This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: farwellwalter Surnames: Long, O'Fallen, Shongatonga, Crenier, Ietan, Mi-a-ke-ta, Little Soldier, Wa-sa-b-jing-ga, Little Black Bear, Wah-toh-ta-na, Classification: biography Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.iowa.counties.fremont/7414/mb.ashx Message Board Post: FIRST: The following appears in Executive Document No. 490 of the First Session of the 23rd Congress, page 71. It is a report by John Dougherty, Indian Agent for the Upper Missouri: "To Joseph Bernard, for his pay of striker to the blacksmith for Omaha, Otto, and Missouri Indians, between 1st October, 1832, and 30th June 1833: 71 dollars and 33 cents." N.B.: It is my understanding that many in a tribe would go on their winter hunt during the time that the above says Bernard was hired as a striker for the tribe's blacksmith. The blacksmith would repair anything of the tribe's metal objects that needed attention. The blacksmith shop would be located wherever the site of their permament village. If Bernard worked for the Otoe in another capacity, it has escaped my attention.-- W.F. SECOND: IOWA SENTINEL. Fairfield, Iowa. Vol. I, No. 12. August 28, 1847.-- Whenever a white man has resided among the Sioux Indians for the space of a month, he is required to take unto himself a wife. The chief of the band among which he is, at the end of his time, comes to him with a young and handsome squaw, whom he must espouse and protect according to their custom, or leave the country immediately. N.B.: I have read many times that an Indian tribe practiced such a custom. After his marriage, Bernard was under the protection of the tribe. This is undoubtedly the reason Joseph Bernard took an Otoe for his wife. It also sets the general time of their marriage -- probably around the first of November 1832.--W.F. THIRD: THE NEBRASKA CITY NEWS. Sept. 22, 1877. Page 1, columns 2 & 3. "OTTOES. A full Account of our First Settlers. Which Will be Read With Interest by our Citizens.--We clip the following interesting account of the Otoe Indians from the Atkinson's Casket, published in Philadelphia in the year 1831": "The Otoe nation of Indians is distinguished by the name of Wah-toh-ta-na. The permanent village of the nation is composed of large dirt lodges, and is situated on the left bank of the Platte, or Nebraska, about forty miles above its confluence with the Missouri. They are represented by travelers as a brave and generous people, manifesting but little of the treachery and barbarity which so generally prevails among the Indian tribes. "A council was held by one hundred Ottoes, seventy Missouries, (the remains of a once powerful nation, but now amalgamated with the Ottoes) and fifty or sixty Ioways, with the expedition commanded by Maj. Long, in 1819 on the Missouri near Council Bluffs, the object of which was to secure the friendship of the Ottoes and their aid in prosecuting the expedition. "The council was opened with a few rounds from the howitzers. Sentinels walked to and fro behind the benches, and a handsome standard waved before the assembly. Major O'Fallen, the interpreter, addressed the audience in a very animated manner, and replies were given by Shongatonga, the Crenier and others, with extravagant gesticulation, which is one of the prominent features of Indian oratory. "At the termination of the council, small presents were made by both parties, consisting of guns, blankets, tobacco, robes, skins, etc. "To amuse the whites, the Indians resolved upon performing their extraordinary dancing ceremonies, with which they usually honor the brave or distinguished persons. The following description is given by Major Long: " 'The amusement of dancing was commenced by striking up their rude instrumental and vocal music, with which, rude as it was, very good time was preserved with the vocal performers, who sat around them, and by all the natives as they sat, with the inflection of their bodies, or the movements of their limbs; after a lapse of a little time, three individuals leaped up and danced around for a few minutes, then, at a concerted signal from the leader of the ceremonies, the music ceased and they retired to their seats, uttering a loud noise, which by patting the mouth rapidly with the hand, was broken into a succession of similar sounds, somewhat like the hurried barking of a dog. Several sets of dancers succeeded, each terminating like the first. " 'In the interval of the dances, a warrior would step forward and strike a flag staff they had erected, with a stick, whip, or other weapon, and recount his martial deeds. This ceremony is called 'striking the post,' and whatever is then said may be relied upon as rigid truth, being delivered in the presence of many a jealous warrior and witness, who could easily detect and would immediately disgrace the striker for exaggeration and falsehood. This is called the beggars' dance, during which some presents are always expected by the performers. But as none were offered on this occasion, the amusement was not, at first, distinguished by much activity, until Ietan stepped forward and lashed the post with his whip, declaring that he would thus punish those who did not dance. This threat had a manifest effect upon his auditors, who were presently highly wrought up by the sight of two or three little mounds of tobacco twist, which were now laid before them, and appeared to infuse! new life. " 'After lashing the post and making his threat, Ietan narrated his exploits: He had stolen horses seven or eight times from the Konzas, having first struck the bodies of three of that nation slain in battle; he had stolen horses from the Ieten nation, and had struck one of their dead; he had stollen horses from the Pawnees, Poncas and Omawhaws, and had struck many of their dead; he had struck the bodies of two Sioux. On a war party in compny with the Pawnees he had attacked the Spaniards, and had penetrated into one of their camps, and being in advance was shot at and missed by a man, whom he immediately shot down and struck. "This, my father," said he, "is the only material act of my life that I am ashamed of." "After many rounds of dancing and striking the post by the warriors, Mi-a-ke-ta, or the "Little Soldier," a war-worn veteran, took his turn to strike the post. He leaped actively about and strained his voice to its utmost pitch as he portrayed some of the scenes of blood in which he had acted. He had struck dead bodies of individuals of all the red nations around, Osages, Konzas, Pawnees, Loups, Pawnee Repucblicans, Grand Pawnees, Puncas, Omawhaws, Sioux, Padoucas, La Plas or Bald Heads, Ietans, Sioux, Foxes and Ioways; he had struck eight of one nation, seven of another, etc. His account was so long that Ietan ran up and placed his hand on the speaker's mouth and respectfully led him to a seat, thus indicating that he had yet so many brave acts to speak of that he would occupy so much time as to prevent others from speaking, and put to shame other warriors by the contrast of his actions with theirs. "In dancing each individual performs a separate part, and carefully observes the mucical cadences: In this dance Ietan represented one who was in the act of stealing a horse. He carried a whip in his hand and around his neck were thrown several leather thongs, for bridles and halters, the ends of which trailed upon the ground behind him; thus equipped he represented the acts of stealing a horse, and then mounting his tomahawk, as children ride their broomsticks, making such use of his whip as to indicate the necessity of rapid movement lest his foes should overtake him. "Wa-sa-ba-jing-ga or litle Black Bear, after a variety of gestures, threw several arrows, in succession, over his own head, thereby indicating his familiarity with the flight of such missiles; he at the same time covered his eyes with his hand to indicate that he was blind to danger. "Others represented their manoeuvres in battle, seeking their enemy, discharging at them their guns or arrows, &c., &c. "Most of the dancers were the principal warriors of the nation, men who had not condescended to amuse themselves or others, in this manner, for years before, but they now appeared in honor of the occasion; and to conciliate, in their best manner, the good will of the government of the Big Knives. Many were painted with red clay in which curved lines appeared. A number of them had the representation of a black hand with outspread fingers, on different parts of the body strongly contrasting with the principal color with which the body was overspread; the hand was depicted in different positions upon the face, breast and back. The face of others was colored, one half black and one half white, or red and white &c.; many colored their hair with red clay but the eye-lids, and base of the ears, were generallly tinged with vermillion. "At the conclusion of the ceremony, whiskey which they always expect on similar occasions, was produced, and a small portion was given to each. The principal chiefs of the different nations, who had remained passive spectators of the scene, now directed their people to return to their camp. The word of the chiefs was obeyed excepting by a few of the Ioways, who appeared to be determined to keep their places notwithstanding the reiterated command of their chiefs. Ietan now sprang towards them, with an expression of much ferocity in his countenance, and it is probable a tragic scene would have been displayed had not the chiefs requested him to use gentle means, and thus he succeeded, after which the chiefs withdrew." N.B.: The Spaniards of Mexico had expanded northeastward, establishing a colony just west of Scott City, Kansas. I have read that their colonizing drive stopped after the complete annihulation of their army by combined Indians forces near the "lakes of the Missouri river", probably in the 1700's. Tammy, you just probably have not attended a "stag", but the above account carries just a hint that "the first fellow doesn't have a chance" because the second fellow has "to go him one better". After reading this account, I am of the firm opinion that the Indians were not immune to this general characteristic, either!--W.F. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.