Black Kettle

Black Kettle

"All we ask is that we have peace with the whites. We want to take good tidings home to our people that they may sleep in peace. I want you to give all these chiefs of the soldiers here to understand that we are for peace, and that we have made peace, that we may not be mistaken by them for enemies. I have not come here with a little wolf bark, but have come to talk plain with you." This quote made by the Chief of the Southern Cheyenne, Black Kettle, gives you a preview of what the life of him was surrounded around.

Born in 1813, Black Kettle, who began in his youth as a leader, has been known for his want for peace around the world. To bad that is not what he received, by no means. His first recognition was his introduction along with his long-life buddy Lean Bear by the notorious Father Lincoln. There are not many biographical details about the chief but his repeated efforts to secure a peace with honor for his people, despite broken promises and attacks on his own life is recognized. Some early dramatic battles included the dispute between land owners. As we all know, the Indians were here before any one else even found this great land. Later on when the land could not be compromised between the whites and the Indians a treaty was set into play. This treaty is called the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 which attempted to make peace between the two groups. To bad the treaty didn't solve the dispute between the two. This dispute resulted in the death of Black Kettle in the year of 1868 and the massacre of Sand Creek. While trying to make peace again with the men under John Chivington, who led this massacre, they brutally killed and even scalped approximately 200 Cheyenne men.

As a Peace Chief following pipe tradition, he would have been taught the four central tenets of faith, truth, humility and respect. Black Kettle is remembered

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