Arapaho religion

Black Bear (died April 8, 1870) was an Arapaho leader into the 1860s when the Northern Arapaho, like other Native American tribes, were prevented from ranging through their traditional hunting grounds due to settlement by European-Americans who came west during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush.

Conflicts erupted over land and trails used by settlers and miners. A watershed event was the Sand Creek massacre of 1864. This led to the Northern Arapaho joining with other tribes to prevent settlement in their traditional lands.

In 1865, Black Bear's village was attacked during the Battle of the Tongue River.

Arapaho culture

People died, lodges were set on fire, and food was ruined, all of which made it difficult for them to survive as a unit. He died during an ambush by white settlers on April 8, 1870, in the Wild Wind Valley of present-day Wyoming.

Background

Main article: Arapaho § Histories

In the 19th century, the Arapahoes ranged north of the Arkansas River and east fro