I have to begin with the Chayenne Greeting - "Aho"! It is so beautiful to see it uttered in unison with the Ho Stressed deep like coming from the gut. It takes you back into ancient times...
Understanding the story of Chayenne people is very important to understand the depth of healing that happened at the council!
Cheyenne (/ʃaɪˈæn/ shy-an) are an indigenous people of the Great Plains, who are of the Algonquian language family. The Cheyenne Nation is composed of two tribes, the Só'taeo'o (more commonly spelled as Suhtai or Sutaio) and theTsétsêhéstâhese (more commonly spelled as Tsitsistas). Today Cheyenne people are enrolled in two federally recognized tribes, the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana.
Deer Lame Montana was their home until the Europeans began this huge movement to take over their land and their people for its resources. During the California Gold Rush, emigrants brought in cholera. It spread in mining camps and waterways due to poor sanitation. Perhaps from traders, the cholera epidemic reached the Plains Indians in 1849, resulting in severe loss of life during the summer of that year. Historians estimate about 2,000 Cheyenne died, one-half to two-thirds of their population.
The Battle of the Little Bighorn
This was the most legendary battle in wich the Chayenne tribe also with few other tribed completely destrpyed the US Army led by General Custer. The battle, which occurred on June 25 and 26, 1876 near the Little Bighorn River in eastern Montana Territory, was the most famous action of the Great Sioux War of 1876. It was an overwhelming victory for the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho, led by several major war leaders, includingCrazy Horse and Gall, inspired by the visions of Sitting Bull (Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake). The U.S. Seventh Cavalry, including the Custer Battalion, a force of 700 men led by George Armstrong Custer, suffered a severe defeat. Five of the Seventh's companies were annihilated; Custer was killed, as were two of his brothers, a nephew, and a brother-in-law. The total U.S. casualty count, including scouts, was 268 dead and 55 injured.
Understanding the story of Chayenne people is very important to understand the depth of healing that happened at the council!
Cheyenne (/ʃaɪˈæn/ shy-an) are an indigenous people of the Great Plains, who are of the Algonquian language family. The Cheyenne Nation is composed of two tribes, the Só'taeo'o (more commonly spelled as Suhtai or Sutaio) and theTsétsêhéstâhese (more commonly spelled as Tsitsistas). Today Cheyenne people are enrolled in two federally recognized tribes, the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana.
Deer Lame Montana was their home until the Europeans began this huge movement to take over their land and their people for its resources. During the California Gold Rush, emigrants brought in cholera. It spread in mining camps and waterways due to poor sanitation. Perhaps from traders, the cholera epidemic reached the Plains Indians in 1849, resulting in severe loss of life during the summer of that year. Historians estimate about 2,000 Cheyenne died, one-half to two-thirds of their population.
Punitive US expedition of 1857
Interesting to note is the date! The first legendary battle of India's freedom also began with Mangal Pandeys movement in 1857. And it is also the same year the Chayenne Chiefs decide to fight back.
Under the influence of the medicine man White Bull (also called Ice) and Grey Beard (also called Dark), the Cheyenne went into battle believing that strong spiritual medicinewould prevent the soldiers' guns from firing. They were told that if they dipped their hands in a nearby lake, they had only to raise their hands to repel army bullets. Hands raised, the Cheyenne surrounded the advancing troops as they advanced near the Solomon River. Sumner ordered a cavalry charge and the troops charged with drawn sabers; the Cheyenne fled. With tired horses after long marches, the cavalry could not engage more than a few Cheyenne, as their horses were fresh.
This was the first battle which the Cheyenne fought against the US Army. Casualties were few on each side; J.E.B. Stuart, then a young lieutenant, was shot in the breast while attacking a Cheyenne warrior with a sabre. The troops continued on and two days later burned a hastily abandoned Cheyenne camp; they destroyed lodges and the winter supply of buffalo meat.[19][20][21][22]
The Battle of the Little Bighorn
This was the most legendary battle in wich the Chayenne tribe also with few other tribed completely destrpyed the US Army led by General Custer. The battle, which occurred on June 25 and 26, 1876 near the Little Bighorn River in eastern Montana Territory, was the most famous action of the Great Sioux War of 1876. It was an overwhelming victory for the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho, led by several major war leaders, includingCrazy Horse and Gall, inspired by the visions of Sitting Bull (Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake). The U.S. Seventh Cavalry, including the Custer Battalion, a force of 700 men led by George Armstrong Custer, suffered a severe defeat. Five of the Seventh's companies were annihilated; Custer was killed, as were two of his brothers, a nephew, and a brother-in-law. The total U.S. casualty count, including scouts, was 268 dead and 55 injured.
Following the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the US Army increased attempts to capture the Cheyenne. US took this as a huge setback and sent all its army to destroy the Chayenne people and take them ut of their land. The orders were mainly - exterminate or convert.
The Children were captured and sent to boarding schools to be erased of their way of life...
The adults and elders were captured and forcefully sent to Oklahoma away from their land and ancestors. And in this journey they lost many of their elders, tradition and culture! On 9 September 1878, a portion of the Northern Cheyenne, led by Little Wolf and Dull Knife started they're trek back to Deer Lame Montana, Upon reaching the northern area, they split into two bands. That led by Dull Knife (mostly women, children and elders) surrendered and were taken to Fort Robinson, where they were killed at various points. Dull Knife's group was first offered food and firewood, and then after a week and a half, they were to told to go back to Indian territory. When they said no, they were then locked in the wooden barracks with no food, water or firewood for heat for four days. Most escaped in an estimated forty degrees below zero on January 9, 1879, but all were recaptured or killed. It has been a brutal and heart breaking journey of the tribe.
And finally they were given their land back and now many of what is remaining of the tribe is back in Deer Lame Montana ont heir home land. Their sacred animals the buffalo, wolves and the wild mustangs are also slowly returning.
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS COUNCIL WAS TO HEAL THE PAST AND BEGIN A NEW BEGINNING BETWEEN THE CHAYENNE PEOPLE AND THE AMERICAN! AND I SAW IT HAPPEN...
More about Chayenne people
http://archive.org/stream/wenortherncheyen2008amblrich#page/14/mode/2up
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