Alfred Michael "Chief" Venne facts for kids

Alfred Michael Venne (1879–1971) was a proud Ojibwe (Chippewa) Native American. He went to school at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. After his schooling, he became a teacher, a sports manager and coach, and a leader who helped many young men.

Alfred Venne's Early Life

Alfred M. Venne was born in 1879 near Leroy, Dakota Territory. His Native American name was Soangetaha, which means "Strong Hearted" in the Ojibwe language.

After going to local Indian Schools, Alfred joined Carlisle in 1899. He was a fantastic football and baseball player. He played for the famous Coach Pop Warner. Alfred graduated from Carlisle in 1904.

After he graduated, Alfred was highly respected. He stayed at Carlisle as a sports trainer and coach. He also managed the football team's business, the school band, and even helped with the museum and photography lab.

In 1905, Alfred was part of a group from Carlisle that marched in President Theodore Roosevelt's parade in Washington D.C. There, he met and became friends with the great Apache War Chief Geronimo.

A legendary athlete named Jim Thorpe came to Carlisle in 1904. He was 16 years old. Jim had played baseball and ran track, but he hadn't played football yet. Alfred helped train and coach Jim Thorpe in several sports. He was very important in getting Jim ready to play football when Pop Warner returned as head coach in 1907.

Alfred Venne's Family Life

Alfred's father was Michel Venne, an Ojibwe tribal chief and farmer. After graduating from Carlisle, Alfred married Sarah Williams. She was a Seneca woman from New York. Sarah also graduated from Carlisle and trained to be a nurse.

Alfred and Sarah had a son, Alfred M. Venne, Jr. (1908–1939). Their son passed away in Missouri after a long illness. They also had a daughter named Victoria Haskell Venne.

Alfred Venne's Later Years

In 1909, Alfred moved from Carlisle to the Chilocco Indian School in Oklahoma. He worked there for a short time. Then, he spent many years as a sports manager and coach at Haskell Indian Institute in Kansas. Later, he worked as a director for the YMCA.

Alfred retired in 1946 as the athletic director at the Kansas City Athletic Club. He then moved to Austin, Texas. There, he worked for the Capitol Area Council of Boy Scouts. He was a Ranger at Camp Tom Wooten. He also started the Tonkawa Lodge Indian Dance Group.

In late 1953, Chief Venne moved to Sebastopol, California. He continued to be involved with several Boy Scout groups. Chief Venne passed away in January 1971 in California. He was 91 years old.

Alfred always valued his time at Carlisle. He believed that his people needed to get an education and become part of American society. He was very proud of his Native American background and culture. He also remained a devoted Christian throughout his life.