Yellow Wolf (Cheyenne) facts for kids

Yellow Wolf (O-Cum-Who-Wast) of the Cheyenne, from an 1848 engraving of a painting by James W. Albert.

O-Cum-Who-Wust, from an August 1845 painting by James W. Albert.

Yellow Wolf was a respected leader of the Cheyenne tribe. His Cheyenne name was Ho'néoxheóvaestse. He was a chief who led a group known as the Rope Hair. Yellow Wolf lived to be 85 years old. He passed away in 1864 during a sad event called the Sand Creek Massacre. This happened at Sand Creek, Colorado. His brother also died there.

The Sand Creek Massacre

The Sand Creek Massacre was a terrible attack on the Cheyenne tribe. It happened when they were camping peacefully. Two groups of soldiers, the 1st and 3rd Colorado Regiments, attacked them. More than 150 people died in this attack. Sadly, women, children, and elderly people were also killed.

A Leader for Peace

Yellow Wolf was known as a leader who worked hard for peace. A historian named George Bird Grinnell wrote about him in 1915. Grinnell said that Yellow Wolf was always trying to find peaceful solutions. He believed this work was important for his tribe. Yellow Wolf wanted a good future for the Cheyenne people. He worked for peace out of love for his community.

Yellow Wolf's Family

Yellow Wolf had a son named Red Moon. Red Moon survived the Sand Creek Massacre. He later became a very important chief himself.