Big Head

[ladonna]

Born 1938 and died 1897, Pahtanka (Big Head) was a chief of the Upper Yanktonais of the Dakota Band. He had 25 families and lodges in his camp. The Yanktonais lived in the Dakota Territory east of the Missouri River, east to the Missippii and North to the Apple Creek Valley which they considered their homeland. 1863 he survived and was captured at the Massacre of White Stone Hill located near Kulm, North Dakota. Chief Big Head and Chief Two Bears with other survivors were taken to Fort Randall, South Dakota and held prisoner for two years. In 1868, he was a signatory to the Fort Laramie Treaty. In 1876, he was in the Battle of Little Bighorn (Greasy-Grass). After the Battle; he took refuge in Grandmother’s country (Canada) with other chiefs and bands. According to oral history, Sitting Bull told the chiefs to scatter in their return to the United States so they would not be killed prior to his surrender. Chief Big Head has decedents in Canada and Standing Rock. At the taking of their picture Chief Big Head’s hair was cut and he dressed in this suit as part of the delegation from Standing Rock that went to Washington D.C. in 1888. Upon his death in 1897, he was buried in the Cannon Ball area. In the 1885 Standing Rock Ration List is shown Chief Big Head to have 17 lodges and 168 people under his care. Natan Hinape (Comes Out Attacking); Wakua Mani (Walking Hunting); Itoye Tate (Wind In His Face); Waciyanpi (Trusting In); Tutiyopa Maza Win (Her Iron Door); Wakeya Win (Carries the Lodge); Naicijin (Stands to Defend Himself); Mato Witko (Fool Bear); Tatanka Ohitika (Brave Bull); Anpetu Wakan (Holy Day); Anpetu Rota (Grey Day); Mato Sabiciye (Bear Makes Himself Black); Sunka Wakantuya (High Dog); Nakpa Ogi (Brown Ears); Tatanka Wakute (Shoot the Buffalo); Nakpa Duta (Bed Ears); Tatanka Wanbdi (Bull Eagle); Tunka Iyotake (Sitting Boulder); Horpi (Nest); Cokab Iyaye (Goes In the Middle); Takana Duta (Red Swift); Maka Okyan (Flying In the Earth); Ota Apapi (Struck Plenty); Kangi Ciqana (Little Crow); Rante Maza (Iron Cedar); Maza Kutepi (Shoot the Iron); Wanbdi Watakpe (Charging Eagle); Ti Wakan (Holy House); Atateya Mani (Walking Wind); Iyutanyan (Mrs. Galpin); Wakiyan Duta (Red Thunder); Keze (Barb of Fish Hook); To wan ota (His Many Arrows) Wasu Rota Win (Grey Hail); Upi Kdeska (Spotted Skirt); Wahacanka Wakan (Holy Shield); Toka Ole (Hunts the Enemy); Kankeca Supa (Black Woodpecker); Hitunkasan Cante (Weasel Heart); Tokicuwa (Warrior);

[Dietmar]

...some Big Head photos from Smithsonian´s SIRIS:


Big Head by A. Gardner 1872


Big Head by A. Gardner 1872


Big Head by Charles Milton Bell 1880


Big Head by Charles Milton Bell 1880

[liverpoolannie]

www.prices4antiques.com/itemsummary/Cabinet-Card-Scott-GW-Sioux-Indian-Chief-Big-Head-325259.htm

www.rootschat.com/links/03z5/

[ladonna]

My father's side of the family comes from Big heads band
Tatanka ohikita

[Wakalapi]

Hau,

I would very much appreciate any known / documented information regarding Chief Big Head's relatives. Specifically wive(s) and children.

Wakalapi

[Dietmar]

Wakalapi,

I looked through some census records from Standing Rock and found the following information:

Standing Rock Census 1896:

Felix Big Head, Nasula Tanka, born 1838
wife: Owl Big Head, Hinhan, born 1838


Standing Rock Census 1903:

Chase Big Head, Wakuwamani, born 1858
wife: Walks Invisible, Taninyanmaniwin, born 1859
son: Gilbert Big Head, born 1883
mother: Owl Big Head, born 1838

James Big Head, born 1854
wife: Cloud, Mahpiya, born 1850
daughter: Charlotte Big Head, born 1893

George Big Head, Glonica, born 1877
daughter: Alice Big Head, born 1899


Standing Rock Census 1918:

widow: Jane Big Head, born 1854

single: Alice Big Head, born 1898


I assume that Felix Big Head is the well-known Yanktonai leader. He must have died until 1903, because his wife Owl then lived with their son´s family.
Chase, James and George seem to be sons of Big Head, Jane could be a daughter or a daughter-in-law.

Hope this helps. Perhaps others can fill in the blanks.

[ladonna]

I am trying to find all his wive's names, we know he lost some wives in the White Stone Massacre

[louisgarcia]

One of the winter counts has his name as nasutanka.
I think it was the winter count published in Detroit Institute of Arts book on the Chandler - Port collection. I think that is the book.

[Wakalapi]

OK, from what I have gathered, I believe that the following is fact.

Turns Back b. 1814 is the mother of Felix Big Head b. 1838
Felix Big Head married Red Owl b. 1838
Children of Felix Big Head and Red Owl are:
James Big Head b. 1854 married Cloud b. 1850
Jane Big Head b. 1854
Chase Big Head b. 1858
Children of James Big Head and Cloud are:
George Big Head b. 1877 married ?
Charlotte Big Head b. 1893
Tatanka b. 1886
Shot b. 1875
Children of George Big Head and ?
Alice Big Head b. 1899 married Edward Two Horses b. 1896

[Dietmar]

Please compare this photo by photographer James Gilbert to the other portraits of Big Head, I believe it´s him, although the inscription on the back says Spread Face.

[ladonna]

no i gon't think this picture is Big Head

[charlie]

Somewhere on the web I have read that PAH means "head" and NASULA means "brain".

[ladonna]

there are Two different men
Big Head
Big Brain

[lgarcia]

Charlie:
If you look at the 1885 Standing Rock census under Upper Yanktonai,
the very first name is Nasunatanka Big Head.
Yes, Nasuna means brain and Pa means head.
It is a mistranslation that has stuck.
The same goes for Black Catfish Hogansapa or for short - Hosapa means just a catfish. By the way catfish are naturally black. But everyone uses Blackcatfish for this mans name.
These mistranslations are so ingrained that for the general public they can't be changed.
Later,
Louie

[gregor]

Hi,

regarding replies No. 2 & 9, I tend to believe that these pictures show the same person.



Look at the nose, eyes and mouth section, the composure of the head. I think there are 2-3 years between these exposures. In the right pic Big Head seems to be older.