Luther Standing Bear

Luther Standing Bear, (1868-1939) was born Ota Kte on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Standing Bear was raised as a traditional Sioux, growing up in Nebraska and South Dakota and was a hereditary chief of the Dakotas. He was one of the first students to attend the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania. He held various jobs including teacher, minister and clerk. In 1898 he toured with the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show which lead him to California and the world of acting. In the 1920's and 1930's he fought to improve conditions for Indians on the reservations, writing several books about Indian life and government policy. Standing Bear was a member of the National League for Justice to the American Indian, Oglala Council, Actor's Guild of Hollywood, and Indian Actor's Association.