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.

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.  

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.  

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.  

Native American Artist: Marita Growing Thunder

 Marita Growing Thunder is a Native American artist, activist and designer from the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana.  She is an advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.  She comes from the Growing Thunder Collective which is a family of artists.  She practices quillwork and beadwork.  She promoted awareness for MMIW through her project Save Our Sisters.  

other native americans

More Native Americans and Native American themes for future study.

Chief Seattle

Shelley Niro

Harry Fonseca

N. Scott Monday

Leslie Marmon SIlko

R. Carlos Nakai

Monique Mojica

Louie Gong

Mary Golda Ross

Twyla Baker

Nicolle Gonzales

Suzan Shown Harjo

Pushmataha

Marie Aioe Dorion

oconostota

Janet McCloud

oren Lyons 

Matthew King

Book Review: A Braid of Lives: Native American Childhood

A Braid of Lives: Native American Childhood edited by Neil Philip, Clarion Books, New York, The Albion Press 2000.

A common theme of childhood Native American is the desire to be an adult.  This is seen over and o ver again in the stories included in the book.  Also of concern is childhood is development of a spiritual self.  This book includes the stories about 50 Native Americans looking back at their childhoods.  There are girl wanting to be like their mothers, and boys playing at war.  There was being forced to get up early and running and swimming so as to be able to withstand the pressures of war.  There are also stories of people form many different tribes.  A Lakota boy at age nine pierced his sister's  ears who was four.  This is usually done by a medicine person with a bone and a giveaway and with songs.  As this was lacking father did a big giveaway and gave the son's horse away.  There were lots of sports and games, such as games like hockey of shooting arrows at hoops.  Some girls enjoyed dolls, and others not so much.  There were a few stories about Indian school and being forced to talk English and cut their hair.  

Documentary: Washakie: Last Chief of the Shoshone

Washakie made his historical claim to greatness as chief of the Eastern Shoshone.  As such his territory ranged from eastern Wyoming, through southern Idaho and into Utah.  He served as chief for over 50 years.  He had been a warrior, leader and diplomat.  He was born in 1804, but farther north.  His father was of the Salish tribe and his mother Lemhi Shoshone.  As a young man he was with his father.  His father was killed by Blackfeet.  Washakie survived.  A man told him he was to be a leader.  The man was surrounded by light and disappeared.  Shortly a group of Lemhi Shoshone, speaking his mother's language, found him.  He became art of his mother's tribe.  He was trained by them.  He also lived amongst the Bannock.  They were more aggressive and warring.  During this period he got his name Washakie which was a distorted name for the rattle he used to spook the horses of his enemy.  

He would make his name in the Wind River Valley.  The Shoshone hand sign was that of the snake.  Common language with Utes, Paiutes, Comanche and Aztecs.  Horses increased the mobility of the Shoshone and they became much more powerful.  Washakie participated in several raids.  He followed initials, but eventually became the leader.  He was a good friend of Jim Bridger who promoted Washakie.

Washakie ruled in a time of tremendous upheaval with clashing cultures competing for limited resources.  Many groups coveted the Wind River area.  Washakie attended the Laramie Treaty of 1851 at great risk to his own life.  They were in Sioux territory.  However this treaty did not include the Shoshone.  Wind River was Crow territory even though the Crow and Shoshone shared this area.  There was a small battle between Crow and Shoshone and Washakie killed a Crow chief.

The Sioux were hostile during the early 60s.  The Shoshone were ambushed and lost many horses, and Washakie's son was killed.  The mourning period reportedly caused Washakie's hair to turn white.  Many left Washakie to follow other bands.  However after the Bear River Massacre many Shoshone returned to him.

It wasn't until the treaty of 1868 that established Wind Rivers as the reservation for the Shoshone.  Washakie was always a force for peace.  

Washakie lived to be an old man.  He died in 1900 at age 96 and is buried in Fort Washakie.  

 

Native American Book: Nez Perce

Nativ Americans: Nez Perce by Sarah Tieck, Abdo Publishing, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2015.

The Nez Perce are from the Idaho, Oregon and Washington area.  Their name means pierced nose but it is not certain they ever pierced their noses.  The name Nez Perce was given by the French and may confused them with another group.  Their actual name is Nimiipuu meaning the people.  

Traditionally their homes were made of matts made from bark and grass and placed over a wood frame.  These homes could hold up to 30 families.  They gathered roots and wild vegetables like onions.  They primarily hunted fist.  The book shows a picture of a salmon catching spear with a point but also barbed hookers to hld the fish.  They also hunted small animals like deer and rabbit.  

The horse was introduced in the 1700s which made them more mobile.  They are famous for breeding the Apaloosa.  They started to travel to hunt buffalo and for this used mobile homes like the tipi.  As a result their territory extened into Montana.  

They had man fights to preserve their land.  The initially were granted a large reservation, but whites encroached on this and the reservation was made smaller.  In 1877 Chief Joseph resisted and with a group of Nez Perce he conducted a war with the U.S.  They were eventually captured.  They had been trying to make it to Canada.  After this group was captured they were sent to the Oklahoma reservations as prisoners of war.  They were not allowed to leave until 1885.  At least 100 Nez Perce died because of the conditions in Oklahoma and a lack of food.  Not all returned and there is a memorial to those who died.  There is no recognized reservation in Oklahoma.  3500 people are members of the Nez Perce reservation in Idaho.

Book Review: The Hopi

The Hopi: Native American Nations by Liz Sonneborn, consultant Tim Topper, Blastoff Discovery, Bellwether Media, Minneapolis, MN, 2024.

The Hopi are a people from Northeast Arizona.  Their history dates back at least until 1150 when the city Oraibi was established, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States.  They live in a harsh arid desert environment with springs and rain water to sustain them.  The developed a unique culture to deal with the hardship based on balance, community and peace.  They raise corn and cotton.  They weave baskets.  They gather nuts and berries and wild fruit and raise turkeys.  They built pueblos of stone and mud.  They also built kivas for religious ceremonies.  

In 1540 the Spaniars arrived looking for gold.  The Spaniards held them in subjugation for the next 140 years until Po'pay lead them in revolt in 1680.  In 1821 they became part f Mexico and in 1848 part of the United States.  In 1882 their reservation was established.  In 1894 Hope elders were imprisoned because they refused to send their children to boarding schools.  They struggled to keep their culture alive.  Children were forced by the government to Indian schools.  The Hopi peo0ple have insisted on keeping their cultre and language and have been able to do so.

Famous people of the Hopi include Po'Pay, Nampeyo who is known for pottery and Tsökahovi (Lewis) Tewanima who is a long distance runner and won a silver medal in the 1912 Olympics.

The tribe is facing problems with the left overs of now abandoned coal kines, and with the lack of water.

Native American Book Review: Navajo

Navajo: Native Americans by Sarah Tieck, Big Buddy Books and imprint of Abdo Books, North Mankato, Minnesota, 2015.

This book indicates that the Navajo originally lived in Canada and moved south to the four corners area of the southwest.  The lived in hogans which are circular homes, or octogan or hexagon.  They were formers who raised corn, squash and beans and also fruit such as peaches.  They also would eat small game, prarie dogs, deer, rabbits and mountain goats.  They also raised sheep and goats for meat and milk.  Children learned by watching adults.  Navajo are experts at making jewelry, rugs, baskets and pottery.  Spirit life is very important to them.  Medicine men will make sand art drawings as part of healing.  Story telling is an important part of their culture.  Men and women both tell stories.  A common story is of the windwalker but some Navajo feel it is bad luck to talk of them.

In 1864 the government foced the Navajo to a reservation in New Mexico, Bosque Redondo.  In the march south, and in the heat in New Mexico, about 2000 Navajo died.  Manuelito had to negotiate to get their land back.  They now have a reservation of 24,000 square miles.  Manuelito stress education as important for the Navajo future and there are many educated Navajo.   

Native American Book Review: The Wampanoag

 The Wampanoag: A True Book by Kevin Cunningham and Peter Benoit, Children's Press and imprint of Scholastic, New York, 2011.

This is a good introduction to the Wampanoag.  I have often wondered where the Wampanoag ended up and I find out they are still there, they are just not so many.  There were as many as 30,000 Wampanoag before they were introduced to Europeans and in 1616 an epidemic resulted in the death of 90 percent of the total.  When the pilgrims arrived the Wampanoag population had been depleted so they were willing to enter an alliance with the newcomers.  Massasoit was the head Sachem at the time and negotiated this peace.  Squanto helped with translation and with teaching the Pilgrims how to live in the new world, raising corn, squash and beans (the three sisters).  This resulted in the first harvest feast which later became Thanksgiving.

The good relations did not laugh.  After Massasoit died, his son became sachem.  However he died after having visited with the settlers.  His brother Metacomet/Prince Phillip then became angry thinking the settlers had killed his brother.  This started what is known as Prince Phillip's war.  Metacomet was eventually captured and killed and his head hung on a stake outside the city wall.  His brother's widow, Weetamoo also  became a sachem and waged war with her people until they were ambushed and she drowned in a river trying to get away.  Her body was found and her head too was displayed outside the city wall.  In the war 2000 Native Americans were killed from several different groups.  Over 600 settlers were killed.  Most every white settlement had been attacked.  There are now about 2000 Wampanoag in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  

Traditional housing was a wetu also known as a wigwam.  Over a frame of saplings layers of mats were placed which created a warm, dry home.  A fire was kept in the middle.  The sachem does not control the people but enters contracts with outside entities.  The Wampanoag language was almost lost but efforts are ow being made to bring it back.  There are now Wampanoag language classes available.  

Native American Pictures and Artifacts: Mohave Museum of History and Art

 Items form the Mohave Museum of History and Art include many pots and baskets, dolls and photographs, mortars and pestles.  Some of the items are actually in the library.

Native American Artifacts at Fontenelle Forest Lodge

 In addition to the earth lodge outside of the Fontenelle lodge, there is a display case of Native American artifacts in the lodge.  I especially like the awl and fish hook made of bone.

History of Kingman as per the Route 66 Museum

The Kingman area was part of a series of Native American Trails which facilitated travel and trade.  

The Beale Trail ran through the Kingman area as a route traveling east to west to California.  The city of Kingman came into existence after Lewis Kingman, working for the railroad, established a station in Kingman.  

With the coming of the railroad came a train station and a Harvey Restaurant with Harvey Girls.

Route 66 was established in 1926.  The route extended from Chicago to Los Angeles.  It was important in the transoort of thousands during the depression who fled land devastated by dust storms.  

 Charles Lindbergh about this time came to Kingman, establishing a string of airports across the United States.  This was part of Trans World Airlines as well as setting up mail service.  

How Kingman may have looked at this time.

During WWII Kingman and the Army Air Field were central to the war effort.

A tragic even in the 1970s was a fire in Kingman which killed twelve people.

More recently another fire took lives in Arizona.