An Artists rendition of Indian Chiefs and Leaders printed on trading card in the early 1900’s.
Black Fox, Arikara
The Arikara, a semi sedentary tribe of farmers and earth lodge dwellers lived on the upper Missouri river. The tribe were also known as Ree and were Caddoan speakers like their southern relatives the Pawnee. The Arikara signed the 1851 treaty at Fort Laramie defining tribal boundaries. Scouts from the tribe accompanied Custer’s Black Hills, Dakota expedition. Custer’s favorite scout was an Arikara called Bloody Knife who was killed with Major Reno’s battalion at the battle of the Little Big Horn. The grizzly bear claw on Black Fox’s magnificent necklace is attached to a collar of otter skin; the turban head-dress is also of otter and is surmounted by three golden eagle feathers which are symbolic of outstanding deeds performed in battle.
Many Horns, Dakota Sioux
Many Horns was a ‘band chief’. He was neither elected nor inherited this position but earnt it through respect, wealth, generosity, courage and wisdom. His position allowed him to lead his people but not to give commands. Problems and decisions were settled by the men debating and deciding democratically. The Sioux wee the largest tribe and spread across the northern plains with many sub-divisions such as the Teton, Wiciyela and Santee Sioux. There were also sub-tribes like the Oglala and Hunkpapa who produced many great chiefs.
Rain In The Face 1835-1905
Hunkpapa Sioux
Rain In The Face went on the warpath many times, but in 1875 was captured by a young US army officer, Tom Custer, who was the younger brother of General George Armstrong Custer. The warrior Chief later escaped and swore that he would “cut out Tom Custer’s heart”. At the battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876 both General Custer and his brother Tom died along with the 7th US Cavalry. Rain In The Face claimed to have killed the two brothers, a fact he denied in later years.
Buffalo Bull, Pawnee
Pawnees were a confederacy of four tribes, all using the Caddoan language-Grand Pawnee, Kitkehanki, Tapage and Skiri. Pawnees had, for plains Indians, a most unusual hair style in that their hair was stiffened with paint and fat and curved back like a comb at the centre of the head with the rest shaved. Other tribes named them Pawnee which means ‘horn’. Pawnees referred to themselves as ‘men of men’. In battle Pawnees fought with few clothes as it was unlucky for any cloth to enter their bodies by arrow, lance or bullet.
Sitting Bull, Hunkpapa Sioux
Sitting Bull was born in 1831 at Grand River in what is today South Dakota. He was the only son of a Hunkpapa warrior-Returns Again. Sitting Bull became an outstanding warrior and spiritual leader as chief of the Hunkpapa Sioux. He could claim more than sixty coups. Direct conflict with Washington arose in the 1860’s when the tribe were offered space in the Powdered river country, to the west of the Big Horn mountains. In 1876 the War Department took steps to round up Sitting Bull’s tribes for transferring to a reservation. This act led to General Sheridan’s expedition which culminated in the battle of the Little Big Horn.
Chief Joseph
His Indian name-‘Hinmaton-Yalakit’ means ‘Thunder coming from water over the land’. After suffering a defeat at the hands of the US Army at White Bird Canyon, Chief Joseph led his tribe towards Canada moving over 2,000 miles under continual harassment from the army. With only a day’s journey left he was forced to surrender at the Bear Paw mountains in Montana. Chief Joseph and his tribe were placed on the Colville Reservation in Washington State where he died of old age in 1904.
Quanah-Parker (koa-nah), Comanche
Quanah Parker was born in 1845 of mixed parents. His father was a Comanche chief of the Kwahadi division and his Mother a white woman-Cynthia Anne Parker. As a young girl of about 12 she was taken by the Comanche in a raid. In 1860 she was recaptured by the US Army but died in 1864. Quanah Parker became chief of the Kwahadi division on his Father’s death. In 1874 he led the fight, which lasted for almost a year, against white settlers but finally surrendered and became a leading influence in making his tribe understand the white man’s ways.
Sharp Nose, Northern Arapaho
Sharp Nose was a Northern Arapaho Chief and the successor to Black Coal. The Arapaho were not as strong as other tribes and so carefully maintained good relations with a host of their neighbors, such as Comanche, Kiowa and Cheyenne. Sharp Nose was an inspirational leader who handled his men with rare judgment and coolness whilst being modest and exceptionally brave. The Arapaho joined forces with the Chippewa, Crow, Hidatsa and Sioux during the redistribution of tribes in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Chief Medicine Crow
The short name of Crow name derives from the word ‘Absarokee’ which means ‘Sons of Crow’. The Crow were skilled hunters and regularly made war against other tribes such as the Sioux and Northern Cheyenne. Fighting was a way of life on the plains. In 1876 Medicine Crow formed with other Crow chiefs and warriors, under the command of US Army General Crook, to fight the Sioux at the battle of Rosebud. As a gesture of good faith for supplying scouts and fighting with the US Army, Medicine Crow was invited to Washington in 1880.
In the summer of 1876 a US Army cavalry detachment under Captain Anson Mills discovered American Horse’s village which was preparing to move south for the winter. Capt Mills attacked but was driven back. During his wait for reinforcements, under General Crook, the majority of the a few warriors remained and fought but eventually surrendered. American Horse was badly wounded and shortly afterwards died.
Plenty Coup, Crow Tribe
Although there are several ‘coups’ by which a warrior can achieve status Plenty Coup received his through his moral worth, courage, ability to lead and make decisions. A ‘cop’ is when a warrior touches the enemy in battle. Plenty Coup was allowed to marry and have the title of Warrior after one coup. Many of the Crow were US Army scouts and Plenty Coup advised his warriors to fight on the side of the army against the Sioux, as he felt the ‘soldier chiefs’ would win and his deeds be rewarded.
Wolf Robe 1841-1909, Southern Cheyenne
Wolf Robe was in a hunting party, which was led by White Leaf, when they were attacked by soldiers. Before they could make good their escape Wolf Robe recognized that they were in fact Pawnee dressed as soldiers. The Pawnees had for many years acted as scouts for the US Army in their fight against most tribes.
Two Hatchet, Kiowa
The Kiowa, traditionally among the most warlike of the plains tribes, lived in the early eighteenth century around the Black Hills and upper Yellowstone River where they were allies of the Crow and enemies of the Cheyenne and Sioux. About 1850 they moved south to East Colorado and West Oklahoma where they were friendly with the Arapaho. Most of the existing Kiowa live today in western Oklahoma. Two Hatchet is illustrated holding a rattle and feather fan used in the Peyote ceremony.
Little-Big-Man, Oglala Sioux
Famous of infamous for his changing allegiances and episodes with Crazy Horse. Little Big Man was Crazy Horse’s Lieutenant and threatened to kill the Black Hills Commissioners. However after surrendering along with Crazy Horse he switched allegiance and was directly involved with Crazy Horse’s death by assisting in pinning his arms. It was said the Little Big Man was crafty, but with considerable ability and presence whilst being a recognised trouble maker. It is reported that Crazy Horse’s last words to Little Big Man as he ran from the tiny cell, being bayoneted by a soldier, were “Let me go, you have hurt me enough”.
Kill Spotted Horse, Assiniboin
The Assiniboin tribe lived on the borders of the United States and Canada and belonged to the same group as the Dakota Sioux. Even though their language was similar they were enemies. In dress and custom the Assiniboin looked and acted like their friends the Crow and Cree. A smallpox epidemic in 1838 dramatically reduced the size of the tribe from over 1,000 lodges to less than 400.
Kicking Bear, Sioux
In 1889 the Sioux began the practice of ‘Ghost Dance’ which had spread from the Paiute tribe in Nevada. In performing this dance the Sioux thought that they would see the return of their dead warriors and the buffalo. Kicking Bear was an advocate of this dance. By wearing only Ghost dance shirts the wearer would, it was thought, be invulnerable to the white man’s bullets. On December 29th 1890 at Wounded Knee 350 Native Americans died and this ended the long struggle for the proud people of the North American Plains.
Kicking Bird, Kiowa
The Kiowa were a warlike tribe who formed an alliance with the Comanche and, for many years, fought the US Army and white settlers. After many years at war Kicking Bird tried to convince the Kiowas that they should adapt to changing conditions and live peacefully. Two Kiowa chiefs, Sky Walker and Lone Wolf, however, stayed on the warpath until surrendering in 1875. Kicking Bird was asked by the US Army to select Kiowas for exile to Fort Marion. He chose, amongst the 26 selected, Sky Walker and Lone Wolf, whilst he remained free. Kicking Bird probably committed suicide by poison as he could not stand the guilt of condemning his own people to imprisonment.
Chief Gall, Hunkpapa Sioux
Gall was orphaned when he was very young and was brought up by his guardian Tatanka Yotanka-better known as Sitting Bull. As a young man Gall achieved a considerable reputation as a good hunter and warrior. Together with Crazy Horse of the Oglala Sioux chief Gall led his Hunkpapa Sioux at the battle of the Little Big Horn. Gall checked Major Reno’s advance across the river by chasing them into the woods. On June 25th 1876 Gall carried out a frontal attack on Custer’s column and completely wiped out the whole command and the 7th Cavalry.
The Cheyenne were old allies of the Sioux and in the early summer of 1876 Chief Two Moon caped at Charcoal Butte alongside Crazy Horse’s Sioux. Below them camped on the Missouri River was Sitting Bull. This huge gathering of warriors alter moved to the edge of the Little Big Horn River and attacked the 7th US cavalry under General Custer.
