CHIEF - Mina Naca or Mila Yatapika
(c. 1837-1920). Oglala.
He married both of his wives, presumably sisters, about
1857 and together, they had a
CHIEF - Mina Naca or Mila Yatapika
(c. 1837-1920). Oglala.
He married both of his wives, presumably sisters, about
1857 and together, they had a large family with either
18 or 19 children. Among his children were Eagle Bear
and Fools Crow who told their versions of the Little
Bighorn. Knife Chief was considered to be one of the
great Oglala fighters. He was severely wounded at the
Little Bighorn. According to another son, Thomas Steals
Horses, the wounds were so severe that they "had
to carry him off the battle field on a travois drawn
by a pony."
The Knife Chief family surrendered with Crazy Horse
at the Red Cloud Agency in May 1877 and that fall, slipped
away from the agency with the other northern bands to
join Sitting Bull in Canada. They probably surrendered
at Fort Keogh in the summer or fall of 1880 and were
transferred to the Standing Rock Agency in June 1881