The Cheyenne

Hoig, Stan. The Cheyenne. 2006. 130p. ISBN 0-7910-8598-8. Available at 973.04 HOI on the library shelves.

 

Living on the plains from the Mississippi to the Rockies, the Cheyenne adapted well to the arrival of the horse, and became expert horsemen. The horse also transformed their society into hunters, instead of farmers. The Cheyenne fought against the tribes around them and became the dominant group, but the arrival of Americans from the east soon upended tribal traditions and power structures. As the Cheyenne tried to adapt to a new life, more and more settlers came west. The discovery of gold caused further hardships.

Negotiations with the American government often concluded with peace treaties that were routinely violated or ignored by the federal and state authorities. The Cheyenne fought back and in a series of wars inflicted significant damage on federal troops as well as on the settlers traversing their lands. This was not enough to stop the inexorable drive to the Pacific, however, and soon the Cheyenne found themselves forced onto reservations, their numbers dwindling due to violence, diseases, and famine. 

A federally recognized tribe, the Cheyenne are now divided into two groups, the Suhtai from Oklahoma, and the Tsitsistas from Montana. Both tribes have adapted to their circumstances and have reclaimed a degree of cultural and political autonomy, though they continue to face long odds on the way to preserving their identity.