Winnemucca (Paiute leader) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Winnemucca
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| Born | c. 1820 |
| Died | 1882 |
| Other names | Wobitsawahkah, Mubetawaka, and Poito |
| Organization | Tribe: Kuyuidika band, Northern Paiute (born a Shoshone) |
| Known for | Northern Paiute war chief |
| Spouse(s) | Tuboitonie, Old Winnemucca's daughter |
| Children | Sarah Winnemucca, Natchez Winnemucca, Frank Winnemucca,Mary Winnemucca ,and more |
| Relatives | Numaga (son or nephew) |
Winnemucca (around 1820 – 1882) was a brave Northern Paiute war chief. He was also known by names like Wobitsawahkah and Bad Face. He was born a Shoshone in what is now Oregon Territory.
When he married the daughter of Old Winnemucca, he became part of the Paiute tribe. This was according to their tribal rules. They belonged to the Kuyuidika band of the Northern Paiute. His father-in-law honored him by calling him "Winnemucca the Younger." This name means "The Giver of Spiritual Gifts." Winnemucca the Younger soon became a war chief for the Kuyuidika band.
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Winnemucca's Leadership and Challenges
Winnemucca the Younger, often called "Bad Face," became a war chief. He was more cautious of white settlers than his father-in-law.
Historians have different ideas about his exact role in Paiute politics. Much of what we know comes from his daughter, Sarah Winnemucca. She often made his influence seem bigger than it was. She wanted to show her father and her people as peaceful. This helped protect them from unfair treatment by settlers. Modern historians see Winnemucca as a very important leader. He had a lot of influence over the Paiute bands around the Pyramid Lake area.
Winnemucca and the Pyramid Lake War
Winnemucca was a strong supporter of the Pyramid Lake War in 1860. At first, the Paiute tried to keep the peace. Later, Bad Face led several Paiute groups in battles. Sometimes, people mistakenly thought they were Shoshone warriors.
In 1865, a sad event happened to Winnemucca's family. While his daughter Sarah and her grandfather were away, soldiers attacked their camp. Many older men, women, and children in the camp died or were badly hurt. Winnemucca's wife and a daughter were injured, and his baby son died. Bad Face surrendered in 1868. After this war, his power as a leader became less. He had little control over events at the Malheur Reservation. These events led to the Bannock War in 1878.
Life on and off the Reservation
During the winter of 1872-1873, Bad Face did not want to live on a farm at the Malheur Reservation. Even though his daughter Sarah asked him, he worried about not having enough food. He found safety near Steens Mountain in Harney County, Oregon.
By 1873, settlers and the government worried about the Paiute. They feared Bad Face's group might join with the Shoshone or the Modoc people. The Modoc War ended on April 11, 1873.
In 1874, Winnemucca, Sarah, another daughter, and eight warriors performed in shows. They acted out scenes of Indian life at the Metropolitan Theater in Sacramento, California. They did these shows for five years. When Samuel Parrish was in charge of the reservation, Bad Face could move freely. He went to and from the Malheur Reservation often.
Parrish built canals for water and a school for the reservation. He also tried to make the reservation bigger for the Shoshone. This caused problems with powerful local ranchers. They wanted that land for themselves. These ranchers worked to have Parrish replaced.
In 1875, Bad Face, Sarah, and Pony Blanket tried to get help from officers at Fort Harney. They wanted Parrish to be put back in charge. But William V. Rinehart and others worked against them. Rinehart was known for being very harsh towards Native Americans. Parrish was replaced by Rinehart in 1876. Rinehart often cheated and mistreated Native people. He did not give them enough food or supplies.
The Bannock War and Its Impact
Settlers in Oregon convinced the Congress to change a deal with the Nez Perce tribe. In 1877, Chief Joseph and his people refused to move from their home. This led to conflict. The Paiute, who had left the Malheur Reservation because of Rinehart, returned. They knew they would be safer there during wartime.
Bad Face and some warriors visited Governor Mason Brayman in Boise City. They were treated as honored guests and promised to keep the peace. But Bad Face still refused to go back to the Malheur Reservation. Conditions there kept getting worse.
In March 1878, two Shoshone warriors came to the Malheur Reservation. They warned of war. Governor Brayman wrote to Senator W. J. McConnell. He agreed that the Shoshoni Banattee Snakes had good reasons for their actions. Settlers' hogs were eating their main food source, Camas root.
In May 1878, the Shoshone started an uprising in eastern Oregon. This began with the killing of a white gun dealer. This uprising became known as the Bannock War.
On June 5, Sarah Winnemucca met with other leaders at the Malheur Indian Agency. She learned that the Snake Indians were starving on the reservation. They could not buy clothes, and their horses were being shot. Sarah left on June 9, 1878, to tell President Rutherford B. Hayes about these problems.
General Irvin McDowell sent a message to Bad Face and his son Natchez. He asked them to help keep peace with the hostile Snake people. They agreed, but secretly planned to join the war. On June 10, 1878, Congress declared war on the Western Shoshoni Nation.
Winnemucca died in 1882. Reports said he passed away in October 1882 in Nevada.
Winnemucca's Legacy
Several places are named after Winnemucca. These include the Winnemucca Indian Colony of Nevada, Winnemucca Lake, Winnemucca Mountain, and the city of Winnemucca, Nevada. His oldest son Natchez and nephew Numaga were also important leaders. White settlers knew them as Little Winnemucca and Young Winnemucca.
As of 1970, some of Winnemucca's descendants lived on the Pyramid Lake Reservation.
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