Big Elk
Encyclopedia
Big Elk, also known as Ontopanga (1770–1846/1853), was a principal chief of the Omaha
tribe for many years on the upper Missouri River
. He is notable for his oration delivered at the funeral of Black Buffalo
in 1813.
Big Elk led his people during a time of increasing changes, with threats from Sioux
warfare, disease and European-American encroachment. He created alliances to protect his people and prepare for a future which he thought depended on a closer relationship with the United States. He was willing to exchange land for the promise of protection for his people but was often disappointed by the failures of the US government.
, through his relations with the French-American trader Lucien Fontenelle
. He also was seeking United States aid for protection against the Sioux.
Big Elk admired some aspects of European-American culture and made strategic alliances through the marriages of his daughters: two married prominent European-American fur traders. His mixed-race grandson Logan Fontenelle
worked with the US Indian agent
as interpreter for the Omaha from the age of 15. He was increasingly important after 1853, during negotiations for land sales. He may have been considered a chief for that process, but contemporary accounts were confusing. In 1855, he was killed by an enemy Sioux band. Fontenelle was one of the seven signatories to a treaty in 1854 by which the Omaha ceded most of their land to the United States, in exchange for annuities and goods.
In 1843 Chief Big Elk designated his adopted son Joseph LaFlesche
as his successor; LaFlesche was a Métis
fur trader of French-Canadian and Ponca
descent, who lived many years with the Omaha. He was one of the chiefs who signed the 1854 treaty. Highly assimilated, LaFlesche served as principal chief from 1853/1855-1888, encouraging the Omaha to become educated and to adopt some European-American ways.
As with many other Native American tribes, the Omaha were used to absorbing captives, orphans and honored allies into their culture as adopted members. Similarly, Big Elk arranged or permitted two of his daughters to marry prominent European-American fur traders, with whom he wanted to make alliances to strengthen his family's connections. He admired some aspects of American culture and believed he could help his people by the alliances. As the Omaha are a matrilineal culture, his daughters' children could be assimilated and find positions within the tribe.
In 1814, during the War of 1812
between the United States
and Great Britain
, his daughter Mitain (also spelled Mitahne) married Manuel Lisa
, recently appointed by the governor of the Missouri Territory
as the US Indian agent
on the Upper Missouri River. He had been a prominent fur trader in the Omaha territory for years, setting up Fort Lisa in what is now North Omaha, Nebraska
. Lisa returned to the fur trade after the war's conclusion. At the time, Lisa was legally married to a European-American woman in St. Louis, where she lived full time; after her death in 1817, he married a second woman of European descent in St. Louis.
Lisa and Mitain had a daughter Rosalie and son Christopher together. In 1819 Lisa took Rosalie back to St. Louis with him for Catholic schooling, but Mitain refused to give him custody of Christopher, and was supported by Big Elk.
About 1823-1824, Big Elk's daughter Me-um-bane married the fur trader Lucien Fontenelle
, from a wealthy French Creole
family in New Orleans. He set up a trading post on the Missouri River near what is now Bellevue, Nebraska
and lived full time in the territory. They had five children together. Their first son Logan Fontenelle
was born in 1825. He became an interpreter for the Omaha, beginning to work for the US Indian agent
after his father's death in 1840. Some historians contend that he was elected a chief of the Omaha in 1853; others that he served as interpreter to the chiefs during the negotiations for land sales that were taking place. While 60 Omaha had held council to negotiate with the Agent Greenwood in January 1854, Fontenelle accompanied or was part of a delegation of chiefs who went to Washington, DC later that year to complete negotiations for a treaty with the United States. The Omaha ceded most of their land in exchange for annuities and goods, and resettlement on a reservation in what is now northeastern Nebraska.
Big Elk adopted the trader Joseph LaFlesche
as his son and into the Omaha. (His mother Waoowinchtcha was a Ponca
and reported as a relative of Big Elk.) LaFlesche was the son of Joseph LaFlesche, a French-Canadian fur trader with the American Fur Company, who had worked for many years the Omaha and other tribes between the Platte and the Nebraska rivers. The younger LaFlesche had started accompanying his father on trading trips at age 10, and began working for the AFC at age 16. In 1843 Big Elk designated him as his successor, and LaFlesche seriously studied the tribal ways and customs to prepare for chieftainship. LaFlesche appeared to join the tribal council about 1849, after he had settled with the Omaha at the Bellevue Agency.
LaFlesche was highly assimilated and cultured, and married Mary Gale, daughter of an American surgeon and his Iowa wife. LaFlesche served as principal chief of the Omaha from 1855-1888. During this period of major transition after the tribe moved to a reservation, he encouraged the Omaha to become educated, to accept Christianity, and to adopt some European-American ways. He and Mary encouraged education for their children, and several went to school and college in the East. They became prominent reformers and leaders among the Omaha, with a physician
, reformer, and financial manager for the tribe among them. After Mary's death about 1855, LaFlesche married Tainne, an Omaha woman. Their son Francis La Flesche
(b. 1857) also became educated; he worked as an ethnologist for the Smithsonian Institution
in a close partnership with the anthropologist Alice Fletcher; he wrote books and research about the Omaha and the Osage
, and helped preserve their traditions.
Omaha (tribe)
The Omaha are a federally recognized Native American nation which lives on the Omaha Reservation in northeastern Nebraska and western Iowa, United States...
tribe for many years on the upper Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
. He is notable for his oration delivered at the funeral of Black Buffalo
Black buffalo
This page is about a species. For the Indigenous American warchief, see Crazy Horse. For the Indigenous American woman see Black Buffalo Woman.-Introduction:...
in 1813.
Big Elk led his people during a time of increasing changes, with threats from Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
warfare, disease and European-American encroachment. He created alliances to protect his people and prepare for a future which he thought depended on a closer relationship with the United States. He was willing to exchange land for the promise of protection for his people but was often disappointed by the failures of the US government.
History
Big Elk struggled to protect his people from encroachment by European Americans, but more importantly, from warfare by the Sioux. The Omaha suffered from smallpox epidemics in the early nineteenth century and were much reduced in number. Big Elk was among the Native American allies of the United States during the War of 1812War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, through his relations with the French-American trader Lucien Fontenelle
Fontenelle's Post
Fontenelle's Post, first known as Pilcher's Post, and the site of the later city of Bellevue, was built in 1822 in the Nebraska Territory by Joshua Pilcher, then president of the Missouri Fur Company. Located on the Missouri River, it developed as one of the first European-American settlements in...
. He also was seeking United States aid for protection against the Sioux.
Big Elk admired some aspects of European-American culture and made strategic alliances through the marriages of his daughters: two married prominent European-American fur traders. His mixed-race grandson Logan Fontenelle
Logan Fontenelle
Logan Fontenelle , also known as Shon-ga-ska , was a trader of French and Omaha ancestry, who served for years as an interpreter to the US Indian agent at the Bellevue Agency in Nebraska...
worked with the US Indian agent
Indian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the U.S. government.-Indian agents:*Leander Clark was agent for the Sac and Fox in Iowa beginning in 1866....
as interpreter for the Omaha from the age of 15. He was increasingly important after 1853, during negotiations for land sales. He may have been considered a chief for that process, but contemporary accounts were confusing. In 1855, he was killed by an enemy Sioux band. Fontenelle was one of the seven signatories to a treaty in 1854 by which the Omaha ceded most of their land to the United States, in exchange for annuities and goods.
In 1843 Chief Big Elk designated his adopted son Joseph LaFlesche
Joseph LaFlesche
Joseph LaFlesche, also known as E-sta-mah-za or Iron Eye , was the last recognized head chief of the Omaha tribe of Native Americans who was selected according to the traditional tribal rituals. The head chief Big Elk had adopted LaFlesche into the Omaha and designated him as his successor....
as his successor; LaFlesche was a Métis
Métis
A Métis is a person born to parents who belong to different groups defined by visible physical differences, regarded as racial, or the descendant of such persons. The term is of French origin, and also is a cognate of mestizo in Spanish, mestiço in Portuguese, and mestee in English...
fur trader of French-Canadian and Ponca
Ponca
The Ponca are a Native American people of the Dhegihan branch of the Siouan-language group. There are two federally recognized Ponca tribes: the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma...
descent, who lived many years with the Omaha. He was one of the chiefs who signed the 1854 treaty. Highly assimilated, LaFlesche served as principal chief from 1853/1855-1888, encouraging the Omaha to become educated and to adopt some European-American ways.
Marriage and family
Big Elk was married to an Omaha woman. They had a son Standing Elk and several daughters.As with many other Native American tribes, the Omaha were used to absorbing captives, orphans and honored allies into their culture as adopted members. Similarly, Big Elk arranged or permitted two of his daughters to marry prominent European-American fur traders, with whom he wanted to make alliances to strengthen his family's connections. He admired some aspects of American culture and believed he could help his people by the alliances. As the Omaha are a matrilineal culture, his daughters' children could be assimilated and find positions within the tribe.
In 1814, during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
between the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, his daughter Mitain (also spelled Mitahne) married Manuel Lisa
Manuel Lisa
Manuel Lisa, also known as Manuel de Lisa , was a Spanish-American fur trader, explorer, and United States Indian agent. He was among the founders in St. Louis of the Missouri Fur Company, an early fur trading company...
, recently appointed by the governor of the Missouri Territory
Missouri Territory
The Territory of Missouri was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 4, 1812 until August 10, 1821, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Missouri.-History:...
as the US Indian agent
Indian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the U.S. government.-Indian agents:*Leander Clark was agent for the Sac and Fox in Iowa beginning in 1866....
on the Upper Missouri River. He had been a prominent fur trader in the Omaha territory for years, setting up Fort Lisa in what is now North Omaha, Nebraska
North Omaha, Nebraska
North Omaha is a community area in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. It is bordered by Cuming and Dodge Streets on the south, Interstate 680 on the north, North 72nd Street on the west and the Missouri River and Carter Lake, Iowa on the east, as defined by the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Omaha...
. Lisa returned to the fur trade after the war's conclusion. At the time, Lisa was legally married to a European-American woman in St. Louis, where she lived full time; after her death in 1817, he married a second woman of European descent in St. Louis.
Lisa and Mitain had a daughter Rosalie and son Christopher together. In 1819 Lisa took Rosalie back to St. Louis with him for Catholic schooling, but Mitain refused to give him custody of Christopher, and was supported by Big Elk.
About 1823-1824, Big Elk's daughter Me-um-bane married the fur trader Lucien Fontenelle
Fontenelle's Post
Fontenelle's Post, first known as Pilcher's Post, and the site of the later city of Bellevue, was built in 1822 in the Nebraska Territory by Joshua Pilcher, then president of the Missouri Fur Company. Located on the Missouri River, it developed as one of the first European-American settlements in...
, from a wealthy French Creole
Louisiana Creole people
Louisiana Creole people refers to those who are descended from the colonial settlers in Louisiana, especially those of French and Spanish descent. The term was first used during colonial times by the settlers to refer to those who were born in the colony, as opposed to those born in the Old World...
family in New Orleans. He set up a trading post on the Missouri River near what is now Bellevue, Nebraska
Bellevue, Nebraska
Bellevue is a city in Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 50,137 at the 2010 census. Eight miles south of Omaha, Bellevue is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. Originally settled in the 1830s, It was the first state capitol. Bellevue was incorporated in...
and lived full time in the territory. They had five children together. Their first son Logan Fontenelle
Logan Fontenelle
Logan Fontenelle , also known as Shon-ga-ska , was a trader of French and Omaha ancestry, who served for years as an interpreter to the US Indian agent at the Bellevue Agency in Nebraska...
was born in 1825. He became an interpreter for the Omaha, beginning to work for the US Indian agent
Indian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the U.S. government.-Indian agents:*Leander Clark was agent for the Sac and Fox in Iowa beginning in 1866....
after his father's death in 1840. Some historians contend that he was elected a chief of the Omaha in 1853; others that he served as interpreter to the chiefs during the negotiations for land sales that were taking place. While 60 Omaha had held council to negotiate with the Agent Greenwood in January 1854, Fontenelle accompanied or was part of a delegation of chiefs who went to Washington, DC later that year to complete negotiations for a treaty with the United States. The Omaha ceded most of their land in exchange for annuities and goods, and resettlement on a reservation in what is now northeastern Nebraska.
Big Elk adopted the trader Joseph LaFlesche
Joseph LaFlesche
Joseph LaFlesche, also known as E-sta-mah-za or Iron Eye , was the last recognized head chief of the Omaha tribe of Native Americans who was selected according to the traditional tribal rituals. The head chief Big Elk had adopted LaFlesche into the Omaha and designated him as his successor....
as his son and into the Omaha. (His mother Waoowinchtcha was a Ponca
Ponca
The Ponca are a Native American people of the Dhegihan branch of the Siouan-language group. There are two federally recognized Ponca tribes: the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma...
and reported as a relative of Big Elk.) LaFlesche was the son of Joseph LaFlesche, a French-Canadian fur trader with the American Fur Company, who had worked for many years the Omaha and other tribes between the Platte and the Nebraska rivers. The younger LaFlesche had started accompanying his father on trading trips at age 10, and began working for the AFC at age 16. In 1843 Big Elk designated him as his successor, and LaFlesche seriously studied the tribal ways and customs to prepare for chieftainship. LaFlesche appeared to join the tribal council about 1849, after he had settled with the Omaha at the Bellevue Agency.
LaFlesche was highly assimilated and cultured, and married Mary Gale, daughter of an American surgeon and his Iowa wife. LaFlesche served as principal chief of the Omaha from 1855-1888. During this period of major transition after the tribe moved to a reservation, he encouraged the Omaha to become educated, to accept Christianity, and to adopt some European-American ways. He and Mary encouraged education for their children, and several went to school and college in the East. They became prominent reformers and leaders among the Omaha, with a physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, reformer, and financial manager for the tribe among them. After Mary's death about 1855, LaFlesche married Tainne, an Omaha woman. Their son Francis La Flesche
Francis La Flesche
Francis La Flesche was the first professional Native American ethnologist; he worked with the Smithsonian Institution, specializing first in his own Omaha culture, followed by that of the Osage. Working closely as a translator and researcher with the anthropologist Alice C...
(b. 1857) also became educated; he worked as an ethnologist for the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
in a close partnership with the anthropologist Alice Fletcher; he wrote books and research about the Omaha and the Osage
Osage
The Osage Nation, a Native American tribe in the United States, is the source of most other terms containing the word "osage".Osage can also refer to:*The Osage language, a Siouan language traditionally spoken by the Osage Nation...
, and helped preserve their traditions.
Further reading
- Judith A. Boughter, Betraying the Omaha Nation, 1790-1916, University of Oklahoma Press, 1998