Ancient Native American Trade: Cotton

Courtney and Tippie
on cotton farm

One of my earliest memories was walking bare foot on the cool, muddy rows between tall stalks of cotton on our cotton farm in the Panhandle of Texas.  I was around two-and-one-half years old and the cotton towered over my head as I toddled along accompanied by my faithful Colley dog, Tippie.  Cotton was the primary crop grown in Hall County when I was growing up and I spent a major part of my time working in the fields with my family to cultivate and harvest the precious fibers.

 

I did not think about the origins or history of cotton back then, but later was surprised to find cotton and cotton fabrics turning up in ancient archaeological sites throughout the Americas. 

 

This is a preview of Ancient Native American Trade: Cotton. Read the full post (607 words, 6 images, estimated 2:26 mins reading time)

 

Killing Lean Bear, Part 3

Lindneaux painting of Sand Creek Massacre

It was probably a peaceful, happy morning for the families of Black Kettle’s warriors who were off on a buffalo hunt.  Black Kettle probably slept peacefully that night convinced that he had secured peace and the protection of the government for his people since he had checked in at Fort Lyon and moved his tribe to Sand Creek as instructed.  But, the elders, women, children and a few young men that were left at camp were unprepared for that tragic morning November 29, 1864.  

Here is Little Bear’s account, “I looked towards Fort Lyon Trail south of the

This is a preview of Killing Lean Bear, Part 3. Read the full post (972 words, 6 images, estimated 3:53 mins reading time)

 

Killing Lean Bear, Part 2

Lean Bear and the other Cheyenne chiefs came away from their meeting with President Lincoln in 1862 feeling good about the outcome. They even took a detour to visit New York at the request of P. T. Barnham and visited his museum.

But in less than two years, in the spring of 1864, despite promises from Lincoln to keep the peace, things took a tragic turn. Lean Bear with his wife and tribe were camped near Ash Creek in Kansas on a buffalo hunt when troops from the Colorado Militia approached them. Unarmed, Chief Lean Bear grabbed his medal and letter from Lincoln proclaiming him a friend and peacekeeper and went out to meet the troops. Unbeknownst to him, Lieutenant George Eayre, who was in command, was acting under orders from Colonel John M. Chivington to kill all Indians on sight.

This is a preview of Killing Lean Bear, Part 2. Read the full post (693 words, 5 images, estimated 2:46 mins reading time)

Killing Lean Bear, Part 1

It was while reading one of my favorite authors, Margaret Coel’s book “Killing Custer” that I was reminded of the killing of Chief Lean Bear.

 

I have often thought about what the Native American could have done differently that might have enabled them to avoid the brutal and inhumane treatment they suffered in the 1800’s. But, my research has found that they did try everything and there was nothing that would have worked. For me, that futility is epitomized in the story of Chief Lean Bear.

This is a preview of Killing Lean Bear, Part 1. Read the full post (889 words, 6 images, estimated 3:33 mins reading time)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Native American Fables: The Origin of Strawberries

When James Mooney, who worked for the Bureau of American Ethnology in the late 1800’s, lived with the Cherokee, he recorded many of their myths and legends. I love the story of the origin of strawberries because it presents the Cherokee version of Adam and Eve and gives us insight into the Cherokee’s thoughts on the power of love.

This is a preview of Native American Fables: The Origin of Strawberries. Read the full post (712 words, 5 images, estimated 2:51 mins reading time)