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 was born in 1948. He is an Indigenous American Sun Dancer, writer, and speaker. He is famous for being the great-grandson of Sitting Bull. Sitting Bull (Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake) was a respected chief of the Hunkpapa Lakota.

Ernie LaPointe has had a long journey. He learned to embrace his culture and the spiritual ways of his ancestors. He also worked to become the main voice for his great-grandfather. This journey is shown in the documentary Sitting Bull's Voice.

Early Life and Education

Ernie LaPointe was born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. His parents were Claude and Angeline LaPointe. He grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota. There, he went to public school.

His mother was a housewife. His father worked at a lumber yard. Ernie's mother passed away from cancer when he was ten. His father died of a heart attack when Ernie was seventeen.

Military Service

At eighteen, Ernie LaPointe joined the Army. He served in different places. These included Korea, Turkey, and Germany. He also served in various parts of the United States.

He went to Vietnam for one tour from 1970 to 1971. He received an honorable discharge in 1972. This means he left the Army with a good record.

Becoming a Voice for Sitting Bull

When Ernie was young, his mother told him not to talk about his connection to Sitting Bull. Before she passed away, she told him that one day it might be important. She said he might need to share the true story about his great-grandfather.

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

Documentary Film: Sitting Bull's Voice

In 2012, Ernie LaPointe started working on a documentary film. It is called Sitting Bull's Voice. He worked with director Bill Matson. The film shares the oral history of the Sitting Bull family. Oral history means stories passed down by speaking, not writing.

The film also follows Ernie LaPointe's journey. It shows how he became the voice for his great-grandfather. The film has been shown at many film festivals. It has won several awards. In 2013, it won the Best Documentary Award at a festival in California. In 2014, it received the Best Native American Feature Award in Colorado. In 2015, it earned an Honorable Mention for Best Picture-Documentary-Feature.

Public Speaking Engagements

Ernie LaPointe and his wife travel a lot. They visit universities, museums, and film festivals. They speak about the history of Sitting Bull. They also share the cultural heritage of the Lakota people.

In 2010, LaPointe was asked to be a main speaker. This was at the University of Notre Dame graduation ceremony.

Bringing Ancestral Items Home

Some items believed to belong to Sitting Bull were kept at a museum. These included a lock of hair and leggings. They were at the National Museum of Natural History in the Smithsonian Institution.

On December 5, 2007, LaPointe went to the museum. He was there for the repatriation of these items. Repatriation means bringing cultural items back to their original people or home. A 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. This was to help people who think they might be related to Sitting Bull. They could get a DNA test.

Ernie LaPointe and his sisters have been asking the government for something else. They want their ancestor's remains to be moved. Sitting Bull's remains are currently in a grave in South Dakota. They want them reburied at the site of Sitting Bull's greatest vision. This place is the Battle of Little Big Horn. Reinterment means reburying someone.

Personal Life

Ernie LaPointe lives in a traditional Lakota way. He follows the rules of the sacred pipe. He lives in Lead, South Dakota with his wife, Sonja. In 2021, a DNA test confirmed his family connection. It showed that Sitting Bull was indeed his great-grandfather.

See also

• Sitting Bull
• Sitting Bull's Voice
• National Hall of Fame for Famous American Indians