Dakota Chief and spokesman for the Mdewkanton band of Dakota. He descended from several generations of chieftains and was the principle Chief who led the hostile Dakota in the US-Dakota War of 1862. His Dakota name was Taoyateduta, which translates to "His Red Nation" or "His Red People". He was the eldest son of Chief Big Thunder (Wakinyantanka) and a Mdewakanton woman named Woman Planting in Water (Minio Kadawin). His grandfather was Cetanwakuwa, which translates to "Charging Hawk". A mis-translation of his grandfather's name to "Crow" led to white settlers referring to him as "Little Crow". As a young man, he was exiled from his father's band for illicit affairs. During the 1830s, he served on the side of the Americans during the Black Hawk War. He married several daughters of a Wahpekute chief. In about 1836, he left his Wahpekute wives and lived among the Wahpetons of Lac Qui Parle. Eventually, he married four daughters of Chief Running Walker. He had 22 children. In 1846, his father was mortally wounded when he accidentally shot himself. His father had wanted another son to succeed him as chief, but he had been killed during a battle with the Chippewas.
When the Dakota were defeated by US soldiers, he became a fugitive and fled to Canada. He was not allowed to continue living there, so he returned to Minnesota. He was spotted picking berries with his son near Hutchinson on July 3, 1863. He was shot and killed by Nathan and Chauncey Lamson, a local farmer and his son.∼Buried at this site: September 27, 1971. No history on marker on where the remains were moved from.
Taoyatedua (His Red Nation)...also known as Little Crow.∼He was born about 1810 at Kaposia, a Native American village in what is now known as South Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. He was the chief of the Mdewakanton Dakota people. According to a number of sources, his native name, Taoyateduta, translates to "His Red Nation" or "His Scarlet Nation". However, the Akta Lakota Museum Cultural Center holds his name as Tahetan Wakawa Mini. Little Crow negotiated the Treaties of Traverse des Sioux and Mendota in 1851 which moved his band of Dakota to a reservation near the Minnesota River, in an area to the west of present day New Ulm. Because of U.S. Federal government failure to supply food and annuity payments as agreed, a Dakota war council, known as "tiyotipi" (soldiers' lodge), opted for war and expulsion of white people. White settlers had been illegally encroaching on Dakota reservation land. When the Dakota were badly in need of the promised food, the white Indian agent told them to "eat grass", which was a very insulting thing to say. On August 4, 1862, armed Dakotas arrived at the U.S. Government warehouse at the Agency in an attempt to obtain the food due them. At the upper agency, Indian Agent Thomas Galbraith refused to open the doors and retired to his office. A young army lieutenant, Timothy Sheehan, in conference with Dakota leaders, opened the warehouse doors. At some time between August 4, and August 18, when four Dakota men began telling their story of killing whites near the Big Woods, Little Crow and trader Andrew Myrick had a heated exchange of words. The white traders would not extend credit nor provide food to the Dakota because the Government annuity payment had not arrived. Myrick told the Dakota that they could eat grass. On August 18, 1862, Myrick was killed by the Dakota, his body had multiple bullet holes, protruding arrows, and a wound from a scythe. As well, his mouth was stuffed with grass. An estimated 400 or more whites were murdered by the Dakota, including men, women, and children. The town of New Ulm was attacked two time, and Hutchinson, in McCleod County, was attacked once. The Dakota war on the whites was not universally supported within the Dakota nation. The pro-war faction dwindled during the autumn and early winter of 1862-1863. The remnants of Little Crow's warrior band took refuge near Devil's Lake, North Dakota, and later in Canada. On July 3, 1863, Little Crow and his 17 year-old son were picking raspberries near Hutchinson when he was shot twice and killed. According to a 1962 article titled, "the Shooting of Little Crow: Heroism or Murder?", by Walter N. Trenerry: "The search party callously removed the dead Indian's scalp and went back to town. Later that day the body was loaded on a wagon, brought into Hutchinson, and there tossed into the refuse pit of a slaughterhouse, like an animal carcass. About a week later some local ghoul pried the corpse's head off with a stick and left his gruesome object 'lying on the prairie for some days, the brains oozing out in the broiling sun'. No one knew at this time who the victim was. ... Although several Hutchinson residents thought that the man looked familiar to them, no one seemed able to identify him positively." A Wikipedia article states that "His body was dragged down the town's Main Street while firecrackers were placed in his ears and nose."
According to RoadsideAmerica.com, Directions to Little Crow's death location. From Hutchinson, travel north on Highway 15 about 6 miles. Left (west) onto County Road CR18, for a little over one-half mile. A small rock with a plaque (placed in 1929) is close to the death location.
When the Dakota were defeated by US soldiers, he became a fugitive and fled to Canada. He was not allowed to continue living there, so he returned to Minnesota. He was spotted picking berries with his son near Hutchinson on July 3, 1863. He was shot and killed by Nathan and Chauncey Lamson, a local farmer and his son.∼Buried at this site: September 27, 1971. No history on marker on where the remains were moved from.
Taoyatedua (His Red Nation)...also known as Little Crow.∼He was born about 1810 at Kaposia, a Native American village in what is now known as South Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. He was the chief of the Mdewakanton Dakota people. According to a number of sources, his native name, Taoyateduta, translates to "His Red Nation" or "His Scarlet Nation". However, the Akta Lakota Museum Cultural Center holds his name as Tahetan Wakawa Mini. Little Crow negotiated the Treaties of Traverse des Sioux and Mendota in 1851 which moved his band of Dakota to a reservation near the Minnesota River, in an area to the west of present day New Ulm. Because of U.S. Federal government failure to supply food and annuity payments as agreed, a Dakota war council, known as "tiyotipi" (soldiers' lodge), opted for war and expulsion of white people. White settlers had been illegally encroaching on Dakota reservation land. When the Dakota were badly in need of the promised food, the white Indian agent told them to "eat grass", which was a very insulting thing to say. On August 4, 1862, armed Dakotas arrived at the U.S. Government warehouse at the Agency in an attempt to obtain the food due them. At the upper agency, Indian Agent Thomas Galbraith refused to open the doors and retired to his office. A young army lieutenant, Timothy Sheehan, in conference with Dakota leaders, opened the warehouse doors. At some time between August 4, and August 18, when four Dakota men began telling their story of killing whites near the Big Woods, Little Crow and trader Andrew Myrick had a heated exchange of words. The white traders would not extend credit nor provide food to the Dakota because the Government annuity payment had not arrived. Myrick told the Dakota that they could eat grass. On August 18, 1862, Myrick was killed by the Dakota, his body had multiple bullet holes, protruding arrows, and a wound from a scythe. As well, his mouth was stuffed with grass. An estimated 400 or more whites were murdered by the Dakota, including men, women, and children. The town of New Ulm was attacked two time, and Hutchinson, in McCleod County, was attacked once. The Dakota war on the whites was not universally supported within the Dakota nation. The pro-war faction dwindled during the autumn and early winter of 1862-1863. The remnants of Little Crow's warrior band took refuge near Devil's Lake, North Dakota, and later in Canada. On July 3, 1863, Little Crow and his 17 year-old son were picking raspberries near Hutchinson when he was shot twice and killed. According to a 1962 article titled, "the Shooting of Little Crow: Heroism or Murder?", by Walter N. Trenerry: "The search party callously removed the dead Indian's scalp and went back to town. Later that day the body was loaded on a wagon, brought into Hutchinson, and there tossed into the refuse pit of a slaughterhouse, like an animal carcass. About a week later some local ghoul pried the corpse's head off with a stick and left his gruesome object 'lying on the prairie for some days, the brains oozing out in the broiling sun'. No one knew at this time who the victim was. ... Although several Hutchinson residents thought that the man looked familiar to them, no one seemed able to identify him positively." A Wikipedia article states that "His body was dragged down the town's Main Street while firecrackers were placed in his ears and nose."
According to RoadsideAmerica.com, Directions to Little Crow's death location. From Hutchinson, travel north on Highway 15 about 6 miles. Left (west) onto County Road CR18, for a little over one-half mile. A small rock with a plaque (placed in 1929) is close to the death location.
Dakota Chief and spokesman for the Mdewkanton band of Dakota. He descended from several generations of chieftains and was the principle Chief who led the hostile Dakota in the US-Dakota War of 1862. His Dakota name was Taoyateduta, which translates to "His Red Nation" or "His Red People". He was the eldest son of Chief Big Thunder (Wakinyantanka) and a Mdewakanton woman named Woman Planting in Water (Minio Kadawin). His grandfather was Cetanwakuwa, which translates to "Charging Hawk". A mis-translation of his grandfather's name to "Crow" led to white settlers referring to him as "Little Crow". As a young man, he was exiled from his father's band for illicit affairs. During the 1830s, he served on the side of the Americans during the Black Hawk War. He married several daughters of a Wahpekute chief. In about 1836, he left his Wahpekute wives and lived among the Wahpetons of Lac Qui Parle. Eventually, he married four daughters of Chief Running Walker. He had 22 children. In 1846, his father was mortally wounded when he accidentally shot himself. His father had wanted another son to succeed him as chief, but he had been killed during a battle with the Chippewas.
When the Dakota were defeated by US soldiers, he became a fugitive and fled to Canada. He was not allowed to continue living there, so he returned to Minnesota. He was spotted picking berries with his son near Hutchinson on July 3, 1863. He was shot and killed by Nathan and Chauncey Lamson, a local farmer and his son.∼Buried at this site: September 27, 1971. No history on marker on where the remains were moved from.
Taoyatedua (His Red Nation)...also known as Little Crow.∼He was born about 1810 at Kaposia, a Native American village in what is now known as South Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. He was the chief of the Mdewakanton Dakota people. According to a number of sources, his native name, Taoyateduta, translates to "His Red Nation" or "His Scarlet Nation". However, the Akta Lakota Museum Cultural Center holds his name as Tahetan Wakawa Mini. Little Crow negotiated the Treaties of Traverse des Sioux and Mendota in 1851 which moved his band of Dakota to a reservation near the Minnesota River, in an area to the west of present day New Ulm. Because of U.S. Federal government failure to supply food and annuity payments as agreed, a Dakota war council, known as "tiyotipi" (soldiers' lodge), opted for war and expulsion of white people. White settlers had been illegally encroaching on Dakota reservation land. When the Dakota were badly in need of the promised food, the white Indian agent told them to "eat grass", which was a very insulting thing to say. On August 4, 1862, armed Dakotas arrived at the U.S. Government warehouse at the Agency in an attempt to obtain the food due them. At the upper agency, Indian Agent Thomas Galbraith refused to open the doors and retired to his office. A young army lieutenant, Timothy Sheehan, in conference with Dakota leaders, opened the warehouse doors. At some time between August 4, and August 18, when four Dakota men began telling their story of killing whites near the Big Woods, Little Crow and trader Andrew Myrick had a heated exchange of words. The white traders would not extend credit nor provide food to the Dakota because the Government annuity payment had not arrived. Myrick told the Dakota that they could eat grass. On August 18, 1862, Myrick was killed by the Dakota, his body had multiple bullet holes, protruding arrows, and a wound from a scythe. As well, his mouth was stuffed with grass. An estimated 400 or more whites were murdered by the Dakota, including men, women, and children. The town of New Ulm was attacked two time, and Hutchinson, in McCleod County, was attacked once. The Dakota war on the whites was not universally supported within the Dakota nation. The pro-war faction dwindled during the autumn and early winter of 1862-1863. The remnants of Little Crow's warrior band took refuge near Devil's Lake, North Dakota, and later in Canada. On July 3, 1863, Little Crow and his 17 year-old son were picking raspberries near Hutchinson when he was shot twice and killed. According to a 1962 article titled, "the Shooting of Little Crow: Heroism or Murder?", by Walter N. Trenerry: "The search party callously removed the dead Indian's scalp and went back to town. Later that day the body was loaded on a wagon, brought into Hutchinson, and there tossed into the refuse pit of a slaughterhouse, like an animal carcass. About a week later some local ghoul pried the corpse's head off with a stick and left his gruesome object 'lying on the prairie for some days, the brains oozing out in the broiling sun'. No one knew at this time who the victim was. ... Although several Hutchinson residents thought that the man looked familiar to them, no one seemed able to identify him positively." A Wikipedia article states that "His body was dragged down the town's Main Street while firecrackers were placed in his ears and nose."
According to RoadsideAmerica.com, Directions to Little Crow's death location. From Hutchinson, travel north on Highway 15 about 6 miles. Left (west) onto County Road CR18, for a little over one-half mile. A small rock with a plaque (placed in 1929) is close to the death location.
When the Dakota were defeated by US soldiers, he became a fugitive and fled to Canada. He was not allowed to continue living there, so he returned to Minnesota. He was spotted picking berries with his son near Hutchinson on July 3, 1863. He was shot and killed by Nathan and Chauncey Lamson, a local farmer and his son.∼Buried at this site: September 27, 1971. No history on marker on where the remains were moved from.
Taoyatedua (His Red Nation)...also known as Little Crow.∼He was born about 1810 at Kaposia, a Native American village in what is now known as South Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. He was the chief of the Mdewakanton Dakota people. According to a number of sources, his native name, Taoyateduta, translates to "His Red Nation" or "His Scarlet Nation". However, the Akta Lakota Museum Cultural Center holds his name as Tahetan Wakawa Mini. Little Crow negotiated the Treaties of Traverse des Sioux and Mendota in 1851 which moved his band of Dakota to a reservation near the Minnesota River, in an area to the west of present day New Ulm. Because of U.S. Federal government failure to supply food and annuity payments as agreed, a Dakota war council, known as "tiyotipi" (soldiers' lodge), opted for war and expulsion of white people. White settlers had been illegally encroaching on Dakota reservation land. When the Dakota were badly in need of the promised food, the white Indian agent told them to "eat grass", which was a very insulting thing to say. On August 4, 1862, armed Dakotas arrived at the U.S. Government warehouse at the Agency in an attempt to obtain the food due them. At the upper agency, Indian Agent Thomas Galbraith refused to open the doors and retired to his office. A young army lieutenant, Timothy Sheehan, in conference with Dakota leaders, opened the warehouse doors. At some time between August 4, and August 18, when four Dakota men began telling their story of killing whites near the Big Woods, Little Crow and trader Andrew Myrick had a heated exchange of words. The white traders would not extend credit nor provide food to the Dakota because the Government annuity payment had not arrived. Myrick told the Dakota that they could eat grass. On August 18, 1862, Myrick was killed by the Dakota, his body had multiple bullet holes, protruding arrows, and a wound from a scythe. As well, his mouth was stuffed with grass. An estimated 400 or more whites were murdered by the Dakota, including men, women, and children. The town of New Ulm was attacked two time, and Hutchinson, in McCleod County, was attacked once. The Dakota war on the whites was not universally supported within the Dakota nation. The pro-war faction dwindled during the autumn and early winter of 1862-1863. The remnants of Little Crow's warrior band took refuge near Devil's Lake, North Dakota, and later in Canada. On July 3, 1863, Little Crow and his 17 year-old son were picking raspberries near Hutchinson when he was shot twice and killed. According to a 1962 article titled, "the Shooting of Little Crow: Heroism or Murder?", by Walter N. Trenerry: "The search party callously removed the dead Indian's scalp and went back to town. Later that day the body was loaded on a wagon, brought into Hutchinson, and there tossed into the refuse pit of a slaughterhouse, like an animal carcass. About a week later some local ghoul pried the corpse's head off with a stick and left his gruesome object 'lying on the prairie for some days, the brains oozing out in the broiling sun'. No one knew at this time who the victim was. ... Although several Hutchinson residents thought that the man looked familiar to them, no one seemed able to identify him positively." A Wikipedia article states that "His body was dragged down the town's Main Street while firecrackers were placed in his ears and nose."
According to RoadsideAmerica.com, Directions to Little Crow's death location. From Hutchinson, travel north on Highway 15 about 6 miles. Left (west) onto County Road CR18, for a little over one-half mile. A small rock with a plaque (placed in 1929) is close to the death location.
Inscription
TAOYA TE DUTA
Known as Chief Little Crow
of the Mde Wakantons
Born 1818 - Died July 3, 1863
Buried Sept. 27, 1971
"Tosa Nice Mate Kte"
"Therefore I'll Die With You"
