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The Boy Sitting Bull

© Mary Trotter Kion

Sitting Bull was born sometime around March of 1831 near the Ree River, now called Grand River, on the Northern Plains of America. As a Lakota Sioux, he was born into the Hunkpapa clan. As an infant he was not called Sitting Bull. At the time, that named belonged to his father. The name Sitting Bull, or Tatanka-Iyotanka, meaning a stubborn buffalo bull sitting on its haunches, was yet to come and had to be earned.

The boy's parents, the elder Sitting Bull and Her-Holy-Door, at first gave the boy the name Jumping Badger. It was a name that all understood would be replaced by a more appropriate and meaningful name as the boy grew and began to show what kind of man he would be.

However, before Jumping Badger gained his father's name he was to be called by still another name. Jumping Badger showed willful and deliberate ways as a youngster and soon was known by the nickname of Slow, or Hunkesni.

Jumping Badger's father was a chief and a rich man who owned many horses. The immediate elders in the boy's family, besides his parents, were his uncles, the three younger brothers of his father. Two of them, Four Horns and Looks-for-Him-in-a-Tent, were also chiefs.

When Jumping Badger was born he already had an older sister. Good Feather was six-years-older. Later, a younger sister was born, Brown-Shawl-Woman or Twin Woman. Jumping Badger also had a half brother, Fool Dog, born to his father by an earlier marriage. Fool Dog lived with his own mother and her people, the Arikaras.

As a toddler, Jumping Badger's life was probably very pleasant. Sioux parents were know to dote on their children, considering them as the greatest gift from Wakantanka, the Great Mystery. Children were the tribe's future and therefore enjoyed considerable love and attention from the adults around them. The children experienced much indulgence as well as gentle and persistent instructions. They also enjoyed the complete absence of physical punishment.

Jumping Badger's childhood was ruled by his mother until the time came when his voice began to take on manly tones. Then it was time for his father and uncles to govern his upbringing. These men, brave warriors that they were, now spent many hours attending to Jumping Badger's riding and shooting skills.

Jumping Badger's father and uncles knew that no chief commanded respect and adherence to his leadership merely because he was a chief. A chief had to lead by example. He had to show that he was a wise man. Looking to Jumping Badger's future, one that might not include his father and uncles, these men spent many hours, also, imparting their wisdom upon the boy known as Slow.

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