The History and Culture of the Spirit Lake Dakota
On July 6, 1868 Waanatan made the following speech to a peace commission sent to Ft. Rice. Joseph LaFrambois was the interpreter:
“My friends, I am a big man and my father [Waanatan I] was also a big
man, and you know it. Many years ago when we made treaties with the whites I was told that the country on the other [east] side of the river [Missouri] was ours. My father died when I was quite young [1839-40] ….I was raised on the other side of the river. We never did anything against the whites. I don’t want to do anything to the whites, but I see them swarming all over my country…. Take all the whites and your soldiers away and all will be well. My friends, everything going on here God hears, and I hope nothing wrong will be done. I hope that everything we have been saying will go right straight to our Great Father [the President] and he will hear it. If I could go to see my Great Father I would do it…”(Diedrich 1989:96).
The commissioners failed to convince Waanatan and other leaders to abandon their roaming and settle on a reservation. However, a few months later he surrendered. After five years of trying to survive on the dwindling herds of buffalo he arrived at Fort Totten at the newly formed reservation at Devils Lake, the leader of a small band of only 62 people.
The world had turned upside down for him. The Waanatan’s once owned a vast territory and now he was driven to a small parcel, poverty stricken, and a stranger in his own land. As a leader he must set the example, he settled on the shore of Mission Bay and allowed the Catholics to establish the Saint Michael Mission near his home. Later he donated a large portion of land for the church and school, his wife helped excavate and carry clay to be made into bricks. He became a farmer in order to feed his family as the life of a free ranging hunter was gone forever. In 1872 he signed the Agreement which sold almost all of his fathers land for Ten cents an acre. He eventually was cheated out of most of the funds by a tangle of Government, Church, and business interests. Later in life he became a judge in the tribal Court of Indian Offences. He remained active politically until he passed away in 1897 and is buried in the St. Michael Church cemetery.
As you pass the Mission as the area is now named, look up to the water tower on the hill. This is the very spot where Waanatan II lived in a long two room log house. His son Suna (Bullets) Waanatan succeeded him as political leader. The Waanatan name can be found in the telephone directory as many of his descendants live in the Mission District.
Chief Waanatan II had three wives and nine children, of which only three lived to be adults. According to his son Suna (Bullet), (Itkowicakipa = He Met Them, DLS #404 1860-1937) Waanatan’s father also had the name of Canpahanajin (Standing Chokecherry Bark). His father’s brother was named Wanasenajinka (Standing Hunting Buffalo).
Census taken July 16, 1877- Band #2
1) Waanatan {Charger) 1 male, 2 females, 2 boys, Total 5.(DLS #384)
2) Oyanapiwashtada (?) 1 male, 2 females, 3 girls, Total 6
3) Tawakonhdiwashta (His Good Lighting) 1 male, 1 female, 1 boy, Total 3.
4) Ĥdokinhda (Growling) 1 male, 5 females, 2 girls, Total 8 (DLS # 448)
5) Hupahuwaŝte (Good Wing) 1 male, 1 female, 1 boy, 1 girl, Total 4
6) Tatankaiyaŝa (Yelling Buffalo) 1 male, 3 females, Total 4 (DLS #388)
7) Tatankacikadan (Little Bull) 1 male, 1 female, 3 girls, Total 5
8) Wamdiokiya (Helping Eagle) 2 males, 2 females, Total 4
9) Eshawica (?) 1 male, 2 females, 1 boy, Total 4
10) Makatohito (?) 1 male, 2 females, 1 boy, 1 girl, Total 5
11) Hoĥpitowin (Blue Nest Woman)1 female,1, boy, Total 2(Daughter of the chief #395}
12) Hihahe (?) 1 male, 3 females, 2 girls, Total 6
13) Towoatiwadutawin (?) 1 female, 3 girls, Total 4
14) Mantahokikatan (?) 1 male, 2 females, 2 boys, 1 girl, Total 6
15) Hiha (?) 1 male, 1 female, 1 boy, Total 3
16) Abota (?) 2 males, 1 female, 2 boys, Total 5
17) Catondupa (?) 1 male, 1 female, 1 boy, Total 5
18) Maĥpiyapata (?) 1 male, 1 female, 1 boy, Total 3
19) Mazakona (?) 1 male, 2 females, 2 boys, 2 girls, Total 7
20) Tacakuwaŝte (?) 1 male, 1 female, Total 2
21) Cenpastana (?) 2 males, 3 females, 2 boys, Total 7
22) Taŝinawaŝtewin (Her Good Robe) 1 female, 1 girl, Total 2
23) Heĥakamaza (Iron Elk) 1 male, 1 female, 3 boys, Total 5
24) Wiyakakoyagmani (Walking Clothed in Feathers) 3 males, 1 female, 1 boy, 2 girls, Total 7
25) Narhiwakan (?) 3 males, 2 females, 2 girls, Total 7
26) Hinapi (?) 2 males, 1 female, 2 girls, Total 5
Totals 31 males, 44 females, 22 boys, 25 girls, and Totals 122 people.
Census June 1885
302 Waanatan (Charger) father age 52
303 Maza (Iron) Wife age 50
304 Ieicasnewin (?) Wife age 41
305 Taŝunkaahinajuswin (?) Mary Josephine Grand Daughter age 18
306 Eveline Ellis Grand daughter age 11
307 Caske (First Born Male) Grandson age 10
308 Virginia Granddaughter age 5
309 no name Son age 7 months.
310 Wonasewaŝtena (Good Buffalo Hunt) Single male age 23. (DLS#387) 1862-1935.
Biography
Diedrich, Mark Famous Dakota Chiefs Volume I
Rochester, MN: Coyote Books 1999.
Dakota Oratory: Great Moments in the Recorded Speech of the
Eastern Sioux, 1695 – 1874.
Rochester: Coyote Books 1989.
Welchdakotapapers.com
Glossary
Catfish Hoġansapa (hoġan = fish, Sapa=black. A black fish
is a Catfish . Older brother of Waanatan II. Catfish died in 1868 succeeded by his son Bear Nose (Matopoġe) who settled at Ft. Peck Reservation. According to his nephew Tom Frosted
(Welchdakotapapers.com) Howasapa / Caska mother was a woman who was half French. Making him ¼ French and ¾ Nakota. He died of a heart attack 4 miles south of Jamestown, ND.
Elm River (Pecan Wakpa) Waanatan II was born in 1828 at the mouth of the Elm River (Riviere Aux Ormes) where it enters the James River near Columbia, Brown County, South Dakota. It is presumed he was born at a Fur Post where the band wintered at this period of time. Francis Rondell had a Fort des
Roche (fur fort) at this location commencing in 1835 to 1851. It is likely a previous trade post was located at this spot opposite the mouth of the Elm.
Fort Rice Located 30 miles south of Mandan, ND on the east bank of the Missouri River. Established in 1864, abandoned in 1878.
Scarlet Thunder Thunder = Wakinyan, Scarlet = Duta AKA Red Thunder. Born about 1827 older brother of Waanatan II.
Rondell, Francis Born 1814 Marseille, France. Died 1896, buried in the Episcopal cemetery at Enemy Swim District, Lake Traverse Reservation. Operated an American
Fur Company Post on the James River 1835-1851.
Waanatan II WA = (noun marker), Anatan = (To rush ahead)
The Charger II (1828-1897). Grandfather: Scarlet Thunder I (Wakinyanduta) 1740 – 1821). Father:
Waanatan I (1795-1840). Brothers: Catfish (Hoġansapa), Scarlet Thunder II. And Hunkawanaġi (Honored Ghost) (Sister: Wankamniiçiyewin (Reclining Herself in Water Woman).
[Testimony of Suna Waanatan in Probate #479).
(Honored Ghost and Reclining Herself in Water Woman maybe children of his mother after the
death of Waanatan I in 1840]. In the Welshdakotapapers.com Waanatan II’s daughter
Named Winuna married a Hunkpapa named Tatankanajin (Standing Bull), their son was Tom
Frosted from the Standing Rock Reservation who became a noted chief, he died in 1932.
