Magazine Article Review: Documented: "Now there was blood in her eye." An 1879 Interview with Bright Eyes

 Documented: "Now there was blood in her eye."  An 1879 Interview with Bright Eyes, Nebraska History, Nebraska State Historiucal Society, Lincoln, Nebraska, Spring 2026, pp 2-5.

Ishtatheamba (Bright Eyes) or Susette La Flesche Tibbles was known as the interpreter for Chief Standing Bear who brought suit against General George Crook and was the first in which a Native American was declared a citizen.  Born in Bellevue in 1854, shortly before the Omaha abandoned the area for a reservation north of Omaha.  She was educated in the East and interpreted for the Ponca Chief as the Ponca and Omaha share the same language.  

The party was interviewed by a reported with the Chicago Inter Ocean and he conducted a followup interview with Bright eyes after the initial interview with the entire group.  Bright Eyes showed the wrongs done to Native Americans without mincing words.  She talked about how money allotments from the government for their land was not administered by the people, but by the government.  She help that it was better the money be kept together, but Native Americans needed some say in the money.  She also said that some agents abused this power for their own benefit.  The agents also censor mail sent to the Native Americans.  She contended soldiers were kept to fight Indians over problems they had created.  She also pointed out soldiers killed women and children, and not always in open battle.  She concluded that white people should treat Native Americans on an equal footing, that they be allowed to be citizens and farmers.  

Bright Eyes also wrote a forward for a book written by her husband about the Ponca story.  She wanted people to hear the Ponca story so they could intervene with regards to this injustice.  In this forward she saw that a central purpose of government was to protect people from the arbitrary use of power.  

Mormon Omaha History As Presented at Durham History Museum

 

Prarie Schooner

Grand encampment, 1846 Kanesville, Iowa

Kanesville

The History of Samuel Bak

 As told on the walls of the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center

Book Review: Between Earth and Sky

 Between Earth and Sky by Joseph Bruchac, illustrated by Thomas Locker, Harcourt Brace and Company, San Diego, 1996.

This is a book about special places that are sacred to Native people.  It concludes that you can find spiritual places in all directions, including inside yourself.  This book talks about the Serpent Hopewell mound in Ohio.  Many geographic locations such as Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Cliff Dwellings, The Saguaro desert with saguaros and ocotillos, The Great Smokey Mountains.

Many nice depictions of some very beautiful places and their meaning to Native Americans.

Fort Omaha in North Omaha

The Green, parade grounds

General George Crook Administrative Building

hospital

Movie Review: Carry Me Home

I came across this movie short at Angel Studios.  I thought it was very well presented in depicting the personality of Harriet Tubman (Karen Abercrombie).  It really brings her to life, and some of her eccentric behaviors.  She relied on Jesus for guidance, and never lost an escapee.  In this case she was not able to rescue who she intended, but met a different family, Stephen and Maria Ennals (Joel Ashur and Lindsey Aeriel Grimble).  They are a bit hesitant, but do go with her.  A contact point on the underground railroad was compromised and they have to rely on other means, which are provided by a man wondering through the woods saying his wagon is available.  They procure it and make it to safety.  

I really like getting personal in this way with Harriet Tubman who helped so many people make it to the Underground Railroad.

Book Review: The Sioux: People of the Great Plains

The Sioux: People of the Great Plains: American Indian Nations by Anne M. Todd, Consultant Lydia Whirlwind Soldier, Bridgestone Books, imprint of Capstone Press, Mankato, Minnesota, 2003.

A good review of the Sioux, Oceti Sakowan people--the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota.  Buffalo hunting was central to their way of life.  Initially relations were good between the Sioux and the White settlers.  However when Oregon opened up the came in greater numbers, and then even greater with the gold rush.  The settlers were scaring the buffalo away and using all the grass.  The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 lead to many Indians living on reservations with the government promising supplies to the Indians.  The supplies were usually late, or of poor quality.  Im 1862 the Dakota broke out in war against the settlers and 700 settlers were killed.  The government executed 38 Dakota warriors in December of 1862 in Mankato, Minnesota.  

The Bozeman trail opened in 1866.  The Laramie treaty of 1868 promised the Lakota that South Dakota would remain Indian land.  However when George Armstrong Custer and others began exploring the area looking for gold, the Lakota were not happy.  Th government offered to buy the Black Hills.  The Sioux refused.  This lead to the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1871.  As a result of the defeat of Custer much pressure was put on the Sioux to all go to reservations.  Economic and war pressure lead to this result.  Crazy Horse was killed after he surrendered.  

The Ghost Dance lead to a Sioux revival of sorts.  The government outlawed the dance.  This leaded to the massacre of Wounded Knee and the death of Sitting Bull.