Little Crow was a Santee Sioux and the fifth hereditary chief to lead his
people.  He signed the Treaty of Mendota in 1851, which transferred so
much Indian land to whites that it angered his tribe, and he was not
nominated as a tribal representative to t he general council.  In 1862,
the Santee Sioux rose up against the settlers of Minnesota when the
government annuity, guaranteed by the treaty of 1851, was delayed.  Little
Crow opposed the uprising at first, but eventually joined it and led
several successful skirmishes against whites before fleeing to Canada. 
He reappeared in Minnesota, where he was murdered by white hunters in July
1863.