Why did Sioux and Cheyenne Indians sign on with Buffalo Bill's entertainment group?

Answer 1

In the late 1800's the world was changing. The US reached from east to west. Trains took people and goods across the country. A civil war had been fought and more people were living in cities. Industrial grow produced new jobs, and the "Wild West " was becoming legendary. The shows were a means to cash in on the legends, and the Native Americans were some of the poorest people in the nation . They were on reservations, discriminated against, couldn't get work, and were still seen as inferior so they took the jobs in the shows. They played to the stereotype to earn a living for their families. Even as late as the 1950's some of this was still going on. I remember meeting a Sioux chief who was going to schools. He really impressed me and made me want to learn more about Native American history.