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 Serpemt Hopewell site in Ohio.  Many geographic locations such as Grand canyon, 

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.  

Native American Biography: Princess Red Wing

Princess Red Wing aka Mary E. Glasko Congdon is Native American with Narragansett and Pokanoket background.  She is noted as a story teller, a newspaper editor and museum curator.  She studied American Indian history and cultures.  She cofounded the newspaper Narragansett Dawn.  She became "Squaw Sachem" allowing her to preside over ceremonies.  She also founded the Tomaquog Indian Memorial Museum.  This is the only museum in Rhode Island dedicated solely to the culture and history of Native Americans in Rhode Island.

Book Review: Standing Bear of the Ponca

 Standing Bear of the Ponca by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, illustrated by Thomas Floyd, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska, 2013.

This book gives a very good brief history of Chief Standing Bear.  The treatment of the Ponca by the federal government was very bad, forcing them to move 600 miles south to Oklahoma and then not providing proper support.  Many died, including Chief Standing Bear's daughter and a son.  His son asked to buried on the Ponca homeland.  Standing Bear hoped to honor this request and left the reservation.  Upon arriving at the Omaha Reservation he was arrested by General George Crook.  Joseph LaFlesche (Iron Eyes) and Susette La Flesche (Bright Eyes) of the Omaha helped them all they could, and General Crook suggested Standing Bear take him to court.  The newspaper man, Thomas Henry Tibbles helped them with publicity and finding lawyers to represent Standing Bear.  And Standing Bear won after his famous "I am a man" speech with Bright eyes interpreted.  Still the Ponca had no place to live.  Bright Eyes, Chief Standing Bear and Tribble made a tour of the east to win public support.  This was successful to a degree.  At first the Ponca lived on an island, but eventually the Sioux gave part of their reservation (which had been the Ponca reservation) to the Ponca to live.  Tribble's wife passed away and he married Bright eyes.  The last chapter also deals with the legacy of Chief Standing Bear.  Pow wows and statues are made in his honor.  He is honored in the Nebraska State Capitol.  

Native American Biography: Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, Author

 Lecture here. 

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve is an author of children's books.  She has published over 25 books, mostly telling stories about her family and heritage of white and Native American.  One of the books is called The Christmas Coat: Memories of my Sioux Childhood.  She has also written a memoir, Special Places, Sacred Circles.  She was traised on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation and is a mem of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe (Sicangu Lakota).  She was an English teacher and school counselor.  

Book Review: How Chipmunk Got Tiny Feet

How Chipmunk Got Tiny Feet: Native American Animal Origin Stories collected and retold by Gerald Hausman, illustrated by Ashley Wolff, Harper Collins Publishers, New York, 1995.

This book tells seven Native American animal origin stories.  They are Navajo four, Koasati Creek two and Tsimsian one.  They tell stores like why Coyote has yellow eyes, and chipmunk has tiny feet.  It seems the animals make bad decisions and then are rescued by mother earth.  I like this book because I like to learn of Indian origin stories.

Book Review: Honor Flight: Celebrating America's Veterans

 Honor Flight: Celebrating America's Veterans by Jeff Gottesfeld, illustrated by Matt Tavares, Candlewick Press, Somerville, Massachusetts, 2026.

Thi is a b ook about something I had never heard of, Honor Flights.  These are flights where they take former service men and women to sites where they served.  This includes "Kilroy, Squid G.I. Joe, Airman, Jarhead, WAC or WAVE."  The flight took the veterans to many Washington D.C. memorial sights where they were honored.  This included the Iwo Jima Memorial, Viet Nam War Memorial, Military Women Memorial, WWII Memorial, Korean War Memorial.  But the most important honor was when they flew home and were greeted at the Airport, something that many of the veterans had missed due to conflict over the Viet Nam War.  At the end of the flight they were given letters from school children thanking them for their service.  I think this is an important book geared to children.

Ute Chief Ignacio

 

Ignacio was leader of the Southern Utah.  He was a member of the Wiminuche Ute Band.  They were a semi nomadic tribe, venturing into San Juan, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.  During several treaties their area was reduced.  They first accepted a large reservation in western Colorado, which was later reduced.  Gold had been found in the area.  They finally accepted a smaller reservation in southwestern Colorado.  Ignacio's father was a medicine man.  He was killed by a man's family he had been treating when he died.  Ignacio took revenge on the family, killing all twelve members.  The southern Utes recognized Ignacio as their leader and not Ouray.  Ouray deferred to Ignacio in matters dealing with the southern Utes.  He traveled to Washington D.C. in 1880 with Ouray and Ouray's wife Chipeta.  When Ouray died Ignacio was recognized as the chief for the southern Utes by the government.  They were able to stay in Colorado.  The town Ignacio was named in his honor.  

Chief Ouray of the Uncompahgre Ute

 

Ouray was chief of the Uncompaghre Ute Band.  He was also chosen by the United States Government as being the lead person with whom to negotiate in terms of treaties.  The Uncompaghre generally lived in the mountains of central Colorado.  They would also venture onto the plains to hunt buffalo.  They saw there territory decreased on a couple of occasions, but still held most of western Colorado.  However an incident occurred in which the White River Utes attacked the BIA agency and killed the agent and several workers.  They also kidnapped several women.  Ouray and the Uncompaghre were not involved.  In fact Ouray arranged for the return of the women.  For whatever reason, this incident put into play a move to remove all the Utes from Colorado.  Ouray negotiated with the government to make the best deal he could.  There was some hesitance on the Native American part because Ouray received a stipend for his efforts from the government.  A deal was struck to remove the Uncompaghre to Utah.  However signatures were needed to ratify the treaty.  After obtaining the signatures from his own band, he traveled to the Southern Band to get signatures, and died en route, August 1880.  A negotiator bribed Utes for the remaining signatures and the Uncompaghre were removed to the Uintah Ouray Reservation in 1881.   Ouray never lived on the reservation that bears his name.

Magazine Article Review: Justice on the Tracks, How Sidney earned its reputation as Nebraska's toughest frontier town in the Fall of 1875

Justice on the Tracks, How Sidney earned its reputation as Nebraska's toughest frontier town in the Fall of 1875 by Loren Avey, Nebraska Life Magazine, Flagship Publishing, Timnath CO, September/October 2025, pp 22,23.

This short article tells a very interesting story about a murder and a double lynching.  Three en were arguing in town, Chuck Patterson, his friend Joe Reed and livery owner Robert W. Porter.  Patterson drew on Porter and three quick shots left Porter dead.  Sheriff John Ellis quickly arrested Patterson and placed him in jail.  Porter was well liked and had lots of friend being the livery manager.  By the next day a group of 40 men had gathered at the Capitol saloon owned by Cornelius "Con" McCarty.  They worked up quite an anger and with the sheriff out of town they stormed the jail.  The lone deputy did not put up a resistance and they took him out and hung him from a telephone pole.  They then returned to the saloon to celebrate their deed.  Ellis returned in the meantime and cut Patterson down.  He was not dead.  He was taken back to the jail.  When the mob heard this they returned to do the job again.  Ellis put up a resistance and they beat him into submission.  The hung Patterson again, making sure this time.  Sheriff Ellis shortly left town for good and the lead of the mob, Cornelius "Con" McCarty, took his position. 

Chipeta wife of Ouray

 Chipeta is the wife of the Ute Chief Ouray.  She was his confidant and adviser.  She was born Kiowa APache but was raised with the Utes in Colorado.  She was always an advocate for peace in negotiations between the Utes and the U.S. government.  She influenced her husband a great deal.  She attended many tribal councils with her husband.  Women were usually not accepted at tribal councils but Chipeta was always welcome.  She also attended a peace conference in Washington D.C.  After the negotiations of 1880 the Uncompahgre Utes were forced to leave Colorado by the U.S. Army.  They had not taken part in the Nathan Meeker affair but were caught up in it anyway.  Ouray passed away before they were forced to move, but Chipeta was forced to Utah.  She felt betrayed by the government.  They had promised her a house like what she had in Colorado with Ouray.  She was given an unfinished home so returned to living in a teepee.  

1880 peace commission to Washington, Chipeta on right next to Ouray.  Carl Schurz is also seated.  This peace commission resulted in the removal of the Tabeguachi/ Uncompahgre Utes and the White River Utes from Colorado.

Western Shoshone Mary and Carrie Dann, Nevada

 Mary and Carrie Dann were Western Shoshone Native American ranchers and activists in fighting the federal government over land issues and grazing rights.  They were sisters.  They did not feel they should have to pay grazing fees for land that was Native American land.  The contention is the Shoshone did not give away their land but granted rights to Whites to pass through only.  This was based on the peace treaty of Ruby Valley of 1863.  Their case went all the way to the Supreme Court which ruled based on precedent the land did not belong to the Shoshone.  However international court said this was a violation of human rights. In 1979 the Indian Land Commission awarded to the Western Shoshone $26 million for their land.  However the Shoshone have refused to take the money and it is just drawing interest.  The Dann sisters conducted civil protest by refusing to pay grazing fees.  

Even though the United Nations have asked the government to leave the Western Shoshone alone this has been ignored by the federal government.

Mary dann passed away in 2005 from a ranching accident.  Carrie Dann passed away in 2021.  She with the Shoshone Defense Fund sued U.S. and Canadian Barrick Gold and the expansion of Cortez Hills Project at Mr. Tenabo which is considered sacred by the Shoshone.

Ute Chief Colorow

 Ute Chief Colorow was born Comanche.  When just five years old there was a battle in northern New Mexico and he was kidnapped Muache band of Utes.  He had red skin so was given the nickname Colorado, which was pronounced poorly, Colorao with the d swallowed and when heard by White people was pronounced and spelled Colorow.  Colorow as a youth tra veled throughout Colorado.  He participated in a couple battles against Arapaho, one near Aspen where he was declared a hero, and another near Golden Colorado.  This battle was so severe the valley was abandoned after.  

By 18868 Colorow was a sub chief of the Northern Ute.  He was involved in treaty negotiations.  Despite this White settlers continued to encroach upon Ute land and the treaty negotiations favored the Whites.  Colorow began to not trust the government.  He signed the treaty of 1878 identifying himself as a Yampa and Grand River Ute.  Nathan Meeker tried to force the Utes to be farmers by with holding the agreed upon food allotments.  Colorow tried to negotiate for peace, but Colorow stabbed Meeker in the mouth for lying.  This resulted in the deaths of Meeker and about ten others.  It also resulted in the Battle of Mink Creek where Ute warriors ambushed an intervening military force.  Meeker's wife was held hostage.  The final result of this was that he and his people were forced to leave Colorado, as were the Uncompahgre who were not involved.  The forced removal became the Northern Ute's trail of tears.  Colorow was removed to the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in Utah.  He would return to Colorado to hunt as per treaty agreement, but this made Whites nervous and lead to Colorow's War.  The Buffalo Soldiers from Fort Duchesne had to intervene between the Ute and the Colorado local militias.  

In later life Colorow suffered from obesity, diabetes and kidney failure.  He died of pneumonia in 1888.  His body was buried by the White River.

African American Biography: Mary Fields aka Stagecoach Mary

 Mary Fields was born a slave in Tennessee.  She was emancipated at the end of the war.  She first found work as a chamber maid on a steamboat on the Mississippi River.  She then worked for Judge Edmund Dunne.  After Dunne's wife died he sent Mary and his five children to live with his sister Mother Mary Amadeus Mother Superior of the Ursuline Convent.  Mother Amadeus was sent to Montana, and Mary followed when she learned she had pneumonia.  She nursed her back to health, but her ways were a bit rough for the Catholic mission (swearing and going to saloons etc) so she was asked to leave.  She opened a tavern, but went out of business within a year as she gave too much away.  In 1895, at the age of 60 she won the contract for a star route with the U.S. post office.  Although a contracted employee, she is the second woman and first African American woman to have such a position.  She is very diligent in her job.  She preferred to drive a stage, with a gun under her robe.  If there was too much snow, she had snow shoes and would carry the mail on her back.  Mary was a large woman, six feet and 200 pounds.  One time she held off a pack of wolves who had caused her to turn her coach.  However she was able to right it the next day.  Mary did not marry.  However she loved babysitting and would often be paid to babysit.  She retired from the mail service after eight years.  In 1912 her home burned, but the townspeople helped her rebuild.  Michael Hearst wrote a song of her life, "Stage Coach Mary."

Comanche Cynthia Parker the Mother of Quanah Parker

 Cynthia Parker was a white girl who was adopted into the Comanche Tribe.  In 1836 at the Fort Parker Massacre she was captured by the Comanche.  She was about eight at the time.  She was adopted by a family and married the chief, Peta Nocona.  They had three children together, two boys and a son.  Her oldest son was Quanah Parker who became the last chief of the Comanche.  In 1860 Texas Rangers tracked her down and captured her in Comanche country.  They killed her husband.  She and her daughter were taken captive.  After 24 years they were returned to Parker family members.  People thought they were rescued.  Cynthia Parker thought she was again captured.  When her daughter, Topsanna died form pneumonia Cynthia Parker joined her shortly as she refused to eat.  The song "Run" by Tophouse is about her life.  Her son had her body moved to the reservation.  She and her husband are both buried in Fort Sill Oklahoma with their son.  Topsanna's body was also reinterred with them.  

Western Women: Fox Hastings Rodeo Performer

 Fox Hastings' specialty event in the rodeo was bulldogging, a sport traditionally left to men such as Bill Pickett.  She started her rodeo career at the age of 16.  Bulldogging is better known as steer wrestling today.  It once involved biting the cows lip so they would stop fighting.  She also participated in bronc riding.  She was a trick rider and could ride a horse standing up.  She said, "If I can just get my fanny out of the saddle and my feet planted, there's not a steer that can last against me."  She traveled from California to New York demonstrating her rodeo skills.  In 1987 she was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.  In 2011 into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.

Ute Chief: Walkara/Wakara, aka Chief Walker, aka Colorow

 Walkara was a Northern Ute Chief of the Timpanogo and Sanpete Bands.  He may also have Shoshone ties.  Walkara is the Shoshone word for Hawk.  He was known as a diplomat, leader, warrior and horseman.  He was the chief when the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints entered the Utah area.  He was born along the Spanish Fork River in Utah.  He liked to fish in Utah Lake.  He spoke English, Spanish and Native languages.  He was known as a great horse thief with his brothers, especially in southern California.  There he had conflict with Juan Antonio Cahuilla leader.  Mountain men would trade them whiskey for stolen horses.  

In 1847 the Mormons settled in Salt Lake which was between Ute and Shoshone territory.  Walkara objected to their having a permanent settlement and wanted to drive them out.  However his brother intervened, so the Mormons had peace with the Timpanogo.  Utes were advised not to steal from the Mormons, but some did resulting in retaliation from the Mormons and the death of six men at the Battle Creek massacre.  Walkara supported attacking Fort Utah, but he held negotiations with Brigham Young after which he invited Mormons to settle Sanpete County.  The Utes were helpful to the settlement which was some ways for the next closest settlement.  Walkara and his son were baptized in 1850.  The Utes had a slave trade using women and children and the Mormon community tried to stop this.  This lead to poor relations.  Additionally many nonMormons were traveling through the area and competing for resources.  This resulted in the Walker War of 1853.  The Utes were angry with both the Mormonee and Merikats (terms used to distinguish mormons and nonMormons.  James Alexander Ivie shot several Utes and one later passed away.  The Utes demanded compensation but Ivie felt it was self defense and refused.  The Utes, demanding the death of a EuroAmerican to compensate were denied, so a Ute shot and killed Alexander Keele.  This lead to open hostilities.  Towns were attacked.  Mormon communities became tighter and turned into forts.  Four men were killed driving a ox-wagon from Salt Lake to Manti.  Brigham Young and Walkara negotiated a peace in May 1854.  The underlying problems were not resolved and would blow up again ten years later in the Black Hawk War.  Walkara was rebaptized and many of his people were baptized at this time.  Walkara died in 1855.