Sitting Bull Burial Ground – Fort Yates ND

The site marks the original burial ground of Sitting bull, who was killed on Dec. 15, 1890.

Sitting Bull was a Hunkpapa Lakota leader and holy man born around 1831 near the Grand River in South Dakota. Known for his defiance toward the U.S. military and commitment to his people’s survival, he became a symbol of resistance. He led the Lakota nation through numerous battles, including the Battle of Little Bighorn, where he played a key role in the defeat of General Custer’s forces. Afterward, Sitting Bull led his people to Canada but eventually surrendered due to the near extinction of the buffalo. He was later held as a prisoner of war, but continued to assert his authority. He briefly joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show before returning to the reservation, where he remained steadfast in his cultural beliefs. In 1890, fearing he would support the Ghost Dance movement, authorities attempted to arrest him, leading to a fatal confrontation.