Wild Westing was the term used by Native Americans for their performing with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West and similar shows. Between 1887 and World War I, over 1,000 Native Americans went “Wild Westing.” Most were Oglala Lakota (Oskate Wicasa) from their reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, the first Lakota people to perform in these shows. During a time when the Bureau of Indian Affairs was intent on promoting Native assimilation, Col. William Frederick Cody ("Buffalo Bill") used his influence with U.S. government officials to secure Native American performers for his Wild West. Col. Cody treated Native American employees as equals with white cowboys.