat cows, and was maneuvering for position when a rider appeared out of the snow cloud on their other side.
This aroused him to make haste lest his rival secure both cows; he saw his chance, and in a twinkling his arrow sped clear through one of the animals so that she fell headlong. In this instant he observed that the man who had joined him was his own father, who had met with the same difficulties as himself. When the young man had shot his only arrow, the old chief with a whoop went after the cow that was left, but as he gained her broadside, his horse stepped in a badger hole and fell, throwing him headlong.
The maddened buffalo, as sometimes happens in such cases, turned upon the pony and gored him to death. His rider lay motionless, while Two Strike rushed forward to draw her attention, but she merely tossed her head at him, while persistently standing guard over the dead horse and the all but frozen Indian. Alas for the game of "one arrow to kill!" The boy must think fast, for his father's robe had slipped off, and he was playing dead, lying almost naked in the bitter air upon the trampled snow. His bluff would not serve, so he flew back to pull out his solitary arrow from the body of the dead cow.
Quickly wheeling again, he sent it into her side and she fell. The one arrow to kill had become one arrow to kill two buffalo! At the council lodge that evening Two Strike was the hero.
The following story is equally characteristic of him, and in explanation it should be said that in the good old days among the Sioux, a young man is not supposed to associate with girls until he is ready to take a wife. It was a rule with our young men, especially the honorable and well-born, to gain some reputation in the hunt and in war, -- the more difficult the feats achieved the better, -- before even speaking to a young woman.
Many a life was risked in the effort to establish a reputation along these lines.
Courtship was no secret, but rather a social event, often celebrated by the proud parents with feasts and presents to the poor, and this etiquette was sometimes felt by a shy or sensitive youth as an insurmountable obstacle to the fulfilment of his desires.
Two Strike was the son and grandson of a chief, but he could not claim any credit for the deeds of his forbears. He had not only to guard their good name but achieve one for himself. This he had set out to do, and he did well. He was now of marriageable age with a war record, and admitted to the council, yet he did not seem to trouble himself at all about a wife.
His was strictly a bachelor career.
Meanwhile, as is apt to be the case, his parents had thought much about a possible daughter-in-law, and had even collected ponies, fine robes, and other acceptable goods to be given away in honor of the event, whenever it should take place.
Now and then they would drop a sly hint, but with no perceptible effect.
They did not and could not know of the inward struggle that racked his mind at this period of his life. The shy and modest young man was dying for a wife, yet could not bear even to think of speaking to a young woman!
The fearless hunter of buffaloes, mountain lions, and grizzlies, the youth who had won his eagle feathers in a battle with the Utes, could not bring himself to take this tremendous step. At last his father appealed to him directly.
"My son," he declared, "it is your duty to take unto yourself a wife, in order that the honors won by your ancestors and by yourself may be handed down in the direct line. There are several eligible young women in our band whose parents have intimated a wish to have you for their son-in-law."
Two Strike made no reply, but he was greatly disturbed. He had no wish to have the old folks select his bride, for if the truth were told, his choice was already made. He had simply lacked the courage to go a-courting!
The next morning, after making an unusually careful toilet, he took his best horse and rode to a point overlooking the path by which the girls went for water. Here the young men were wont to take their stand, and, if fortunate, intercept the girl of their heart for a brief but fateful interview.
Two Strike had determined to speak straight to the point, and as soon as he saw the pretty maid he came forward boldly and placed himself in her way. A long moment passed.
She glanced up at him shyly but not without encouragement. His teeth fairly chattered with fright, and he could not say a word. She looked again, noted his strange looks, and believed him suddenly taken ill. He appeared to be suffering.
At last he feebly made signs for her to go on and leave him alone. The maiden was sympathetic, but as she did not know what else to do she obeyed his request. The poor youth was so ashamed of his cowardice that he afterward admitted his first thought was to take his own life.
He believed he had disgraced himself forever in the eyes of the only girl he had ever loved.
However, he determined to conquer his weakness and win her, which he did.
The story came out many years after and was told with much enjoyment by the old men. Two Strike was better known by his own people than by the whites, for he was individually a terror in battle rather than a leader. He achieved his honorable name in a skirmish with the Utes in Colorado.
The Sioux regarded these people as their bravest enemies, and the outcome of the fight was for some time uncertain.
First the Sioux were forced to retreat and then their opponents, and at the latter point the horse of a certain Ute was shot under him.
A friend came to his rescue and took him up behind him. Our hero overtook them in flight, raised his war club, and knocked both men off with one blow. He was a very old man when he died, only two or three years ago, on the Rosebud reservation.
written by Charles Eastmen, 1913