The American West 02 - Travels with the Oglala (1846) - from

An early traveler in the West recalls life with the Oglala, and the ritual of the Great Buffalo Hunt. (8 mins) In 1846 a young journalist from Boston called Francis Parkman made a journey down the Oregon Trail, to experience the life of the Oglala Sioux. This module tells his story: how he made contact with the Oglala west of Fort Laramie, Wyoming; how he described the customs of the tribe; and how, feverish with excitement, he participated in an exhilarating Oglala ritual: the Great Buffalo Hunt. Written and directed by Andrew Chater. Originally commissioned and broadcast by the BBC. Copyright Andrew Chater / Lodestar Productions / , streamed with the BBC’s consent. Watch the full American West resource in an interactive timeline at