Post by spence on Feb 13, 2021 14:17:35 GMT -7
In the early 20th century the anthropologist Gilbert L. Wilson spent several years studying the Hidatsa Indian culture. In one of the reports of that study, Hidatsa Eagle Trapping, he describes a conversation with an elderly Hidatsa man, Black-hawk, veteran of late19th-century intertribal wars. Pictures were being taken, and Black-hawk prepared for the camera by putting two fine eagle feathers in his scalplock.Wilson wrote:
******
“I wear these feathers to show that I have struck two enemies,”, said Black-hawk. “Once I should have struck a third enemy, but did not.”
“How was that?” I asked.
“I was out on a war party against the Standing Rock Sioux. It was early morning. A man came out of his cabin and we surrounded him. He looked like a half-breed and we did not know whether to take him for an Indian or a white man. 'He wears white man’s clothes and lives in a cabin,' said some. We had no wish to kill a white man and have trouble with the Government. Others said, ‘No, he is an Indian. He lives in our enemies’ tribe and speaks to us in their language.’ ‘It is true,’ I said, ‘he is a Sioux. Let me strike him’ and 'I want to see if my new repeating rifle will shoot a bullet through him.'
It was a blood-thirsty tale and it was difficult to reconcile it with peaceful, kindly, old Black-hawk, who spent his afternoons contentedly swinging his tiny granddaughter in a hammock he had made of two rope pieces and a scrap of blanket.
“Black-hawk,”, I said, “why did you want to kill anybody. What made you Indians so savage, so eager to take scalps?”
I will try to reproduce his answer in the picturesque Indian-English of my interpreter;
“We Indians not savage. We not like to kill anybody. You not think we like to go in war party, may be two months, may be a year; often not have anything to eat, sleep in rain, no cover over you, may be frost, snow, cold wind on your body! We not like that; we not foolish. But what for you white man work in field? I see white man work hard with plow; sweat run down his face; he get very tired. I think he not like that. But white man turn over ground with plow, sow wheat, get much money, get rich, then he be boss. Then everybody think him big man and he marry anybody he want. We Indians not get rich because we not have money, but we like to be boss. If young man not go in war party, everybody say, ‘You bad young man. Why you not defend your tribe?’ Girls not look at him. Nobody invite him to feast. But if he go out in war party, strike many enemies, win honor marks, wear war eagle feathers in hair, then everybody say, ‘That good young man.’ When he go to feast, everyone make him welcome; if he speak in council, everybody listen; when he go through village, all girls smile on him and he marry anyone he want!”
*******
Spence
******
“I wear these feathers to show that I have struck two enemies,”, said Black-hawk. “Once I should have struck a third enemy, but did not.”
“How was that?” I asked.
“I was out on a war party against the Standing Rock Sioux. It was early morning. A man came out of his cabin and we surrounded him. He looked like a half-breed and we did not know whether to take him for an Indian or a white man. 'He wears white man’s clothes and lives in a cabin,' said some. We had no wish to kill a white man and have trouble with the Government. Others said, ‘No, he is an Indian. He lives in our enemies’ tribe and speaks to us in their language.’ ‘It is true,’ I said, ‘he is a Sioux. Let me strike him’ and 'I want to see if my new repeating rifle will shoot a bullet through him.'
It was a blood-thirsty tale and it was difficult to reconcile it with peaceful, kindly, old Black-hawk, who spent his afternoons contentedly swinging his tiny granddaughter in a hammock he had made of two rope pieces and a scrap of blanket.
“Black-hawk,”, I said, “why did you want to kill anybody. What made you Indians so savage, so eager to take scalps?”
I will try to reproduce his answer in the picturesque Indian-English of my interpreter;
“We Indians not savage. We not like to kill anybody. You not think we like to go in war party, may be two months, may be a year; often not have anything to eat, sleep in rain, no cover over you, may be frost, snow, cold wind on your body! We not like that; we not foolish. But what for you white man work in field? I see white man work hard with plow; sweat run down his face; he get very tired. I think he not like that. But white man turn over ground with plow, sow wheat, get much money, get rich, then he be boss. Then everybody think him big man and he marry anybody he want. We Indians not get rich because we not have money, but we like to be boss. If young man not go in war party, everybody say, ‘You bad young man. Why you not defend your tribe?’ Girls not look at him. Nobody invite him to feast. But if he go out in war party, strike many enemies, win honor marks, wear war eagle feathers in hair, then everybody say, ‘That good young man.’ When he go to feast, everyone make him welcome; if he speak in council, everybody listen; when he go through village, all girls smile on him and he marry anyone he want!”
*******
Spence
