The nickname "Slow" was bestowed upon him as a child...not to degrade him, but due to his careful, analytical nature. But when he was only fourteen, he showed his great bravery and skill by "counting coup" on a Crow warrior. From that event, Slow received the name of his father, Tatanka-Iyotanka...which translates into a name we all easily know today, "Sitting Bull."
Sitting Bull supposedly had several mystical visions. Probably his most famous one showed the defeat of white soldiers "like grasshoppers falling from the sky." Shortly afterwards, General Custer and his men fell to Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse at Little Big Horn, outnumbered by 3000 Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors.
Overall, Sitting Bull was known not only as a great warrior and shaman (often the occupation offered to people who "aren't all there" in indigenous societies, i.e. show autistic traits), but as a very generous, kindhearted individual and overall a great leader. He ended up touring with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show-where unfortunately he was subjected to a great amount of booing and jeers due to the racism of the time-and even ended up naming Annie Oakley as his "adopted daughter."
Sadly, he ended up being shot and killed by Lakota police (after having a vision where he was told "your own people will kill you" no less) who worked for the agent of the reservation-who was fearful of his "Ghost Dance" movement, and feared that he may facilitate an uprising. The location of his grave site is still debated today, but Sitting Bull is still remembered as a brilliant leader, who can serve as a great role model not just for the Lakota, not just for people with autism, but for us all.
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