Tokala Clifford

Tokala Clifford, Oglala Lakota. Tokala is a direct descendant of the Lakota (Sioux) Holy Man Black Elk on his mother’s side. 

Actor. known for Wind River (2017), Yellowstone, Into the West, Dreamkeeper. Tokala was the youngest person ever to represent a nation before a session of the United States Congress. Tokala Represented the Oglala Sioux Tribe at the age of thirteen before the 102 session of the United States Senate. He appeared before the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs regarding the official name change of a battlefield from “Custer’s Last Stand Battlefield” to “The Little Big Horn Battlefield”. Tokala testified that “Little Big Horn” was the name according to the Crow, who were scouts for Custer and the Seventh Cavalry. Tokala Argued that the victor should name the battle, and since the Crow were losers with Custer that the name “Little Big Horn” should not be used. Tokala argued that the official name should be what the Lakota Call the Battle; “The Battle of the Greasy Grass”. Congress however did not correct the mistake and now “The Little Big Horn Battlefield” is the official name of the battlefield.

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