American Horse 'Wasechum Taschunka' (1840-1908). 'Wasechum Taschunka' took on the name American Horse following the death of his uncle ate the Battle of Slim Buttes. During the reservation days, he was considered a notable progressive and became a head Oglala spokesman. As an orator and diplomat, he represented his people in numerous negotiations with the federal government. Following the tragedy of Wounded Knee he became the leader of a unified Sioux delegation which traveled to Washington seeking a more equitable treatment for the Sioux. In his later years he traveled with Buffalo Bill and the Wild West Show. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
"The medicine wheels played an important part in the lives of native Americans as far back as 3000 BC For centuries, these stone rings helped provide information about solstices, equinoxes and other astrological orders. Colleen Cutschall's installation "Catching the Sun's Tail" focuses on the possible 'ritual' function of the medicine wheel as a medium uniting the human and the celestial forces. Human and spiritual symbolisms are both represented in this installation. The human element is presented in the silhouettes of figures joining in a circle around the wheel. The clouds, the buffalo skull and the lightbeams represent the mystical powers of the universe. The momentum of the harmonious union between man and the universe is captured in the interplay between these symbols. (M.S.)"
Red Horse 'Xunktanka Stanewe'. During the spring of 1876, Red Horse moved his band from the region of the Cheyenne River traveling through the Rosebud Valley and met with a large contingent of Sioux assembling on the west bank of the Little Bighorn river. As a head chief within the council lodge of the largest recorded Sioux camp, Red Horse fought both Custer and Reno. In 1881 at the Cheyenne River Agency, S.D., Red Horse created 41 ledger drawings illustrating his part in the famed battle. His story was published by the Bureau of American Ethnology in their Tenth Annual Report. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Wild Horse 'Xunktanka Wohitika'. An Oglala chief, Wild Horse was said to have been the brother of cousin of the great chief and leader, Crazy Horse, of whom no documented photograph is known. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Dimensions
23 X 19 cm
Size Overall
51 X 41 cm
Medium
Black and white photograph
Condition
Severe bowing back of both vertical edges away from mat.
Young-Man-Afraid-of-his-Horses 'Tasunka Kokipapi' (c.. 1830-1900). Although the hereditary Oglalachief, Man-Afraid yielded his tribal authority to Red Cloud amid the turbulent years when the Sioux and Cheyenne openly opposed the Boreman Trail and succeeded in their struggle to drive the army from Sioux hunting grounds within the Powder River country. He led his people on the warpath throughout the Red Cloud War and during his later years was president of the Pine Ridge Council and represented the Oglala in Washington on several occasions. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
