Powstanie Siuksów w 1862 roku w świetle relacji wodza Wielkiego Orła

Abstract

In the history of Amerindians, the second half of the XIX century was a period of fighting for survival. Within merely one year white Americans displaced indigenes in their territories. During that time there were several fights and conflicts between local inhabitants of the continent and new settlers who were coming continuously. The majority of sources pertaining to this subject were created by white settlers, which resulted in a one-sided approach. The Dakota uprising (1862) is one of those events that were related on by Amerindians themselves. In 1994 one of the leaders of the uprising – Big Eagle, decided to present his account. Despite the fact that his story was written down after over 30 years form the time it actually had happened, and the chief himself complied with the lifestyle of white people, it is a valuable source and should not be eluded in the analysis of the events. Big Eagle’s story was compared with the stories of two other participants of the uprising: Lightning Blanket and a half-Indian, George Quinn. The analysis of these three accounts resulted in an attempt to recreate the uprising events, through Dakota eyes.