More People Should Know That Crazy Horse's Final Resting Place May Be Somewhere In Nebraska
By Andrea Verschuyl|Published January 24, 2024
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Andrea Verschuyl
Author
Having grown up in Washington, Andrea is a self-admitted Pacific Northwest snob. In their opinion, there's simply nowhere else in the country with the Evergreen State's beauty. After attending university, Andrea devoted themselves to writing full-time. They're thrilled to represent Washington for Only In Your State while pursuing other professional and personal projects. They currently reside in Olympia, where they enjoy leaf-blowing their yard, perfecting homemade ramen, cuddling with their three tiny dogs, and feeding their pufferfish, Sea Biscuit.
Nebraska’s past is peppered with fascinating people and their stories. One individual more Cornhuskers should know about is Crazy Horse, an influential Oglala Lakota leader. Though he was born in the Black Hills, many of the events for which he’d become famous took place in Nebraska, including his eventual imprisonment and death. While his story makes for interesting Nebraska history, it also reminds us of a grim past and the human conflict foundational to our statehood.
Crazy Horse, or Tȟašúŋke Witkó in the Lakota language, was born during a period of incredible change.
In the 19th century, it was US government policy to remove Indigenous peoples from their lands and force them onto reservations. For the politically and economically powerful Great Plains tribes, like the Oglala Lakota, this subjugation was unthinkable. They refused to cede ownership of their ancestral territory, ultimately leading to the Black Hills War of 1876.
In defense of his people, Crazy Horse participated in several infamous battles against the US Cavalry. For instance, he led the Lakota into 1876's Battle of the Little Bighorn. These victories earned him a reputation for his ingenuity and courage.
But war came with a heavy price. When it was clear his people couldn't fight any longer, Crazy Horse was one of several Oglala leaders to formally surrender at Nebraska's Fort Robinson, then the location of the Red Cloud Indian Agency.
Negotiations between the two governments were fraught by miscommunication and colonial prejudice. The command at Fort Robinson was suspicious of Crazy Horse and ordered his arrest. Crazy Horse fought back and was killed in the struggle.
While Crazy Horse’s story makes for interesting Nebraska history, it also reminds us of our state’s foundational injustices. Nebraska exists not in spite of, but because of this complicated past.
