The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17
A sQUAw CHIEF.
A -Sewf Indian Woman Rules the
Cheyenne Tribe.

Much pomp attended the ceremony of in
stalling Mary Big Buffalo as chief of the
Cheyenne Indians who live In Oklahoma
on reservation. Mary is the first woman
ever appointed to rule an Indian tribe.
and, further than that she is gifted with
power direct from the Great Spirit Be
sides being chosen to attend to all of the
business of the tribe she will also act as
chief medicine man, or woman. one should
say. for the handful OF Cheyennes who
nave survived the effects of war and civil
Hzatiou
Her installation took place on the reser-
walton near Darlington Few white per-
sons were permitted to witness It, For
thfee days prior to the ceremony Mary
IL! IN wooden wickiup and communed
win GOOD spirits. sending out messages
10 her followers, in which she told them
l4at the tribe was to have many blessings
showered upon it during her reign.
he9hWhlle, the thirty official medicine
men began to make ready for taking her
through the mystic rites. They erected
small tents around the one in which The
woman lay. Meanwhile. the Indian rabb,s
or common stock of the tribe began to
gather on the dancing grounds, which is
located in valley surrounded on all sides
by high hills. The valley is even in the
MIDST OF winter, covered with green f,rass
a. anu me warm sun beats down. making
IL a pleasant spot to live in. Here for
nearly a week the whole Cheyenne tribe
lay in their tents and enjoyed life Mary.
the future queen of the tribe, is rich and
she furnished the INDECENT bucks with
plenty to eat and drink, and that was
theH principal reason for being happy
Suddenly one night Big Snake. chief
OF the medicine men, came forth from
his tent. He had been fasting for three
days ana was very weak. He called in
loud voice that all was in readiness
to declare the new chieftain elected. He
Instructed the people to make ready for
the ceremony. The camp was soon astir
Squaws and bucks began to paint and
sing songs of unknown words Every
thlHs was IN great state of excitement
as the night advanced the other medi-
enc men made their way to the tent of
their chief and they chanted weird things
which no one could understand At day-
llSht the whole tribe of 300 Indians had
painted and was ready to greet the new
queen. Big Snake lifted the flap of her
tepee at sunrise and cried In loud voice:
woman, come forth. Cheyenne tribe
VINO never show white man fear, have
choose squaw for big warrior but squaw
Is brave She had brave buck. She know
Great Spirit. She make good chief"
Then Mary Big Buffalo stepped forth
Her brown skin was nearly white from
fasting. Her limbs We're paIsd from ex-
haustion. She smiled at her people as
she marched forth between two big medi-
cine men and took her seat on the grass
in the midst of them.
Mary Big Buffalo will have power to
make treaties and sell land of the tribe,
but no right to punish criminals or ad-
minister justice TO offenders. She is thir-
t. years old, and her husband was a
noted warrior. She had one child. In case
of her death within four years this child
would become ruler of the Cheyennes,
now only numbering a mere handful to
what they once We're the most savage
and powerful tribe in the West.