Saturday, April 5, 2014

Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Wambdi Okicize

Commonly know as War Eagle, Wambdi Okicize was born in either Wisconsin or Minnesota around 1785. His name actually means Lttle Eagle but whites referred to him as War Eagle which is a bit ironic because through his life he sought to keep peace not only among his own people but between the whites and Indians.

He left his home tribe, Isanti, (Santee), to keep the peace and avoid a battle as to who would become chief. War Eagle served as a riverboat guide, worked for the American Fur Company as a messenger. During the War of 1812 he carried messages for the government. Because of the amount of time he spent with whites he saw them as friends not enemies.

 After marrying in 1830 he was adopted into the Ihanktonwan or Yankton Sioux. War Eagle and his wife had seven children.

War Eagle received a silver medal by President Martin Van Buren in 1837, which his family still proudly displays today. By this time he had been elected chief of the Yankton Sioux Tribe and was invited to travel to Washington, D.C. with other tribal leaders from around the nation to negotiate peace treaties.

War Eagle was related white men by marriage. The commander of the Vermillion trading fort, William Dickson married a cousin of War Eagle. Two of War Eagle's daughters Dawn and Blazing Cloud married the second white settler who would came to the area that became Sioux City,  Theopile Bruguier. Bruguier had been accepted into the Yankton tribe and traveled with War Eagle's band for several years. Theophile told his father in law of a dream he had of a beautiful place where two rivers joined together. War Eagle told Bruguier he had been to that place and would show it to him.

Bruigier and his two wives settled in the area in 1849. War Eagle and his band visited often and stayed on the property.

War Eagle died in 1851 and was buried on a bluff over looking where the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers join. Later on two of his daughters and several of his grand children were also buried on the same bluff as was Theophile Bruigier.



More info. about War Eagle:
War Eagle - Sioux City History
War Eagle - Wikipedia
Sioux City History & Culture by Bicycle Part 8: War Eagle Park
Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 132; Notable People Part 4; Chief War Eagle
2012 Memorial Day Dedication to Theophile Bruguier and Chief War Eagle

Previous articles in the series:
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Intro and Info.
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Credits and Thanks
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Pre-Sioux City
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Lewis and Clark Expedition
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, William Thompson
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Theophile Bruguier
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Joseph Leonais
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Dr. John Cook
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Settlement to City
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Justice
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Firearms
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Public Officials
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Sioux City Eagle
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, John Brazo
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Recap, Summary and What's Next
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, When Indians Arrived
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Craftsmen and Builders
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Santee Tribe
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Yankton Sioux Tribe
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Winnebago Tribe
Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, Prairie and Plains Indians

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