Mahaska (Native American leader) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mahaska, or "White Cloud"
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| Maxúshga, Maxúhga | |
Mahaska, from Futon's Red Men of Iowa, 1882.
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| Iowa tribe leader | |
| Succeeded by | Francis White Cloud |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1784 Near Burlington, Iowa |
| Died | 1834 (aged 49–50) Nodaway River, Near Massena, Iowa |
| Spouse | Rantchewaime ("Female Flying Pigeon") |
| Relations | Brother, No Heart (Notchimine, Nacheninga, etc.) |
| Children | Francis White Cloud |
| Parent | Mauhawgaw ("The Wounding Arrow") |
| Nickname | Hard Heart |
Mahaska (also known as White Cloud) was an important leader of the Iowa tribe. He lived from 1784 to 1834. His name in the Ioway language was Maxúshga or Maxúhga. Mahaska's son was also named Mahaska, but he was more commonly known as Francis White Cloud.
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Becoming a Tribal Leader
Mahaska was born into the Iowa tribe in 1784. This was near what is now Burlington, Iowa. He became a chief at a young age. He was known for his bravery in protecting his tribe.
Later, Mahaska had a conflict with a French trader. He was briefly held in St. Louis, Missouri. After he escaped, he led a raid against the Osage tribe.
A Path Towards Peace
After these events, Mahaska decided to change his way of life. He chose to live more like the European-American settlers. He built a log home and started farming. He believed that peace was important.
In 1833, an Iowa chief named Crane was killed by Omaha Indians. Some Iowa warriors wanted to get revenge. But Mahaska refused to let his warriors seek revenge. When some Iowa people did kill six Omaha warriors, Mahaska helped with their arrest. He wanted to show that his tribe could live peacefully.
Mahaska's Legacy
In 1834, Mahaska died in an unexpected attack. He was buried along the Nodaway River in Edna Township, Cass County, Iowa. Mahaska became a symbol of peace. He showed that it was possible for Native Americans and settlers to live together.
Honoring Mahaska
Many places and things have been named after Mahaska:
- Mahaska County, Iowa was named in his honor.
- The ship USS Mahaska was also named after him.
Mahaska Statue in Oskaloosa
A bronze statue of Mahaska stands in Oskaloosa, Iowa. This city is the main town of Mahaska County. The famous sculptor Sherry Edmundson Fry created this statue. He finished it in 1907.
When Fry started the statue in 1906, he was living in Paris, France. He came back to Iowa to draw pictures of Meskwaki people. He also collected Native American items for his work. He then returned to Paris to create a small clay model. This model was shown at the Paris Salon in 1907.
A year later, he showed the final, full-sized statue. He won the Rome Prize for it. The statue was then sent to the U.S. and arrived in Oskaloosa by train. A large crowd of 12,000 people attended the statue's dedication on May 12, 1909.
