Two Lakota leaders came to symbolize the resistance and tragedy of the northern plains. To understand South Dakota is to sit with the heritage of the people who shaped it.

Both played central roles in the events surrounding the 1876 conflicts.

What sets it apart

Their names now mark schools, colleges and monuments across the state. For those who know the region well, it is a quiet point of pride.

Historians still debate the details of their final years and deaths.

Why it matters

Step back, and a larger picture comes into view: this is South Dakota in miniature, rugged and unhurried. It is a heritage still very much alive in the communities and gatherings of today's South Dakota.