Great Heros
And Great Chiefs
~ True American Warriors ~

Ohiyesa wrote the following biographies from actual interviews with the chieftains themselves, or with those who were eyewitness to the events.

Ohiyesa's preface to his biographies:

Every age, every race, has its leaders and heroes. There were over sixty distinct tribes of Indians on this continent, each of which boasted its notable men. The names and deeds of some of these men will live in American history, yet in the true sense they are unknown, because they are misunderstood. I should like to present some of the greatest chiefs of modern times in the light of the native character and ideals, believing that the American people will gladly do them tardy justice.

It is matter of history that the Sioux nation, to which I belong, was originally friendly to the Caucasian peoples which it met in succession-first, to the south the Spaniards; then the French, on the Mississippi River and along the Great Lakes; later the English, and finally the Americans. This powerful tribe then roamed over the whole extent of the Mississippi valley, between that river and the Rockies. Their usage’s and government united the various bands more closely than was the case with many of the neighboring tribes.

During the early part of the nineteenth century, chiefs such as Wabashaw, Redwing, and Little Six among the eastern Sioux, Conquering Bear, Man-Afraid-of-His-Horse, and Hump of the western bands, were the last of the old type. After these, we have a coterie of new leaders, products of the new conditions brought about by close contact with the conquering race.

This distinction must be borne in mind -- that while the early chiefs were spokesmen and leaders in the simplest sense, possessing no real authority, those who headed their tribes during the transition period were more or less rulers and more or less politicians. It is a singular fact that many of the "chiefs", well known as such to the American public, were not chiefs at all according to the accepted usage’s of their tribesmen. Their prominence was simply the result of an abnormal situation, in which representatives of the United States Government made use of them for a definite purpose. In a few cases, where a chief met with a violent death, some ambitious man has taken advantage of the confusion to thrust himself upon the tribe and, perhaps with outside help, has succeeded in usurping the leadership.

- Charles A. Eastman (Ohiyesa)

Our Brother Two Dogs sent this Award to us. This is a great honor and we will always display it proudly.

Cougar Heart we think your beautiful Gift to us is an excellent eulogy to these Great Warriors & Chiefs. They are only resting till the time comes that they will return to us all....Aho......

The Index below will take you to each of these Great Warriors to learn of their warrior spirit. Those of you who have not had the benefit of a Native American upbringing will get a chance to know the man behind the name, and that being a warrior does not have to mean being just a fighter.

We thank Ohiyesa for his words and honor him also as a true warrior. Aho.................GreyWolf Runs With Elk & Willow Woman

"...the Red Nation shall rise again
and it shall be a blessing
for a sick world..."

"I have drunk of the waters
of the Dragoon Mountains
and they have cooled me
I do not want to leave here

"It does not require many words
to speak the truth"

"We are going back to our own country.
We do not want to fight."

"Friends, it has been our misfortune
to welcome the white man."

"We have now to deal with another people
small and feeble when our forefathers first met with them
but now great and overbearing."

"We think we understand what the commission has said to us,
but do not think the commission has understood
what we have said....."

"He negotiated treaties with the ability
of a born diplomat, with one exception,
and that exception cost him his life....."

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Background Courtesy AngelWings

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