Introduction

Native Americans struggled with the US government over attempts to take their land and to put them into reservations. Their thoughts are remembered in some of their chiefs’ sayings:

• “You have taken our lands and made us outcasts”, Chief Sitting Bull.

Some of their actions are also part of the American history:

• In the 1870s Chief Joseph of the Nez Percé was pursued by US soldiers for more than 2,700 km
• Chief Standing Bear of the Ponca won a law case in 1879 to reclaim his people’s land
• Chief Sitting Bull of the Sioux was among the victors of the battle of Little Big Horn
• The Apache elder Goyathlay, known as Geronimo by the white settlers, lead his people against US government troops in the 1860s