Here's an interesting bit of Osage history for you: Born c. 1780, Black Dog was chief of the Hunkah band of the Osage. Black Dog was a striking figure at around 7 feet tall and an estimated 300 pounds. Around 1802, Black Dog's band migrated and settled in the northeastern part of the territory that today makes up the state of Oklahoma, setting up a village near the present-day site of Claremore. Born Zhin-gawa-ca (or Shinka-Wah-Sa) – meaning Dark Eagle or Sacred Little One – it was here that the chief earned the moniker Manka-Chonka, or Black Dog, for fighting well against bands of Comanche conducting raids in the area.

The chief is also credited with engineering the Osage trail which ran between Baxter Springs in Kansas and the Great Salt Plains in northern Oklahoma, which became known as the Black Dog Trail. Firmly under Osage control by the 1760s, the area was a fantastic hunting ground due to the large herds of bison and other game which migrated there to eat the salt, and also provided a plentiful stock of salt to trade with other tribes.

In the early 1800s, the so-called “Old Settlers” of the Cherokee Nation began migrating to the area. This engendered a prolonged period of conflict with the tribes which had historically controlled the region, including the Osage. These Cherokee and their allies attacked the villages of Black Dog’s people in 1817, killing much of the population, but Black Dog is also acknowledged for having found and prepared a nearby cave which served as a hiding place for several to escape the massacre.

Black Dog had only one son, who was also known as Black Dog. They have become known as Black Dog I and Black Dog II. Black Dog II eventually became chief of the Osage after his father (c. 1870) and died in Pawhuska in 1910.

Visit the Osage Nation Museum in Pawhuska to learn more about the rich history of the Osage people. You can find the museum's hours, address, and more info at https://bit.ly/ONMuseum

#nativeamerican #history
View On Facebook