Alternate Perceptions Magazine, February 2025
An exclusive interview with American ethnographer, author Lance J. Dorrel
By Brent Raynes
Lance J. Dorrel Bio
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Lance J. Dorrel became fascinated with the Battle of The Little Bighorn as a young boy. Fueled by trips to the local university library and his hometown of Maryville, Missouri, public library, he interests as to what really happened at the Little Bighorn and more importantly, who the Native People were, who were responsible for the demise of the U. S. Army in 1876, intensified. By the late 1970’s, Dorrel began a life-long quest to learn all he could at what is considered one of history’s greatest mysteries.
By 2010, Dorrel had begun to consult Native Americans and First Nations People of Canada regarding their involvement in the Battle. As a result, many, many trips to the Battlefield were undertaken, along with trips to Native American reservations. As a result, hundreds of interviews not only regarding the Battle, but of other aspects of history from Native People, much of which, had been hidden from history and early researchers, were shared to Dorrel. Because of these significant and important pieces of Native history, which also play an important role in America’s hidden past, Dorrel decided to pursue Native American and First Nations history as a vocation, in the form of an ethnographer, historian and writer.
By 2016, with the help of Cheyenne, Arapaho and Lakota elders, along with teaming up with Northern Cheyenne historian Donovan Taylor, Dorrel set about chasing what was left of the oral history to the Battle of the Little Bighorn. While there is a great deal of literature written and discussed on this famous Battle, little has brought out the victorious side’s achievements from their own people. Until now that is. In November of 2024, Dorrel, who by this time had developed extensive ties with Cheyenne, Arapaho, Gros Ventre, Lakota and Dakota people and to a lesser extent, relationships with Blackfeet, Cree, Ojibwe, Nakota, Nakoda and many other tribes, along with contributions and research from Taylor, released their book, The History They Tell: Oral History from Native American and First Nations People Regarding the Battle of the Little Bighorn. With unparalleled access to many Native American and First Nations People, Dorrel and Taylor have brought forth new and never before heard, let alone written oral history pertaining to the Battle from not only Cheyenne, Lakota, Arapaho, but also from Dakota, Nakota and People from tribes never before mentioned as having been there. These being the Blackfeet, Nakoda, Cree, Ojibwe and Gros Ventre.
There is a wealth of new old information to be welcomed by not only students to the Battle of the Little Bighorn, but for those now seriously looking at Native American and First Nations history as it pertains to this planet’s history. Dorrel followed the trail set forth by the oral history. This hidden history not only revealed new pieces long kept to this battle, but revealed ancient history as to who the Native People really were, their origins and what they were capable of.
The History They Tell: Oral History from Native American and First Nations People Regarding the Battle of the Little Bighorn Paperback – November 9, 2024
by Lance J. Dorrel (Author), Donovan Taylor (Author)
#1 New Release in History of Ethnic & Tribal Religions
Little has been done to compile a complete, in-depth oral history of the Battle of the Little Bighorn from the descendants of the Native American and First Nations people who fought there on June 25th, 1876.
Until now.
With the help and guidance of many native elders and historians in both the United States and Canada, ethnographer Lance J. Dorrel and Cheyenne tribal member Donovan Taylor present an unprecedented collected oral history from over 250 Cheyenne, Arapaho, Gros Ventre, Cree, Blackfeet, Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, Nakoda and Crow People, including accounts that have never before appeared in print.
By following the trail set forth by the oral history told to them, the authors bring previously hidden fascinating history into the public record, offering a new understanding to many of unanswered questions pertaining to the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
With The History They Tell, Dorrel and Taylor, through the shared oral history of the descendants of the victorious Native American and First Nations people, blaze a trail for future researchers of the Battle to follow in their quest to understand the truth of that fateful day in history.
The History They Tell features over five dozen photographs, maps, and illustrations, hundreds of footnotes and citations, and the most up-to-date lists of the Native American and First Nations men, women, and children who fought and died at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Also by Lance Dorrel
A Dance with Death: An Irish Soldier of Fortune at the Little Bighorn.
