kids encyclopedia robot

List of Native American leaders of the Indian Wars facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This is a list of Native American leaders who participated in the American Indian Wars, which occurred throughout the early 17th century until the early 20th century. This list includes both chiefs and others.


Name Life Years Active Tribe Of Origin Comments
Black Elk 1863–1950 1870–1890s Lakota A prominent Wichasha Wakan of the Oglala Lakota, he was a combatant at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. During the late 1880s, he was involved in the Ghost Dance movement and was injured at the Wounded Knee Massacre.
Black Hawk 1767–1838 1810s–1830s Sauk Sauk chief who led the Sauk ant Fox tribes against the United States off and on during the early 19th century, from the War of 1812 until his eventual defeat following the Black Hawk War.
Black Kettle c. 1803–1868 1850s–1860s Cheyenne Cheyenne chief who resisted the American settlement of the Kansas and Colorado territories during the 1860s. After his village was destroyed during the Sand Creek massacre, he participated in the Colorado War with the Comanche and Kiowa negotiating several treaties with the United States before his death at Battle of Washita River.
Blue Jacket c. 1743 – c. 1810 1770s–1800s Shawnee
Billy Bowlegs c. 1810–1859 1830s–1860s Seminole
Joseph Brant c. 1743–1807 1750s–1800s Mohawk
Buckongahelas c. 1720–1805 1770s–1800s Lenni-Lenape
Lone Horn c. 1790–1877 1810s–1870s Minneconjou Teton Lakota Chief of Minneconjou teton lakota Indians, signed the treaty of fort Laramie in 1868. Father of Touch the Clouds and Spotted Elk, uncle to Crazy Horse
Captain Jack c. 1837–1873 1860s–1870s Modoc
Mangas Coloradas c. 1793–1863 1820s–1850s Apache
Cochise c. 1805–1874 1860s–1870s Apache
Cornplanter c. 1750s–1831 1816–1831 Seneca
Cornstalk c. 1720–1777 1760s–1770s Shawnee
Crazy Horse c. 1840–1877 1850s–1870s Lakota
Geronimo 1829–1909 1850s–1880s Apache
Chief Joseph 1840–1904 1870s Nez Perce Chief Joseph led his people on a 1700 mile trail to escape the US army.
Chief Logan c. 1725–1780 1770s Mingo Mingo chief who took part in Lord Dunmore's War.
Lozen c. 1840 – after 1887 1840s–1880s Apache Sister of Chihenne-Chiricahua Apache chief Vittorio, Lozen was a prominent prophet and warrior against Mexican incursions into the southwest United States.
Neolin fl. 1761–1763 1760s Lenni-Lanape Known as the "Delaware Prophet", he founded a movement during the mid-18th century to reject European goods and a return to traditional way of life. His teachings would later be adopted by a number of tribal chief, most notably Pontiac.
Opchanacanough c. 1554–1646 1500s–1600s Pamunkey Pamunkey chief after the death of his brother, Chief Powhatan. He led the Indian massacre of 1622.
Osceola 1804–1838 1830s Seminole The principal leader of the Second Seminole War, he led a small band successfully resisting the U.S. Army for over two years before his capture in 1837.
King Philip c. 1639–1676 1660s–1670s Wampanoag The second son of Massasoit, Metacomet (or King Philip) led an open rebellion against the English Massachusetts Bay Colony known as King Philip's War.
Pontiac c. 1720–1769 1760s Odawa Odawa chief who resisted British settlement of the Great Lakes region during the Pontiac's Rebellion.
Rain-in-the-Face c. 1835–1905 1860s–1870s Hunkpapa Lakota A war chief of the Lakota, he took part in Red Cloud's War and Black Hills War.
Red Cloud 1822–1909 1860s–1890s Oglala Lakota A chief of the Oglala Lakota, he was one of several Lakota leaders who opposed the American settlement of the Great Plains winning a short-lived victory against the U.S. Army during Red Cloud's War.
Red Jacket c. 1750–1830 1770s–1790s Seneca
Major Ridge c. 1771–1839 1790s–1830s Cherokee
Sakayengwaraton 1792–1886 1810s Mohawk
Shingas fl. 1740–1763 Lenape
Chief Seattle c. 1780–1866 Suquamish-Duwamish
Sitting Bull c. 1831–1890 1870s–1890s Lakota
Spotted Elk c. 1826–1890 1870s–1890s Lakota Son of Miniconjou Lakota chief Lone Horn, he was an ally of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse although he himself saw no action during the Black Hills War. A major figure of the Ghost Dance movement of the late 1880s, he was one of several chiefs killed during the Wounded Knee Massacre.
Tamanend c. 1628 – c. 1701 1680s–1690s Lenni-Lenape
Tecumseh c. 1768–1813 1800s–1810 Shawnee Shawnee chief who attempted to organize a vast alliance of Native American tribes in the eastern United States during the early 19th century. Siding with Great Britain during the War of 1812, he led the Shawnee against the United States until his death at the Battle of the Thames.
Tenskwatawa 1775–1834 1800s–1830s Shawnee Shawnee chief known as "The Prophet" who was an ally of his brother Tecumseh, together founding Prophetstown.
Touch the Clouds c. 1838–1905 1851–1904 Minneconjou Minneconjou Lakota chief; supposedly was seven feet tall. Cousin to Crazy Horse and son of Lone Horn
Wovoka c. 1856–1932 1880s Northern Paiute Paiute spiritual leader and prophet; founder of the Ghost Dance movement whose religious teachings became popular among the tribes of the Great Plains and western United States until the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890.
kids search engine
List of Native American leaders of the Indian Wars Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.