Jackson Sundown facts for kids
Jackson Sundown (born Waaya-Tonah-Toesits-Kahn), was a famous Native American rodeo rider. He lived from 1863 to 1923. His name, Waaya-Tonah-Toesits-Kahn, means "Blanket of the Sun." He became a legend for his amazing performance at the 1916 Pendleton Round-Up. Many people learned about him from Ken Kesey's book, The Last Go 'Round.
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Early Life and the Nez Perce War
Jackson Sundown was born in 1863, probably in Montana. He was part of the Wallowa Band of the Nez Perce, a Native American tribe. This group was later led by the famous Chief Joseph. The Nez Perce people were known for being excellent horse riders. Sundown learned how to raise and train horses from a very young age.
When he was about 14, Sundown was involved in the Nez Perce War of 1877. This was a conflict between the Nez Perce and the U.S. Army. Unlike Chief Joseph and many others, Sundown managed to escape the army. He fled to Canada with a small group of injured warriors.
Legend says that Sundown stayed in Canada for two years. He lived with a group of Sioux people, including the well-known leader Sitting Bull. Sundown was involved in the events of the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Life After the War and Rodeo Career
In 1879, Sundown returned to the United States. He lived for a short time in Nespelem, Washington. Then, he spent many years on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana. There, he got married and had two children.
In 1910, he moved back to Idaho, to the Nez Perce Reservation. Two years later, he married Cecilia Wapshela. She was a widow with two children and owned a ranch near Culdesac, Idaho. Sundown and Cecilia lived there.
Jackson Sundown earned his living by working with horses. He would breed, raise, and train horses. He also sold them. To make more money, he started entering rodeos. He was very good and often won against his opponents. Many riders would even quit if they knew he was competing!
Sundown won many "all-around" prizes in rodeos. This means he had the highest total scores from all the events. He was especially famous for riding bareback and saddle bronc horses. His rodeo style was unique. He wore bright shirts, fancy woolen chaps, and tied his long braids under his chin. Sundown competed in rodeos across the West and in Canada, even into his early 50s.
The Legendary 1916 Pendleton Round-Up
In 1915, when he was 52 years old, Sundown took third place at the Pendleton Round-Up. After that, he decided to retire from rodeo because it was very hard on his body. But the next year, an artist who was making a sculpture of Sundown convinced him to ride one last time. Sundown agreed only after the artist paid his entry fee.
At 53, Sundown was twice the age of the other riders in the semi-finals. But he still did very well! He earned high scores in both saddle bronc and bareback riding. His final ride at this event is still talked about today by Native Americans and rodeo fans.
The story goes that Sundown drew a very wild horse named Angel. The horse bucked so hard that Sundown took off his cowboy hat. He then fanned the horse with his hat to try and calm it down. People say that at that moment, he and the horse seemed to become one. Sundown won the all-around event! He became a hero for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, which includes the Nez Perce.
Jackson Sundown passed away seven years later, in 1923, at the age of 60. He died from pneumonia. He was buried at Slickpoo Mission Cemetery near Jacques Spur, Idaho. At the time of his death, Native Americans were not yet considered full citizens of the United States.
Today, a large gathering of Native Americans still takes place at the Pendleton Round-Up in Pendleton, Oregon. A pow-wow is held during the Round-Up in late September. Stories of Waaya-Tonah-Toesits-Kahn are still shared at this event, along with drumming, fry bread, and rodeoing.
Legacy
Jackson Sundown is remembered as a true rodeo legend. He has been honored in several halls of fame:
- Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame, inducted in 1972.
- Rodeo Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, inducted in 1976.
- American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame, inducted in 1994.
- National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum, inducted in 2006.
- Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame, inducted in 2018.
- National Day of the Cowboy, Honoree in 2019.
