Ernie LaPointe Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Ernie LaPointe
Eternal Field, A wet-plate collodion photograph of Ernie LaPointe
Born	1948 (age 76–77) Pine Ridge, South Dakota, U.S.
Occupation	Writer, Orator
Spouse(s)	Sonja LaPointe
Relatives	Sitting Bull (great-grandfather)

Ernie LaPointe (born 1948) is an Indigenous American Sun Dancer, author, and orator. He is widely known as the great-grandson of Sitting Bull (Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake), who was a famous chief of the Hunkpapa Lakota. Ernie LaPointe has dedicated his life to sharing the true story of his great-grandfather and the rich culture of his ancestors. His journey is shown in the documentary Sitting Bull's Voice.

About Ernie LaPointe
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About Ernie LaPointe

Early Life and Family

Ernie LaPointe was born in 1948 on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. His parents were Claude LaPointe and Angeline Spotted Horse LaPointe. Ernie grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota, where he went to public school. His mother was a housewife, and his father worked at a lumber yard. Ernie faced challenges early in life, losing his mother to cancer when he was ten and his father to a heart attack when he was seventeen.

Military Service

At eighteen, Ernie LaPointe joined the Army. He served in different places around the world, including Korea, Turkey, and Germany, as well as various locations in the United States. He also completed one tour in Vietnam between 1970 and 1971. He received an honorable discharge from the Army in 1972.

Sharing His Ancestor's Story

When Ernie LaPointe was growing up, his mother told him not to tell others about his connection to Sitting Bull. However, she also told him that one day it might be important for him to share the correct story about his great-grandfather.

In 1992, Ernie LaPointe first spoke publicly about Sitting Bull's direct family. This happened when Sitting Bull was added to the Hall of Fame of American Indian Chiefs in Anadarko, Oklahoma. After this, LaPointe started writing a book called Sitting Bull: His Life and Legacy. He also began traveling and speaking to audiences both in the United States and other countries about his great-grandfather.

The Film Sitting Bull's Voice

In 2012, Ernie LaPointe started working on a documentary film project with director Bill Matson. The film is called Sitting Bull's Voice. It tells the oral history of the Sitting Bull family, passed down through generations. The film also follows Ernie LaPointe's personal journey to become the main voice for his great-grandfather's story.

Sitting Bull's Voice has been shown at many film festivals across the country. It has won several awards, including Best Documentary Award at the San Pedro International Film Festival in 2013. In 2014, it received the Best Native American Feature Award from the Indie Spirit Film Festival. The film also earned an Honorable Mention Award for Best Picture-Documentary-Feature at the Flathead Lake International Film Festival in 2015.

Public Speaking Engagements

Ernie LaPointe and his wife, Sonja, spend a lot of their time traveling. They speak at universities, museums, and film festivals. They share the history of Sitting Bull and the rich cultural heritage of the Lakota people. In 2010, Ernie LaPointe was invited to be a main speaker at the University of Notre Dame's graduation ceremony.

Connecting with History

Repatriation of Artifacts

A lock of hair and leggings believed to belong to Sitting Bull were kept at the National Museum of Natural History, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution. On December 5, 2007, Ernie LaPointe went to the museum for the return of these items to his family. A special ceremony for Sitting Bull's hair was held at LaPointe's home in South Dakota. A small part of the hair was also given to a DNA specialist in Europe. This was done so that people who believe they might be related to Sitting Bull could have a DNA test.

Seeking Reburial

Ernie LaPointe, along with his sisters Marlene Little Spotted Horse Andersen, Ethel Little Spotted Horse Bates, and Lydia Little Spotted Horse Red Paint, have been asking the government to move their ancestor's remains. Sitting Bull's remains are currently in a grave in South Dakota. The family wants them to be reburied at the site of Sitting Bull's most important vision: the Battle of Little Big Horn.

Personal Life

Ernie LaPointe lives according to the traditional ways of the Lakota people. He follows the rules of the sacred pipe, which is an important part of his culture. He lives in Lead, South Dakota with his wife, Sonja. In 2021, a DNA test officially confirmed that Sitting Bull was indeed his great-grandfather.

Ernie LaPointe facts for kids

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