Today I'm reminded about a great leader, influence, and historical person in Native History

Today I'm reminded about a great leader, influence, and historical person in Native History that your children will not hear of in school. They may have a drink of it in college but that is no honor. He died on this day in history so let's begin.
Born around 1840, Crazy horse, Tasunke Witko, stood out from all the other kids. He was extremely fair skinned and had lighter hair for an Oglala Sioux. As a young man he was a legendary warrior. As a man, he was celebrated for his ferocity in battle. Crazy horse was recognized among his own people as a visionary leader committed to preserving the traditions and values of the Lakota way. His determination to preserve his people's traditional way of life was as fierce as his battle skills.
"....in his own teepee he would joke, and when he was in the warpath with a small party, he would joke to make his warriors feel good. But around the village he hardly ever noticed anybody, but the small children. All the lakotas like to dance and sing; but he never joined a dance, and they say nobody ever heard him sing. But everybody liked him and try would do anything he wanted and go anywhere he said."
As a chief crazy horse married a Cheyenne woman and formed a close alliance fighting alongside the Cheyenne who joined him. The stories of battle and heroics is of magical and epic proportions. In the battle of the Fetterman Massacre, Crazy Horse with only 5 other warriors fought off 53 infantrymen and 27 cavalry troopers.
On June 17, 1867 crazy horse led a combined group of approximately 1,500 Lakota and Cheyenne in a surprise attack against Brigadier General George Cooks force of 1000 Calvary and infantry, an allied 300 Crow and Shoshone warriors in the Battle Of Rosebud. This battle delayed cooks forces from joining with the 7th Calvery under George A. Custer who would be siouxed and defeated at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
The stories of Crazy Horses romances and are just as interesting and exciting of his stories in battle. His battles were all an effort to resist efforts to force the Sioux onto reservations. He did fight alongside his good friend Sitting Bull and others but is best known for defeating Custer.
In September 1877, crazy horse left the reservation to take his sick wife to her parents. Fearing his return to battle, an arrest order was sent. After his only true capture, struggling with both arms tied, a soldier thrust a bayonet from behind through his kidneys. His burial ground is hidden somewhere in the Bad lands. Crazy horse left our world for the spirit world on this day September 5, 1877.
For so many reasons, on so many days, the spirit of crazy horse is recognized and honored. He is an absolute inspiration as a leader, and motivation to never surrender your morals or beliefs. In my toughest days, it is in the spirit of crazy horse that I tell myself often...never ever ever let them break you and a little bit of hatred, as long as in balance....is ok. This smudge is in honor of crazy horse today. Aho.

For Sahring. Timely and relevant.