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Ta-Semke-Tokeco: The Quiet Strength of the Loafer Band

Among the many leaders who shaped Lakota resistance and resilience during the 19th century, Ta-Semke-Tokeco, also known as Paul Strange Horse, remains one of the most quietly influential. A Brulé Sioux chief of the Loafer Band, his story is little told—yet it offers a rare window into the complexities of diplomacy, survival, and identity during one of the most volatile periods in Plains history.

The Loafer Band (or Waglúhe in Lakota) was unique among the Lakota. Often settled near military forts like Fort Laramie, they lived in closer contact with U.S. authorities than other, more nomadic bands. To outsiders, this closeness was often misunderstood as submission. But under leaders like Ta-Semke-Tokeco, the Loafers played a delicate balancing act—preserving Lakota traditions while navigating an increasingly colonized landscape.

Ta-Semke-Tokeco, bilingual and bicultural, became a bridge between two worlds. He acted as a mediator, often relaying information between the Brulé and U.S. officials. Though not a warrior in the mold of Crazy Horse or Gall, his leadership was no less critical. He advocated for his people's rights with quiet authority, ensuring survival through strategy rather than war.

He was also a signatory of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, a document that promised peace but eventually led to broken agreements and further land loss. Yet Strange Horse endured, adapting while never fully assimilating. His Christian name, Paul, coexisted with his Lakota identity, not as a symbol of surrender, but of survival.

Today, the legacy of Ta-Semke-Tokeco reminds us that not all resistance wears war paint. Sometimes, leadership is found not on the battlefield—but in the quiet negotiations that kept a people alive.

7 months ago | [YT] | 22

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NEW VIDEO RELEASED / In case you missed it 🔥

One of History’s Deadliest Mistakes: The Truth About Custer’s Last Stand

7 months ago | [YT] | 1

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[ NEW VIDEO] - Crazy Horse? Although this image bears his name, many historians believe Crazy Horse was never photographed.

FULL VIDEO: https://youtu.be/5nuwSZdQ8q0 - The Last Battle of the Sioux War: How Wolf Mountain Sealed Crazy Horse’s Fate

Born between 1838 and 1840, Crazy Horse came into the world as the son of Oglala Lakota parents. His mother, Rattling Blanket Woman, and his father, Crazy Horse, would later take on the name Worm once his son inherited the legendary name. His only sibling, a sister born in 1838, remains nameless in the records.

From the moment he could walk, Crazy Horse was destined to leave his mark on history. By the age of 12, he had already earned the respect of his people by stealing horses from the rival Crow Indians. Before he even reached 20, he led his first war party—a harbinger of the bravery and unyielding spirit that would define his life. As he grew, so did his reputation as one of the fiercest and most dedicated warriors to ever ride the plains.

It wasn’t long before Crazy Horse became a key leader in Red Cloud’s War. On December 21, 1866, he played a pivotal role in the infamous Fetterman Massacre. As part of a decoy party, he lured a detachment of US soldiers from Fort Phil Kearny into an ambush. In a stunning display of strategy, all 80 soldiers were wiped out—an unthinkable victory that would stand as the Army's greatest defeat on the Great Plains until Little Bighorn a decade later. Once again, Crazy Horse would be part of that monumental loss.

The Great Sioux War of 1876-77 (also known as the Black Hills War) erupted when US settlers, undeterred by the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, encroached upon the sacred Black Hills. Lured by the region's wealth of natural resources, the settlers ignored the treaty, and the government failed to intervene. A delegation of Sioux chiefs traveled to Washington, hoping for a peaceful resolution, but when negotiations failed, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull chose to fight.

Crazy Horse’s presence at the Battle of Little Bighorn is well-known, and though historical accounts vary, he is often credited with the decisive role in routing Major Reno’s forces and overwhelming the US troops on Calhoun Hill. While it remains unsubstantiated, legend holds that Crazy Horse led the final charge that sealed General Custer’s fate.

After the stunning defeat at Little Bighorn, the US Army adapted its strategy. Under the relentless pursuit of General Nelson A. Miles, Crazy Horse was driven deep into Lakota territory during the brutal winter of 1876-77. Exhausted, starving, and surrounded, Crazy Horse surrendered on May 6, 1877, and brought his people to the Red Cloud Agency near Camp Robinson. It marked the beginning of a painful chapter—Crazy Horse, once the fierce symbol of resistance, now sought peace, but rumors swirled that he might escape and return to his ways of old.

As tensions grew, Crazy Horse was escorted to Camp Robinson, where orders were given for his arrest. When soldiers moved to detain him, Crazy Horse resisted fiercely. In the ensuing struggle, a soldier stabbed him with a bayonet. He succumbed to his injuries later that night.

In his journal, Lieutenant Colonel Luther Bradley wrote: “September 5, 1877. ‘Crazy Horse’ was brought here from Spotted Tail today, a prisoner. He was mortally wounded in trying to escape at dusk and died about midnight. His father and ‘Touch the Cloud,’ chief of the Sans-Aras, were with him until he passed. After his final breath, ‘Touch the Cloud’ placed his hand on Crazy Horse’s chest and said, ‘Wash-t-la, it is good. He has sought death, and it has come.’”

Crazy Horse’s body was returned to his grieving parents. To this day, his final resting place remains a mystery, but his legacy endures as one of the most enduring symbols of resistance and courage in American history.

7 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 22

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Remembering Little Bighorn: Cheyenne Warriors Revisit History, 51 Years Later

In 1927, more than half a century after the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Cheyenne warrior Wooden Leg stood beside a hand-drawn map of the battlefield, created by historian Thomas B. Marquis. With him were fellow veterans of the 1876 fight: Little Sun, Wolf Chief, and Big Beaver—all survivors of one of the most famous clashes in the American West. As Marquis captured the moment in a photograph, three of the men held eagle wing fans, traditional symbols of honor and warrior status.

Marquis, who had spent years living among the Northern Cheyenne and learning Plains Indian sign language, devoted his life to preserving their oral histories. He conducted dozens of interviews with battle participants and chronicled the events surrounding Custer’s defeat in rich, human detail. His best-known work, “Wooden Leg: A Warrior Who Fought Custer,” remains one of the most intimate and insightful accounts of Cheyenne life and the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

(Click or zoom in on the photo to explore the details.)

7 months ago | [YT] | 29

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NEW VIDEO RELEASED / In case you missed it 🔥

8 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 1

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I want to reiterate, remember… that it was not a discovery, perhaps a rediscovery, because when Christopher Columbus, with his usual flowing hair, dreamy eyes, and undoubtedly smelly feet, landed on the island of Hispaniola, there was already a population — those who would later be called Dominicans — and they had been there for about twenty to thirty thousand years. They had crossed the Bering Strait along with all the others who would later be called Indians.

So on the evening of October 12th, at least as far as I’m concerned, I will stand with the Indians and remember with them what they consider the day of the greatest national mourning.

(Fabrizio De André)

8 months ago | [YT] | 15

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Would you like to see more videos about the Battle of the Little Bighorn?

8 months ago | [YT] | 4

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[ NEW VIDEO RELEASED / In case you missed it ] 🔥

The Battle of Rosebud: The Cheyenne Woman Who Changed History

9 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 4

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Little Sioux’s Story: An Arikara’s Eyewitness Account of the Battle of the Little Bighorn

1 year ago | [YT] | 7

History Addict

Cheyenne Warrior Dog - A Northern Cheyenne Warrior shares his perspective on the Battle of Little Bighorn, as told to his granddaughter, Florence Whiteman. Hear the gripping story of Custer's betrayal, the prophecy of the Cheyenne, and the warriors’ final stand against the U.S. Army. Through this intimate retelling, we gain insight into the courage, wisdom, and traditions of the Cheyenne people, and how their oral history preserves the truth of what really happened at Little Bighorn.

See More At: ► FULL VIDEO: https://youtu.be/bFFqM36qqjA

1 year ago | [YT] | 178