Flying Hawk

Flying Hawk was the author of his commentaries and accounts of the Battle of the Little Big Horn, Crazy Horse and the Wounded Knee Massacre, and of Native American warriors and statesmen from who fought to protect their families, defend the invasion of their lands and preserve their culture.

These prayers were to prevent tribal famine or the death of a dear one, or that could bring fortitude in facing immense odds in impending battle or help on behalf of a friend deemed more valuable than himself.

Alongside of him, mounted on a pinto pony, rode Flying Hawk in full regal style, carrying his feathered guidon erect and fluttering in the breeze, while his eagle-quill bonnet not only made a fitting crown but dangled below the stirrups of his saddle.

Scalp locks decorated his buckskin war-shirt, and beaded moccasins adorned his feet, for this was the becoming dress for, and carried out the dignity of his high office of Chief on gala day affairs.

Her memories of affection and respect for the Lakota people inspired her to send a letter to Buffalo Bill requesting permission to photograph Sioux traveling with the show in her studio.

Käsebier's project was purely artistic and her images were not made for commercial purposes and never used in Buffalo Bill's Wild West program booklets or promotional posters.

[26] In 1898, Chief Flying Hawk was new to show business and unable to hide his anger and frustration imitating battle scenes and from the Great Plains Wars with Buffalo Bill's Wild West to escape the constraints and poverty of the Indian reservation.

"When Chief Iron Tail was finished with greeting the long line of judges, bankers, lawyers, business men and neighbors who filed past in a receiving line just as the President is obliged to receive and shake the hands of multitude of strangers who call on New Years, the chief grasped hold of the fine buffalo robe which had been thrown over a porch bench for him to rest on drawing it around his shoulders, walked out on the lawn and lay down to gaze into the clouds and over the hundred mile sweep of the hills and valleys forming the Eastern Continental Divide.

The Wigwam was part of 1,300 acre estate with heavily forested lands and was once the Eastern home of Oglala Lakota "Oskate Wicasa" Wild Westers, and a retreat for Progressive Era politicians, businessmen, journalists and adventurers.

Du Bois, a northcentral railroad hub on the Eastern Continental divide, had two active passenger rail stations, and was always a welcome rest stop for weary travelers.

For "Old Scouts" Buffalo Bill Cody, Robert Edmund Strahorn and Captain Jack Crawford, from the Great Sioux War, the Wigwam was a place to relax, smoke and talk about the Old West.

Here he could rise with the morning sun for a walk in the forest, enjoy a breakfast of bacon and eggs, with fruit and coffee, smoke his redstone pipe and have a glass of sherry before retiring.

Chief Flying Hawk was interested in current affairs and an advocate for Native American rights, and requested that his commentaries include a discussion of the status of United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians and the cheating of the Osages in Oklahoma.

On Chief Flying Hawk's many visits to The Wigwam, these two friends, with the aid of an interpreter, would invariably light up their pipes and begin long discourses on Native American history and current affairs.

[37] The dedication to Firewater and Forked Tongues quotes President Theodore Roosevelt: "It is greatly to be wished that some competent person would write a full and true history of our national dealings with the Indians.

Chief's Flying Hawk's commentaries reflect a Native American's views of U.S. history and speak of warriors and statesmen who fought bravely to protect their families, defend the invasion of their lands and safeguard their culture from total destruction.

"No other Indian of his day was better qualified to furnish reliable data covering the great Sioux war, beginning with the ruthless exploitation by rum-runners, prospectors and adventurers, of their homes and hunting grounds forever by sacred treaty with the Government, and ending in the deplorable massacre of Wounded Knee.

Chief Flying Hawk traveled as a lead performer with Buffalo Bill's Wild West,[42] Miller Brothers 101 Ranch and Sells-Floto Circus for over 30 years throughout the United States and Europe.

"[44] Chief Flying Hawk commented on a variety of topics including Pre-Columbian civilization; the Spanish conquests of Christopher Columbus, Hernán Cortés and Francisco Vásquez de Coronado; the English colonization of America by Sir Walter Raleigh's English Expedition of 1584; the Dutch colonization with New Amsterdam and Kieft's War; and massacres of Indians at Sand Creek, Battle of Washita River, The Baker Massacre and Wounded Knee.

Flying Hawk wanted school history programs to tell the stories of Native American warriors and statesmen who fought to protect their families, defend the invasion of their lands and preserve their culture.

Spotted Tail, then Chief of the Tetons, and Red Cloud, with other leaders, decided there must be a stand made or they would be annihilated in the grand rush of white hordes who were building roads and railroads into their hunting grounds.

At a Grand Council in 1866 it was decided to fight, and when the government built Fort Phil Kearny in the heart of the buffalo range, Crazy Horse took the lead to drive out the invaders.

"[65] "Thereafter the war became general and Crazy Horse was recognized as a formidable antagonist by the Government's armies, and the allied tribes acknowledged him as a leader in carrying out the Council's program of campaigns to fight the troops.

Reduced from the scattering of the separate tribes, his people suffered greatly for lack of food in the severe winter which followed and the persistent trailing by guerrilla warfare troops which were furnished with transport, telegraph and the best equipment.

"[87] "Instead, General Crook immediately recognized Spotted Tail as the head Chief, knowing he had turned against his own people and favored anything the army stood for, and might be depended on to control the late prisoners with military severity.

Flying Hawk appealed to his interpreter to make it clear that the treaty with Napoleon was broken at the time that his country was purchased, and that the whites had, from the beginning of relations with their tribe, ignored and wholly repudiated their first and principle obligation toward the Sioux.

[94] Chief Flying Hawk was familiar with the legal claims and pleadings and requested that his commentaries include the swindlings that were perpetrated upon the Sioux tribe in so-called land purchases.

But it is not too late for Federal and State authorities, legislative and executive, to adopt measures to prevent further civil exploitation of these Indians, and to safeguard their interests and promote their welfare.

For example, Chief Flying Hawk's Winter Count for 1866 records the Fetterman Fight during Red Cloud's War as "Wasicu opawinge wica ktepi" or "They killed one hundred white men."

A car was brought around, loaded to capacity, and the old Chief, in full dress and just a little paint on his face to cover his wrinkles, took place beside his host for a trip of two miles to the big Catholic edifice on State Street in the city's First Ward.

Kicking Bear was Flying Hawk's older brother.
Chief Flying Hawk, Oglala Lakota , Gertrude Käsebier , 1898, Library of Congress .
Sun Dance, Rosebud, South Dakota , 1928, Major Israel McCreight
Most Wild Westers were Oglala Lakota "Oskate Wicasa" from Pine Ridge, South Dakota , the first Lakota people to go Wild Westing.
Chief Flying Hawk and Buffalo Bill , Sachem's Head , Guilford, Connecticut , 1915. After Chief Iron Tail's death on May 28, 1916, Chief Flying Hawk was chosen as successor by all of the braves of Buffalo Bill's Wild West and led the gala processions as the head Chief of the Indians.
Chief Flying Hawk's glare is the most startling of Käsebier's portraits. Other Indians were able to relax, smile or do a "noble pose." Gertrude Käsebier , 1898, U.S. Library of Congress
Chief Flying Hawk was probably the longest standing Wild Wester , traveling for over 30 years throughout the United States and Europe from about 1898 to about 1930.
Grand Reception for Chief Iron Tail and Chief Flying Hawk, The Wigwam, Du Bois, Pennsylvania, 1915. Hundreds of friends, bankers, preachers, teachers, businessmen, farmers, came from near and far along with their ladies to pay their respects and say, "Hau Cola!"
Major Israel McCreight , Chief Iron Tail and Chief Flying Hawk, c. 1911
The Wigwam was the Eastern home of Oglala Lakota "Oskate Wicasa" Wild Westers , and a retreat for Progressive Era politicians, businessmen, journalists and adventurers. Du Bois, Pennsylvania , c. 1906
From left to right: Lone Bear, American Horse , Iron Tail , Iron Cloud, Whirlwind. All Sioux Chiefs, taken by M.I. McCreight in Du Bois, June 1908.
Flying Hawk's grandchildren, Du Bois, PA, June 22, 1908. Left to right: David, Robert, Lucille and Eva Flying Hawk.
Chief Flying Hawk would sign or mark the pages in ink with his thumbprint, hand them to McCreight, nod his head and declare the paper-talk "Washta" (good)."
McCreight dedicated his life to telling the story of Chief Flying Hawk. Firewater and Forked Tongues: A Sioux Chief Interprets U.S. History was released in 1947 when McCreight was 82 years old.
Chief Flying Hawk and Chief Thunder Bull, his interpreter, at The Wigwam, Du Bois, 1929. McCreight was impressed with Flying Hawk's passionate oration in his native Lakota emphasized by expert sign language to prove his points. "It was thrilling; it was earnest, eloquent and convincing; compelling comparison to the best in the white man's records."
"It is greatly to be wished that some competent person would write a full and true history of our national dealings with the Indians. Undoubtedly the latter have suffered a terrible injustice at our hands." Theodore Roosevelt
Chief Flying Hawk wanted to talk about making over the white man's history so that the young people would know the truth. The white man's books about Indians did not tell the truth. Flying Hawk wanted school history programs to tell the stories of Native American warriors and statesmen who fought to protect their families, defend the invasion of their lands and preserve their culture.
"If William Penn had been obeyed by his officials and followers, there would have been no Indian wars in the Pennsylvania." Chief Flying Hawk
Chief Flying Hawk requested that Red Jacket's Speech on "Religion for the White Man and the Red" be included in his commentaries. Two Seneca Chiefs; Red Jacket , left; Cornplanter , right.
"Sitting Bull was all right but they got afraid of him and killed him. They were afraid of my cousin Crazy Horse, so they killed him. These were the acts of cowards. It was murder. We were starving. We only wanted food." Chief Flying Hawk
Chief Flying Hawk regarded Red Cloud as "The Red Man's George Washington."
The Fetterman Fight , December 21, 1866. "When the government built Fort Phil Kearny in the heart of the buffalo range, Crazy Horse took the lead to drive out the invaders. His attack on the Fetterman party at the timber-cutting showed that he was a master of strategy."
"It was hard to hear the women singing the death song for the men killed and for the wailing because their children were shot while they played in the camp. It was a big fight. The soldiers got just what they deserved this time. No good soldiers would shoot into an Indian's tepee where there were women and children. These soldiers did, and we fought for our women and children. White men would do the same if they were men." Chief Flying Hawk
"I was present at the death of Crazy Horse; he was my cousin; his father and his two wives and an uncle of Crazy Horse took the body away, and no one knows today where he is buried. Several years later, they went to see how the body was, and when the ground was removed, they found the bones, and they were petrified; they would never tell where they buried him." Chief Flying Hawk
Chief Flying Hawk requested that the U.S. Indian Commission's Report of 1926 citing the cheating of the Osages in Oklahoma be officially included in his commentaries. Chief of the Little Osages, c. 1807
Chief Flying Hawk, The Wigwam, Du Bois, PA, 1929. Flying Hawk was a Lakota historian and authored a "winter count" covering nearly 150 years of Lakota history.
"Does the white man know who is right if the Indian says his great grandfather was a bear, and the white man says his great grandfather was a monkey?" Chief Flying Hawk
Chief Flying Hawk, shortly before passing to the Sand Hills, 1931. Chief Flying Hawk was perhaps the last great Oglala Lakota chief from the Sioux Wars.
Chief Flying Hawk and his family did not enjoy the benefits of white men. Home of Felix Flying Hawk , Manderson, South Dakota