The great Siouan, or Dakota family, is divided into many different tribes.
They are the dislocated remains of the “Seven Great Council Fires.” The
Indians resent the title of Sioux, meaning “Hated Foe,” and prefer the
word Dakota, which means “Leagued,” or “Allied.” There is the Brule
Sioux, meaning “Burnt Hip”; the Teton, “On a Land without Trees”; the
Santee Sioux, “Men Among Leaves,” a forest; the Sisseton Sioux, “Men of
Prairie Marsh,” and the Yankton Sioux, which means, “At the End.” Chief
Bear Ghost is a Yankton Sioux. Among the Dakotas the chiefs are
distinguished by a name that has either some reference to their abilities,
having signalized themselves on the warpath or in the chase, or it may be
handed down from father to son. Chief Bear Ghost bears the hereditary
name of his father, Mato-wanagi—the ghost of a bear. The Dakotas count
their years by winters, and all their records are called winter counts.
They say a man is so many snows old, or that so many snow-seasons have
occurred since a certain period. Adopting their own phrasing Chief Ghost
Bear is fifty-seven snows old. Custer was not poetical when he gave the
Sioux the name of “cut-throats,” but he may have been true to the
character and history of these fierce and warlike tribes. We may not
wonder then that Bear Ghost should say: “The greatest event in my life was
the participation in two great wars. I was on the warpath on the Missouri
River against the Gros Ventres and the Mandans. It was a hard, fierce
struggle; we had been facing and shooting each other from early dawn until
the sun went down. An Indian near me, an enemy, was shot, and when I went
after him my horse was shot, but still I pressed on and struck the enemy
with a tomahawk. One of the enemy aimed at me, but I struck him with the
tomahawk before he could shoot, and when this struggle was over the
Indians called us men. In other years we came to that same place again.
Two enemies were near the camp; they were armed with guns. There were
seven of the enemy and but two of us. We went right up to the camp. I
shot one of the enemy and wounded him, and captured one of their horses.
Then a great number of Indians came out and chased us. They surrounded
us, shooting all the while, and the horse I had taken from the enemy I
shot rather than let them have it. And while they were chasing me my
horse became exhausted and I had to get off and lead him. I ran into the
creek where my enemies were on the banks shooting at me. These two things
I consider the greatest events in my life, for I expected to die each
time. Then I was made head chief of my tribe.”
Before the police system was established on the reservation, Bear Ghost,
along with one other Indian, was detailed by Captain Daugherty to watch
for and capture a man who had committed murder. Bear Ghost succeeded in
carrying out this commission, and the sheriff was sent for and the
prisoner turned over to him, but on the way to Bismarck the prisoner
killed the sheriff, jumped onto the best horse, and made his escape. Bear
Ghost has often been chosen by his people to represent them at councils
held among other tribes. He was also sent to Washington, on matters
pertaining to treaties made years ago. He wears the countenance of a
Roman senator; he is tall, graceful, and full of dignity, a forceful and
convincing speaker, and a compelling advocate of peace.
[Chief Running Fisher]