Big Eagle

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Big Eagle (c. 1827-1906) was the leader of a band of Mdewakanton Dakota Sioux in Minnesota. In 1862 he and his band joined Taoyateduta and took part in a Sioux uprising. He eventually surrendered.

[edit] Early Life

Wamditanka, also known as Jerome Big Eagle, was born in 1827 at Black Dog village, in present-day Eagan, Minnesota. His succeeded his father, Maza Hota (Grey Iron) in 1857. He along with the other chiefs and headmen went to Washington in 1858 on treaty business. In the spring of 1862, Wamditanka, Little Crow and Traveling Hail were candidates for Speaker of the Mdewakanton tribe which Traveling Hail won.

Big Eagle lead his band at the second battles of New Ulm and Fort Ridgley and also Birch Coulee and Wood Lake.

[edit] Little Crow's War (The Dakota War of 1862)

Main article: Dakota War of 1862

Big Eagle, later known as Jerome Big Eagle, narrated his account of the Dakota War in, "A Sioux Story of the War," Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society 6 (1894):382-400.

[edit] References

• "Famous Indian Chiefs" from www.axel-jacob.de, accessed on February 3, 2006