Treaties of Fort Laramie Treaty of Fort Laramie 1868 Lakotah
Sioux Chief Red Cloud, fed up with the US policy of “treaties”
to approve their agenda without living up to their end of the
bargain, famously stated: “I have listened patiently to the
promises of the Great Father, but his memory is short. I am now
done with him. This is all I have to say” In 1866, the Sioux,
under Red Cloud, promised resistance to US soldiers and miners
in the Powder River Country of Wyoming, after failed
negotiations by the US attempting to establish forts and
settlements for gold mining in the area. The Sioux were fast to
remember the US’ failure to respect the previous Laramie Treaty
of 1851, and the force of 1300 men brought to the Council tipped
the US’ hand that the current treaty had the intent of
fortifying the Powder River area for permanent annexation by the
United States. The US fought against the Sioux in the Powder
River Country for two years, who were attacking wood trains,
supply lines, and over-running attack partie