Miniconjou

Miniconjou
Touch the Clouds, by James H. Hamilton, taken at the Spotted Tail Agency, Nebraska, in the fall of 1877, Miniconjou chief

The Miniconjou (Lakota: Mnikȟówožu) 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. Perhaps the most famous Miniconjou chief was Touch the Clouds.

Miniconjou Leaders

Joseph White Bull (Ptesan Hunka) explained that prior to being confined to the reservation in the late 19th century, the Miniconjou recognized six hereditary leaders within their tribe.[citation needed] These men were:

  • Makes Room
  • Black Shield
  • Lone Horn
  • White Hollow Horn
  • White Swan
  • Comes Flying

He added that there were also two men who became renowned war leaders among the Miniconjou, rising through the ranks of the men's warrior societies. "They were treated as chiefs because of this," White Bull explained. "They wore shirts decorated with scalps."[citation needed] He identified these two leaders as:

White Bull added: "The old time Minconjou tribe had good leaders, men of high repute. Now they are all dead and their children have taken their places."[citation needed] He listed their sons as:

  • White Bull, son of Makes Room
  • Big Crow, son of Black Shield
  • Touch the Clouds, son of Lone Horn
  • Little Bear, son of White Hollow Horn
  • White Swan, son of White Swan
  • Comes Flying had no children
  • Crazy Heart, son of Lame Deer
  • Spotted Elk, son of Lone Horn, half-brother of Touches the Clouds

Other noted Miniconjou:

  • Chief Spotted Elk later known as "Chief Big Foot"
  • Dewey Beard (Hard Tail)

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