Lena Hunter
November 2nd, 2021

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Sitting bull and his family in 1881 (photo: Von Bern)

Using an advanced DNA-testing method, a research team led by Eske Willerslev, a professor at Cambridge and head of the Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre at the University of Copenhagen, has mapped the genetic heritage of the legendary Hunkpapa Lakota chief Sitting Bull.

The results confirm that Ernie LaPointe – the famed head of the Lakota tribe – is indeed, as he has always claimed to be, the great-grandson of the great Sioux  leader.

Sitting Bull is one of the most significant figures in Native American culture and history. A symbol of opposition to white supremacy, he along with Crazy Horse and their Native American allies defeated General George Custer and his forces at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

A great honour
Professor Willerslev – who had admired Sitting Bull as a hero since childhood – said he “almost choked on [his] coffee” when he read a magazine article claiming the chief’s ancient hair and leggings had been returned to LaPointe.

“I wrote to LaPointe and explained that I specialised in the analysis of ancient DNA, and that I was an admirer of Sitting Bull, and I would consider it a great honour if I could be allowed to compare the DNA of Ernie and his sisters with the DNA of the Native American leader’s hair when it was returned to them,” said Willerslev.

New method cracks DNA code
The hallowed lock in question is 130 years old. Such damaged DNA is not easy to work with.

“The traditional DNA-based methods simply did not work well enough. We had to develop a new method where we estimate the extent of Sitting Bull and Ernie LaPointe’s genetic similarity based on the sparse data from Sitting Bull,” explained Willerslev.

Usual DNA testing relies heavily on the male Y chromosome, but with LaPointe claiming to be related to Sitting Bull on his mother’s side, the researchers developed a different analysis technique based on “autosomal DNA” – a non-sex-specific DNA that people inherit from both mother and a father.

Contesting the burial site
LaPointe wants the right to decide where Sitting Bull’s mortal remains will finally be buried. “Over the years, many people have tried to question the relationship that I and my sisters have to Sitting Bull,” he said in a news release.

Currently, there are two official burial sites for Sitting Bull, one at Fort Yates in North Dakota and one at Mobridge in South Dakota – but LaPointe contests that the sites are neglected, and that his great-grandfather’s remains are being commercialised.

The new genetic confirmation together with historical documents such as birth certificates may strengthen his legal position.

Read the whole study: ‘Identifying a living great-grandson of the Lakota Sioux leader Tatanka Iyotake (Sitting Bull)’

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