May 24, 2025 • 9 mins
ICYMI: ‘Later, with Mo’Kelly’ Presents – A special conversation with Native American actor Michael Spears, who stars as ‘Sitting Bull’ in the two-night documentary event Documentary Event ‘Sitting Bull’ from executive producer Leonardo DiCaprio - on KFI AM 640…Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app & YouTube @MrMoKelly
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Wimbo Kelly from executive producer Leonardo DiCaprio. The History Channel's
documentary event Sitting Bull explores the remarkable life and accomplishments
of the iconic Lakota chief. It is a special two
night event on May twenty seventh and twenty eighth. Sitting
Bull examines the mid nineteenth century westward expansion of American
(00:22):
settlers and their encroachment upon Native territories. From it rose,
the legendary Lakota leader. Sitting Bull grew up in a
time of prosperity for the Lakota people, but people started
flooding the west. Native people see it as an invasion
from the east. This is not some distant historic figure.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
This is a real person who had a transformative effect.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Joining me right now on the show is the star
of Sitting Bull. Michael Spears. Michael, thank you for coming
on tonight. How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Hey, Madalo, I'm doing well. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
That's fantastic. You are a member of the Lakota Nation.
For those who don't know, born in South Dakota, walk
the same paths that Sitting Bull did. What were the
stories like that you heard growing up?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Growing up? I got to hear some of the UH
the relationships that he had. You know, where his mother
was from, where his where he came from, and why
he did what he did.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
When you heard about what he did, like for example,
most people who may not be familiar with him know
about the Battle of Wounded Knee and its legacy. The
battle was between the US Army and the Lakota people.
Were some three hundred Lakota men, women and children were killed.
How were those stories conveyed to you growing up?
Speaker 2 (01:48):
You know, getting being so close to to Oglalla country
where Wounded Knee took place. You know, we every every
year around the anniversary of those times, you know, we
would we gather and my father and mother grandparents would
share those stories and tell us, you know, what happened
and why they happened. You know, Spotted Elk or Bigfoot
(02:13):
was was thought to be the next leader as Sitting Bull.
So that's why they went after him so so hard.
You know, they thought there was gonna he was gonna
be the next UH chief and and and rise up,
and so they you know, the Calvary and the government
chased him down and hence the massacre at Wounded Knee.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
That's a great point that you made Sitting Bull getting
back to the to the show is part documentary, part dramatization.
Is as much as you were involved, how does this
go about telling the most important events in his life
as a man, as a leader, as a chief.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Well, you know, he is one of our brightest icons
of diplomacy. He was ceremonial chief. He was a holy man,
you know, and in his later years he didn't actually
participate in the fighting because he couldn't being a holy man.
You know, you're a proponent of life. And even in
(03:16):
the show, you're going to see his telling of his
vision prior to the battle, a little big horn or
greasy grass as we know it, and you're going to
see how it affects him emotionally and personally to talk
about and realize that there's going to be so much death,
you know, and not only with the Lakota people, but
(03:37):
on both sides, you know. And he didn't he wasn't
a proponent of war, but he was an incredible strategist
and he was very spiritually grounded and connected individual, which
you're going to get to see.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
In this time of no real direct communication. Yes, there
were newspapers, but I was assumed that was more on
the army side and the settler side. How did the
legend of Sitting Bull spread? He was talked about in newspapers,
but how did he spread among the La Coda nation
and beyond? How did that word travel?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
So in our history is historically we provide our our
youth are the people with an oral history or a
winter con is what we call it. And we would
have gatherings where even here where I'm at in Montana,
we have the headwaters, there's places on sacred spaces, including
(04:35):
the Black Hills, where we would gather and have our
annual sun dance or wiping of tears or hungapi ceremonies
are making of relatives. And so we had sacred spaces
that Sitting Bull fought for and Crazy Horse and you
know all of our leaders fought for these spaces too
(04:56):
that we have used over the last you know, hundreds
of of years to h to have uh you know
that they say, uh, you know, I don't like to
use that word pow wow, but it's a it's a
contemporary word of an actually a payout word power. Uh.
(05:18):
It's a gathering. So we would have gatherings of ceremonies
to to tell the you know, who lived and who
died and why and who uh what happened? So you know,
we would keep our records on on heights on there.
There was a job of a historian of each tribe
to have those records and to share them orally and pictographically.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
I know there must be a lot of expectation and
a lot of responsibility in portraying someone like sitting Bull.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Now.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
I said in the beginning that it was executive produced
by Leonardo DiCaprio, But there are a lot of people
correct me if I'm wrong, from the Lakota Nation who
are also involved this piece. Is that true?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yes, yes, that was gave me a a big sense
of pride, you know, walking on to the location and set,
seeing the la Quota commentators, seeing the Lakota producers, and
you know, we've got Native historians telling the story. You know,
we've got representation not only from la Quota, but the Crow,
(06:24):
the Hunk, Popa, the you know, we have a representation
from all walks of life that are getting to share
in their knowledge.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Does any of this make you just a little bit
nervous as a person, because you know, there's so many
people tuning in with their own preconceived notions of how
the story should be told. You know, there's always going
to be some sort of pushback. Does that weigh on
you in any way?
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Oh? Yes, yes it does, you know, just just as
a person, you know, you want to have a good
relationship with everybody. You know, you don't want to hurt
nobody's feelings. And I try to do the best that
I could in my own research, my own connection, asking
permission through ceremony to play this role. You know, I've
(07:12):
I've already felt some of that pushback on on social
media with some of the relatives of sitting well himself,
and I definitely feel the weight on the responsibility of
playing such an important character or person chief relative.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Do you think that you will be sitting watching as
it airs the first night, in the second night, or
are you someone who doesn't necessarily need to see yourself
on screen as it airs in premieres?
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah, I guess I'm one of those guys who doesn't
really like to watch himself. But I have some relatives
that put together a watch party. I'm going to be
sitting there with my with some family and relatives, and
we're going to get to watch it together.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
That's good. It's nice to hear that your family and
friends will be supporting you, because I know, especially with
social media, it can really really be difficult on occasion.
Sitting Bull a special two night event on May twenty
seventh and twenty eighth History Channel starring my guest Michael
Spears as City Bull. Mister Spears, thank you for coming
on this evening. I salute you and celebrate you and
(08:30):
wish you nothing but success in the future.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Oil Thank you so much from my heart to yours,
and I hope you all enjoy and come away with
some awareness and a little bit of knowledge and love.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Today we're honoring our nation's heroes on Memorial Day with
some of the best of Later with mo Kelly on
kf I AM six forty Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.
You're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on demand from
KFI A M six forty
Wimbo Kelly from executive producer Leonardo DiCaprio. The History Channel's
documentary event Sitting Bull explores the remarkable life and accomplishments
of the iconic Lakota chief. It is a special two
night event on May twenty seventh and twenty eighth. Sitting
Bull examines the mid nineteenth century westward expansion of American
(00:22):
settlers and their encroachment upon Native territories. From it rose,
the legendary Lakota leader. Sitting Bull grew up in a
time of prosperity for the Lakota people, but people started
flooding the west. Native people see it as an invasion
from the east. This is not some distant historic figure.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
This is a real person who had a transformative effect.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Joining me right now on the show is the star
of Sitting Bull. Michael Spears. Michael, thank you for coming
on tonight. How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Hey, Madalo, I'm doing well. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
That's fantastic. You are a member of the Lakota Nation.
For those who don't know, born in South Dakota, walk
the same paths that Sitting Bull did. What were the
stories like that you heard growing up?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Growing up? I got to hear some of the UH
the relationships that he had. You know, where his mother
was from, where his where he came from, and why
he did what he did.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
When you heard about what he did, like for example,
most people who may not be familiar with him know
about the Battle of Wounded Knee and its legacy. The
battle was between the US Army and the Lakota people.
Were some three hundred Lakota men, women and children were killed.
How were those stories conveyed to you growing up?
Speaker 2 (01:48):
You know, getting being so close to to Oglalla country
where Wounded Knee took place. You know, we every every
year around the anniversary of those times, you know, we
would we gather and my father and mother grandparents would
share those stories and tell us, you know, what happened
and why they happened. You know, Spotted Elk or Bigfoot
(02:13):
was was thought to be the next leader as Sitting Bull.
So that's why they went after him so so hard.
You know, they thought there was gonna he was gonna
be the next UH chief and and and rise up,
and so they you know, the Calvary and the government
chased him down and hence the massacre at Wounded Knee.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
That's a great point that you made Sitting Bull getting
back to the to the show is part documentary, part dramatization.
Is as much as you were involved, how does this
go about telling the most important events in his life
as a man, as a leader, as a chief.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Well, you know, he is one of our brightest icons
of diplomacy. He was ceremonial chief. He was a holy man,
you know, and in his later years he didn't actually
participate in the fighting because he couldn't being a holy man.
You know, you're a proponent of life. And even in
(03:16):
the show, you're going to see his telling of his
vision prior to the battle, a little big horn or
greasy grass as we know it, and you're going to
see how it affects him emotionally and personally to talk
about and realize that there's going to be so much death,
you know, and not only with the Lakota people, but
(03:37):
on both sides, you know. And he didn't he wasn't
a proponent of war, but he was an incredible strategist
and he was very spiritually grounded and connected individual, which
you're going to get to see.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
In this time of no real direct communication. Yes, there
were newspapers, but I was assumed that was more on
the army side and the settler side. How did the
legend of Sitting Bull spread? He was talked about in newspapers,
but how did he spread among the La Coda nation
and beyond? How did that word travel?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
So in our history is historically we provide our our
youth are the people with an oral history or a
winter con is what we call it. And we would
have gatherings where even here where I'm at in Montana,
we have the headwaters, there's places on sacred spaces, including
(04:35):
the Black Hills, where we would gather and have our
annual sun dance or wiping of tears or hungapi ceremonies
are making of relatives. And so we had sacred spaces
that Sitting Bull fought for and Crazy Horse and you
know all of our leaders fought for these spaces too
(04:56):
that we have used over the last you know, hundreds
of of years to h to have uh you know
that they say, uh, you know, I don't like to
use that word pow wow, but it's a it's a
contemporary word of an actually a payout word power. Uh.
(05:18):
It's a gathering. So we would have gatherings of ceremonies
to to tell the you know, who lived and who
died and why and who uh what happened? So you know,
we would keep our records on on heights on there.
There was a job of a historian of each tribe
to have those records and to share them orally and pictographically.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
I know there must be a lot of expectation and
a lot of responsibility in portraying someone like sitting Bull.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Now.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
I said in the beginning that it was executive produced
by Leonardo DiCaprio, But there are a lot of people
correct me if I'm wrong, from the Lakota Nation who
are also involved this piece. Is that true?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yes, yes, that was gave me a a big sense
of pride, you know, walking on to the location and set,
seeing the la Quota commentators, seeing the Lakota producers, and
you know, we've got Native historians telling the story. You know,
we've got representation not only from la Quota, but the Crow,
(06:24):
the Hunk, Popa, the you know, we have a representation
from all walks of life that are getting to share
in their knowledge.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Does any of this make you just a little bit
nervous as a person, because you know, there's so many
people tuning in with their own preconceived notions of how
the story should be told. You know, there's always going
to be some sort of pushback. Does that weigh on
you in any way?
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Oh? Yes, yes it does, you know, just just as
a person, you know, you want to have a good
relationship with everybody. You know, you don't want to hurt
nobody's feelings. And I try to do the best that
I could in my own research, my own connection, asking
permission through ceremony to play this role. You know, I've
(07:12):
I've already felt some of that pushback on on social
media with some of the relatives of sitting well himself,
and I definitely feel the weight on the responsibility of
playing such an important character or person chief relative.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Do you think that you will be sitting watching as
it airs the first night, in the second night, or
are you someone who doesn't necessarily need to see yourself
on screen as it airs in premieres?
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah, I guess I'm one of those guys who doesn't
really like to watch himself. But I have some relatives
that put together a watch party. I'm going to be
sitting there with my with some family and relatives, and
we're going to get to watch it together.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
That's good. It's nice to hear that your family and
friends will be supporting you, because I know, especially with
social media, it can really really be difficult on occasion.
Sitting Bull a special two night event on May twenty
seventh and twenty eighth History Channel starring my guest Michael
Spears as City Bull. Mister Spears, thank you for coming
on this evening. I salute you and celebrate you and
(08:30):
wish you nothing but success in the future.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Oil Thank you so much from my heart to yours,
and I hope you all enjoy and come away with
some awareness and a little bit of knowledge and love.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Today we're honoring our nation's heroes on Memorial Day with
some of the best of Later with mo Kelly on
kf I AM six forty Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.
You're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on demand from
KFI A M six forty
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