Sacred Sun facts for kids
Sacred Sun (also known as Mohongo) was an Osage woman born in 1809. She lived in what is now Missouri, USA. Sacred Sun went on an amazing journey across Europe. Stories about her trip were written in French and American newspapers at the time. After she returned to the United States, a special painting of her was made. This portrait was displayed in Washington D.C. to show her strength and spirit.
Contents
Sacred Sun's Early Life
Sacred Sun was born in 1809. Her birthplace was near the Missouri River in what is now Saline County. Her Osage name was Mi-Ho’n-Ga. When she was a baby, Osage children like Sacred Sun were often kept safe on a board. This board was tied to a tree branch while their mothers worked. Mothers spent their time tending gardens, preparing food, and doing other important tasks.
By the age of 12, Sacred Sun was expected to help with daily work. She learned how to care for younger children. She also knew how to sew, hunt, and preserve meat and food. In her culture, it was common for fathers to arrange marriages. So, it is likely her father chose a husband for her when she was about 14 years old.
An Unexpected Journey to Europe
In 1827, Sacred Sun was 18 years old. She traveled to France with eleven other people from her tribe. A man named David de Launay took them. De Launay was French but lived in St. Louis. He pretended to be a representative for the American Government. He also claimed to be a friend of two people who were supposed to take the Osage group to Washington, D.C..
However, de Launay tricked them. He took them to Europe for his own benefit. He gathered the 12 Osage people and loaded their animal furs onto a raft. They set off for St. Louis. Halfway there, their raft crashed, and all their furs were lost. At this point, half of the Osage group decided to go back home.
The other half, including Sacred Sun, continued their journey. This group included five other Osage people: Little Chief, Hawk Woman, Black Bird, Minckchatahooh, and Big Soldier. They met de Launay in St. Louis. From there, they boarded a steamboat down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. Then, they sailed across the ocean to France.
Life in France
Sacred Sun and the others arrived in France on July 27, 1827. They were welcomed at the court of King Charles X. Many excited and curious French citizens greeted them. They were given many gifts. They asked for food and drink and were served different kinds of wine.
At first, the King himself was very happy to have them there. He said the Osage had always been loyal to France. He hoped they would also be good friends to the United States. The people of France thought Sacred Sun was very beautiful and liked her a lot. It was only after all the Osage arrived that they understood. They realized they were part of a "Wild West Show." This was the real reason for their long journey.
Facing Challenges Abroad
After a while, the Osage tribe's popularity faded. De Launay ran out of money. He was put in prison because he couldn't pay his debts. This left the tribe alone and without help. At first, they refused to ask for food, so they had nothing to eat.
During her journey, Sacred Sun was expecting twins. She wanted to go home to care for them. On February 8, 1828, she gave birth to two baby girls in a hotel room in Belgium. Both girls were given traditional French names. Sacred Sun decided to let a rich French woman adopt one daughter. She kept the other daughter with her.
Sacred Sun and the other Osage spent two years traveling alone. They went through France, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and Italy. They often had to beg for food and places to sleep. But then, something good happened. A local newspaper wrote about their struggles. French royalty heard about their problems and came to help.
The Marquis de LaFayette helped Sacred Sun, her baby, and another tribe member, Little Chief. He sent them back to America on a ship. Sadly, Minckchatahooh died on the way home due to illness. But Sacred Sun and her baby arrived safely in Virginia in 1829. Her husband and others followed a few months later.
Her Lasting Legacy
When Sacred Sun and her baby arrived home, many people admired them. The Superintendent of Indian Trade, Thomas L. McKenney, asked an artist named Charles Bird King to paint their portrait. This painting showed Sacred Sun and her baby. It was hung in the National Indian Portrait Gallery for 36 years. Sadly, it was later destroyed in a fire.
Luckily, this portrait can still be seen in the book History of the Indian Tribes of North America. Copies of all the portraits were made before the fire. In the summer of 1830, Sacred Sun traveled back to St. Louis. She and her child lived there until her death. Sacred Sun is believed to have died in 1836. She was 27 years old.
