Cheyenne military societies facts for kids

The Cheyenne military societies were special groups that played a big role in how the Cheyenne people, a Native American tribe, governed themselves. They worked alongside another important group called the Council of Forty-four. While the council chiefs were in charge of the tribe's overall decisions, the leaders of the military societies had different duties. They helped keep order within the tribe, organized large tribal hunts, oversaw important ceremonies, and provided military leadership during conflicts. Historically, the chiefs would choose one of the six military societies to take on these responsibilities for a certain period, then select a different society to take over.

The First Four Warrior Societies

A wise prophet named Sweet Medicine (Motsé'eóeve) is believed to have created the first four Cheyenne warrior societies. These societies had their own special songs and were led by a head man. Over time, some of these groups changed or developed new branches.

Fox Warriors

The Fox Warriors Society (Vóhkêséhetaneo'o or Monêsóonetaneo'o) was also known as the Swift Fox or Kitfox. You could find this society among both the Northern and Southern Cheyenne groups. The Coyote Warriors Society (O'ôhoménotâxeo'o) and the Flintmen Society were branches that grew from the Fox Warriors. Among the Northern Cheyenne, the Kit Fox Soldiers often felt they were the most important. They also had strong family ties through marriages with Lakota Sioux families who were part of the Kit Fox Society (Toka'la in Lakota).

Elk Warriors

The Elk Warriors Society had many names, including Elk Horn Scrapers (Hémo'eoxeso), Bone Scraper Society, Hoof Rattle, Crooked Lance, Headed Lance, Blue Soldiers, or Medicine Lance. This society was present in both the Northern and Southern Cheyenne tribes. Famous warriors like Roman Nose and George Bent, who was part Cheyenne, belonged to this society.

Shield Warriors

The Shield Warriors Society (Ma'êhoohevaso), sometimes called Red Shield or Red Fox, was originally found in both the Northern and Southern Cheyenne tribes. Today, it exists only among the Northern Cheyenne. The Buffalo Warriors (Hotóanótâxeo'o), also known as Buffalo Bull or Bull, was a branch of the Shield Warriors Society.

Bowstring Men

The Bowstring Men (Hema'tanónėheo'o) were also known as the Owl Man's Bowstring, because a Cheyenne warrior named Owl Man founded them. This society was originally found in both the Northern and Southern Cheyenne. Today, it is only among the Southern Cheyenne, where it is also called the Wolf Warriors Society (Ho'néhenótâxeo'o). The Crazy Dog Society grew out of the Bowstring Men in the 1800s after a vision seen by Owl Friend. Among the Northern Cheyenne, the Wolf Warriors gradually started calling themselves Crazy Dogs (Hotamémâsêhao'o). Both the Wolf Warriors Society (Southern Cheyenne) and the Crazy Dogs (Northern Cheyenne) considered themselves part of the original Bowstring Men group. However, in the Northern Cheyenne tribe, both the Crazy Dogs and the Bowstrings (or Wolf Warriors) exist as separate groups.

The Fifth Society: Dog Warriors

The Dog Warrior Society (Hotamétaneo'o), also known as Dog Men, was a very important group. White settlers sometimes called them Dog Soldiers. This society was created after a special vision or dream, following the prophet Sweet Medicine's time. It was originally found in both the Northern and Southern Cheyenne tribes, but today it exists only among the Southern Cheyenne.

The Crazy Dogs (Hotamémâsêhao'o), also known as Foolish Dogs, are similar to the Bowstring Men in what they do, but they are found only among the Northern Cheyenne. Among the Northern Cheyenne, the Dog Warrior Society and the Wolf Warriors combined. This led to the creation of the new Dog Warriors, now called the Crazy Dogs. Many people consider the Crazy Dogs to be a sixth society, rather than just a branch of the fifth. Members of this society were known for their amazing endurance, cleverness, and speed, much like the coyote. They could run long distances and were excellent at games.

The Sixth Society: Contrary Warriors

The Contrary Warriors Society (Hohnóhkao'o), also known as the Inverted Bow-string Society, was unique. Its members, the Contrary Warriors, showed their bravery by riding backward into battle!

The Contrary Society (Hohnóhkao'o), also known as Clown Society, used the same spiritual powers as the Contrary Warriors. This group was mostly made up of Cheyenne elders and might have been a more mature version of the Contrary Warriors Society. They were responsible for teaching the Cheyenne people about their cultural "dos and don'ts" through humor, jokes, and satire, often by acting in ways that were the opposite of traditional Cheyenne customs.

Warrior Women's Society

There was also a society for women who went to war. Ehyophsta, a woman who fought in the Battle of Beecher Island, was a member of this group. It was once thought that only women who went to war with their husbands could join, but this seems incorrect. For example, Mochi (Cheyenne), a Southern Cheyenne warrior, was known to be a warrior in her own right, with her own war pony and war medicine, and she was also a member of this society.