While the Nation honors U.S. Presidents today, I’m celebrating my favorite Chiefs. I’ll start with 1 of my ancestors.

10. War Chief Wabasha II of the Mdewakanton Dakota. There’s a statue of him in MN. He lost an eye. That’s why he looks sorta gangsta. #PresidentsDay

9. Chief Lone Horn of the Minneconjou Lakota. He was an extraordinary man who could chase down a buffalo on foot. His sons were Chief Spotted Elk (Bigfoot), who was assassinated at Wounded Knee & Chief Touch-The-Clouds. Crazy Horse was his nephew.

8. Chief Standing Buffalo. I like him because he was the leader of my grandma’s Sisseton band of Dakota at the start of the reservation era. Talk about style and charisma.

7. The renegade War Chief Inkpaduta (Scarlet Point). He led Wahpekute Dakota in resisting the U.S. government. He ran with Sitting Bull and fought at The Battle of Greasy Grass (Little Big Horn). He had scars from surviving Smallpox.

6. Chiricahua Apache Chief Geronimo (Goyaałé). He was one of the last Chiefs to engage in combat against the U.S. military.

5. Chief Little Crow (His Red Nation) of the Mdewakanton Dakota. He led his people in The Dakota War of 1862 after the U.S. broke treaty. He had eagles tattooed on his wrists.

4. Tecumseh, a Shawnee Chief who along with his brother who was a prophet, attempted to establish unity among tribes.

One of my ancestors (Chief Wabasha) fought with him.

3. Hunkpapa Lakota Blotahunka War Chief Gall (Pizi). Like several other Lakota leaders, he was an expert military strategist. Little known fact: he beat Custer at Fort Totten before they fought at Little Big Horn. After the Indian Wars he became a judge.

2. Sitting Bull (Tatanka Iyotanka) Chief of the Hunkpapa Lakota. He was also a medicine man, prophet & Statesmen. He foresaw Little Big Horn, was wise to the US from day 1, wouldn’t sign treaties & didn’t want to live on a reservation.

“I am the Last Real Indian.” -Sitting Bull

1. Crazy Horse (Tasunka Witko), Oglala Lakota. He wasn’t technically a ‘Chief’ yet was 1 of the greatest War Chiefs ever. See: Fetterman Fight, Red Cloud’s War & Greasy Grass. He was a spiritual warrior known for his military genius, bravery, vision, & love for his people.

There are many honorable mentions: Cornplanter, Red Cloud, Rain-In-The-Face, Spotted Elk, Metacomet, Powhatan, Arvol Looking Horse, Leonard Crowdog...I encourage you to read more about all of these Native leaders. #PresidentsDay

Feel free to add your own favorite Chiefs to the list. There are so many. It’s a shame they aren’t highlighted more often.