Old Chief Smoke
Encyclopedia
Old Chief Smoke (1774–1864), an original Oglala Sioux head chief.
, and his father, Body Parts, was Teton Sihásapa
Lakota. He was the brother to White Cow Woman and Walks As She Thinks. When Smoke was born his parents named him "Standing Bull" after his paternal grandfather Standing Buffalo. In his youth he was given a Toklala's name Smoke, then later on, he honored his fourth son "Bad Face" by giving him his name Smoke. He took the name of Slow Buffalo Bull, but the Smoke name stuck with him until he died.
He most noted for co-founding the Oglala's name (Those Who Scatter Their Owns) in 1834. The tribe solidified under central governance of Smoke when he became chief in 1800 but the tribe became loosely organized and split into two factions. When Smoke's rival cousin Bull Bear tried to overthrow him as the main chief in 1834, he did not succeed. Instead he became the first chief of the Eastern Oglalas, when Smoke separated the tribe into two divisions, Kiyaska and Itéšiča bands. The Kiyaska name meaning "Cutt Offs" came about when Smoke told Bull Bear and his followers that they were cut off from the tribe. The Itéšiča name meaning "Bad Faces" originated from when Bull Bear threw some dust in the face of Smoke after he told Bull Bear that he been cut off. His longstanding feud with Bull Bear which resulted in Bull Bear's death by the hands of Red Cloud in 1841. Chief Smoke's headdress wasn't just another ordinary headdress. In fact it wasn't like any other chief's headdress it was amazingly detailed and designed with the finest and longest eagle feathers available. It was longer than Chief Touch the Clouds
's headdress, and it had special significance. Indeed it was most honored and sacred among the Lakotas. When Chief Smoke stood or walked in full headdress, there was a magnificent train of eagle feathers trailing or dragging on the ground for many feet behind him. He earned these eagle feathers one by one. The Lakota people made and awarded him this headdress for his status as a great warrior as well as his many good deeds and a life devoted to and for his people. Chief Smoke’s height was 6’5, and his weight was at least 250 pounds but he was muscular and stature.
, Comes Out Slow Woman of the Teton Oglála
, Burnt Her Woman of the Teton Sičháŋǧu, Yellow Haired Woman of the Southern Cheyenne, and Brown Eyes Woman of the Teton Húŋkpapȟa
. His children included Spotted Horse Woman, Chief Red Cloud
, Chief Bull Bear III, Chief Man Afraid of His Horses I, Chief Solomon "Smoke" II, Chief American Horse I
, Chief Big Mouth
, Chief Blue Horse, Woman Dress, and Chief No Neck. Only eight out of nine sons of the old Chief Smoke were chiefs of a prominent band of the Lakotas. Big Mouth and Blue Horse were twin brothers and they were born in the same year as their cousin Chief Red Cloud
, 1822.
Spotted Horse Woman was from Smoke’s first wife Looking Cloud Woman, Man Afraid of His Horses I and Solomon "Smoke" II was from Smoke’s second wife Comes Out Slow Woman, Big Mouth and Blue Horse was from Smoke’s third wife Burnt Her Woman, American Horse I and Woman Dress was from Smoke’s fourth wife Yellow Haired Woman, No Neck was from Smoke’s fifth wife Brown Eyes Woman.
The Smoke family was the most prominent and recognized family of the Lakotas during the 18th and 19th centuries. He was one of the last great Shirt Wearers, a highly prestigious Lakota warrior society. In 1864 before Chief Smoke died, he gave his War Shirt as a gift to Col. William O. Collins after the visit that Col. Collins made to the Smoke's camp. Col. Collins sent the shirt to the Smithsonian Institution
as a donation in 1866. The shirt is presently at the Museum.
The last chiefs in the original dynasty of Oglala headmen starting with the great Chief Smoke (1774–1864) were Frank Afraid of His Horses (1856–1943) and Wendell Smoke (1876–1920).
at the age of 89, he died from natural causes of old age. A few days after his death, an Army Surgeon Lt. Colonel Henry Schell, stationed at Fort Laramie sent the body of Chief Smoke was removed and sent to the Smithsonian Institution Museum. 130 years later the remains of Chief Smoke was returned in 1994 to the Smoke family, and they buried him by the town of Porcupine, South Dakota
.
Background
Smoke's mother Looking Walker Woman was Teton Oglala LakotaOglala Lakota
The Oglala Lakota or Oglala Sioux are one of the seven subtribes of the Lakota people; along with the Nakota and Dakota, they make up the Great Sioux Nation. A majority of the Oglala live on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, the eighth-largest Native American reservation in the...
, and his father, Body Parts, was Teton Sihásapa
Sihasapa
The Sihásapa or "Blackfoot Sioux" are a division of the Titonwan, or Teton Sioux.Sihásapa is the Lakota word for "Blackfoot", whereas Siksiká has the same meaning in the Blackfoot language...
Lakota. He was the brother to White Cow Woman and Walks As She Thinks. When Smoke was born his parents named him "Standing Bull" after his paternal grandfather Standing Buffalo. In his youth he was given a Toklala's name Smoke, then later on, he honored his fourth son "Bad Face" by giving him his name Smoke. He took the name of Slow Buffalo Bull, but the Smoke name stuck with him until he died.
Accomplishments
Chief Smoke was a great horse capturer and great warrior in his youth. He achieved military accomplishments, and, later on, he rose rapidly as a major and prominent and recognizable headman. Eventually the people and Chiefs Council of the Lakotas chose him as one of the main-chiefs. Old Man Smoke was the head Chief of one of the major prominent and most dominant and largest seven Lakota divisions: the Teton Húŋkpa’ti′la (The Camp at the End of the Circle), later on, better known as the Oglala Lakota Sioux Nation from around 1800 to 1864.He most noted for co-founding the Oglala's name (Those Who Scatter Their Owns) in 1834. The tribe solidified under central governance of Smoke when he became chief in 1800 but the tribe became loosely organized and split into two factions. When Smoke's rival cousin Bull Bear tried to overthrow him as the main chief in 1834, he did not succeed. Instead he became the first chief of the Eastern Oglalas, when Smoke separated the tribe into two divisions, Kiyaska and Itéšiča bands. The Kiyaska name meaning "Cutt Offs" came about when Smoke told Bull Bear and his followers that they were cut off from the tribe. The Itéšiča name meaning "Bad Faces" originated from when Bull Bear threw some dust in the face of Smoke after he told Bull Bear that he been cut off. His longstanding feud with Bull Bear which resulted in Bull Bear's death by the hands of Red Cloud in 1841. Chief Smoke's headdress wasn't just another ordinary headdress. In fact it wasn't like any other chief's headdress it was amazingly detailed and designed with the finest and longest eagle feathers available. It was longer than Chief Touch the Clouds
Touch the Clouds
Touch the Clouds was a chief of the Minneconjou Teton Lakota known for his bravery and skill in battle, physical strength and for his diplomacy in counsel. The youngest son of Lone Horn, he was brother to Spotted Elk, Frog, and Roman Nose...
's headdress, and it had special significance. Indeed it was most honored and sacred among the Lakotas. When Chief Smoke stood or walked in full headdress, there was a magnificent train of eagle feathers trailing or dragging on the ground for many feet behind him. He earned these eagle feathers one by one. The Lakota people made and awarded him this headdress for his status as a great warrior as well as his many good deeds and a life devoted to and for his people. Chief Smoke’s height was 6’5, and his weight was at least 250 pounds but he was muscular and stature.
Family
Chief Smoke also most noted to had five wives; Looking Cloud Woman of the Teton MnikȟówožuMiniconjou
The Miniconjou are a Native American people constituting a subdivision of the Lakota Sioux, who formerly inhabited an area from the Black Hills in South Dakota to the Platte River. The contemporary population lives mostly in west-central South Dakota...
, Comes Out Slow Woman of the Teton Oglála
Oglala Lakota
The Oglala Lakota or Oglala Sioux are one of the seven subtribes of the Lakota people; along with the Nakota and Dakota, they make up the Great Sioux Nation. A majority of the Oglala live on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, the eighth-largest Native American reservation in the...
, Burnt Her Woman of the Teton Sičháŋǧu, Yellow Haired Woman of the Southern Cheyenne, and Brown Eyes Woman of the Teton Húŋkpapȟa
Hunkpapa
The Hunkpapa are a Native American group, one of the seven council fires of the Lakota Sioux tribe. The name Húŋkpapȟa is a Sioux word meaning "Head of the Circle"...
. His children included Spotted Horse Woman, Chief Red Cloud
Red Cloud
Red Cloud , was a war leader and the head Chief of the Oglala Lakota . His reign was from 1868 to 1909...
, Chief Bull Bear III, Chief Man Afraid of His Horses I, Chief Solomon "Smoke" II, Chief American Horse I
American Horse (elder)
American Horse was a minor headman of the Oglala Lakota during the Plains Indian wars of the last half of the nineteenth century. More commonly known as Iron Plume, he was probably present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn and was mortally wounded at the Battle of Slim Buttes...
, Chief Big Mouth
Big Mouth
Big Mouth was an Oglala-born chieftain of the Brulé Lakota, highly regarded by the Brulé for his bravery and aggressive military leadership...
, Chief Blue Horse, Woman Dress, and Chief No Neck. Only eight out of nine sons of the old Chief Smoke were chiefs of a prominent band of the Lakotas. Big Mouth and Blue Horse were twin brothers and they were born in the same year as their cousin Chief Red Cloud
Red Cloud
Red Cloud , was a war leader and the head Chief of the Oglala Lakota . His reign was from 1868 to 1909...
, 1822.
Spotted Horse Woman was from Smoke’s first wife Looking Cloud Woman, Man Afraid of His Horses I and Solomon "Smoke" II was from Smoke’s second wife Comes Out Slow Woman, Big Mouth and Blue Horse was from Smoke’s third wife Burnt Her Woman, American Horse I and Woman Dress was from Smoke’s fourth wife Yellow Haired Woman, No Neck was from Smoke’s fifth wife Brown Eyes Woman.
The Smoke family was the most prominent and recognized family of the Lakotas during the 18th and 19th centuries. He was one of the last great Shirt Wearers, a highly prestigious Lakota warrior society. In 1864 before Chief Smoke died, he gave his War Shirt as a gift to Col. William O. Collins after the visit that Col. Collins made to the Smoke's camp. Col. Collins sent the shirt to 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...
as a donation in 1866. The shirt is presently at the Museum.
The last chiefs in the original dynasty of Oglala headmen starting with the great Chief Smoke (1774–1864) were Frank Afraid of His Horses (1856–1943) and Wendell Smoke (1876–1920).
Death
Chief Smoke died in 1864 nearby Fort Laramie, WyomingFort Laramie, Wyoming
Fort Laramie is a town in Goshen County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 243 at the 2000 census. The town is named after historic Fort Laramie, an important stop on the Oregon, California and Mormon trails as well as a staging point for various military excursions...
at the age of 89, he died from natural causes of old age. A few days after his death, an Army Surgeon Lt. Colonel Henry Schell, stationed at Fort Laramie sent the body of Chief Smoke was removed and sent to the Smithsonian Institution Museum. 130 years later the remains of Chief Smoke was returned in 1994 to the Smoke family, and they buried him by the town of Porcupine, South Dakota
Porcupine, South Dakota
Porcupine is a census-designated place in Shannon County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,062 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Porcupine is located at ....
.
See also
- Pine Ridge Indian ReservationPine Ridge Indian ReservationThe Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is an Oglala Sioux Native American reservation located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Originally included within the territory of the Great Sioux Reservation, Pine Ridge was established in 1889 in the southwest corner of South Dakota on the Nebraska border...
- Chief Lone HornLone HornLone Horn, , was chief to the Minneconjou Teton Lakota. He was father to Spotted Elk and uncle to Touch the Clouds, Roman Nose and Frog. He was uncle of Crazy Horse. He participated in the signing of the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868...
- Chief Spotted TailSpotted TailSiŋté Glešká was a Brulé Lakota tribal chief. Although a great warrior in his youth, and having taken part in the Grattan massacre, he declined to participate in Red Cloud's War, having become convinced of the pointlessness of opposing the white incursions into his homeland; he became a...
- Chief Young Man Afraid of His HorsesYoung Man Afraid Of His HorsesYoung-Man-Afraid-Of-His-Horses [Tȟašúŋke Kȟokípȟapi] , also translated as His-Horses-Are-Afraid and They-Fear-Even-His-Horses, was a chief of the Oglala Sioux...
- Chief Little WoundLittle WoundLittle Wound b.ca 1835 - d winter 1899, Oglala Lakota chief. Following the death of his brother Bull Bear II in 1865 he became leader of the Kuinyan branch of the Kiyuksa band...
- Chief White BullWhite BullWhite Bull was the nephew of Sitting Bull, and a famous warrior in his own right. White Bull participated in the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876. For years it was said White Bull boasted of killing Lt. George Armstrong Custer at the famous battle...