The story of the Salford Sioux
Strange though it may seem today, hundreds of Oglala Sioux Indians - depicted in the 1990 film 'Dances with Wolves' – once settled, for six months, in their teepees on the cold and damp banks of the Irwell during the winter of 1887-88!
The campers (who have links to a modern-day Native American reservation in South Dakota, USA) were all members of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Circus, where they recreated classic gunslinging scenes from the wild west with their ‘cowboy’ counterparts. The show was so popular in Salford that it took a break from its world tour to stay longer in the city.
However, the Sioux’s stay was surrounded by mystery …
After 6ft 7ins warrior ‘Surrounded’ died of a chest infection in his teepee on Salford Quays his body was taken to Hope Hospital, where it promptly vanished. It was never buried, there is no record of it being moved, and nobody admitted to taking it.
Steve Coen, from Higher Broughton, is investigating this and many other enigmas surrounding the Sioux Indian’s six month stay in Salford. Other interesting facts Mr Coen has unearthed include the fact that many of the Sioux were veterans of the iconic American battle Little Big Horn ... and they were on the run in Europe from the US cavalry!
One small Sioux girl was baptised at St Clement's Church before slipping out of the history books, and descendants of the Salford settlers still live in Greater Manchester.
So could this amazing Salford story benefit today’s local community?We need to work out how the city can derive most benefit from this part of our history and then we need to do something about it!
Council officers are actively considering possible sources of funding which might enable us to develop this project further.
Ideas include:
| This might include exchange visits; friendship or other links; working with local residents using the stories and values of the native American community; generating maximum community involvement | |
| For example, commemorating the site – now near The Lowry - where the Sioux camped; telling the story of the Salford Sioux in print and online; continuing to trace relatives of the original settlers; collecting/creating an archive of the Salford Sioux | |
| Creating art exhibitions, environmental study projects or school work which uses this story as its theme; using native American recipes in the Salford food and drink festival | |
| This might include creating/establishing a Salford pow-wow event, including funding a visit from South Dakota Oglala tribe members |
Press Release: "Totem pole is latest chapter in Salford's tallest story" (05.01.2007)
This page was last updated on 05 January 2007
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