Kiowa Peace Chief. Born of Crow and Kiowa ancestry, he was known as T'ene-Angopte, which can be translated as Striking Eagle. After the death of Dohasan, chief of the united Kiowa bands in 1866, he assumed the leadership of the tribe's peace faction. He was a signatory of the Little Arkansas Treaty, and also the Medicine Lodge Treaty in 1867. In 1869, he helped gain the release of Lone Wolf and Satanta from army custody. His position, however, made him enemies in the war faction, who accused him of cowardice. He then sought to restore lost prestige, eventually leading his own raiding party, which led to the battle of the Little Wichita River on July 12, 1870. The victorious raid was the end of his military actions, however, and he worked thereafter toward peace for his people. In 1873, he negotiated the release from custody of Satanta and Big Tree, a diplomatic achievement that earned him the loyalty the majority of his tribe. The war faction was then virtually destroyed at the second battle of Adobe Walls on June 27, 1874. Satanta stepped down as war chief, and Lone Wolf surrendered shortly thereafter. Kicking Bird was left as the only leader with a real following. The Army intruded upon tribal politics to name Kicking Bird principal chief in early 1875. The majority of the tribe acquiesced. When the army then demanded Kicking Bird choose which of his incarcerated tribesmen would be transferred to a Florida prison, he did so, choosing among them, White Horse and Lone Wolf. This action was seen as a betrayal by many in the tribe, when he then died suddenly after drinking a cup of coffee, it was widely speculated, but never proved, that he had been poisoned. He was buried at Fort Sill, his grave was marked with a wooden cross, though he had never converted. When the wooden marker eventually decomposed, the exact location of his remains was lost.
Kiowa Peace Chief. Born of Crow and Kiowa ancestry, he was known as T'ene-Angopte, which can be translated as Striking Eagle. After the death of Dohasan, chief of the united Kiowa bands in 1866, he assumed the leadership of the tribe's peace faction. He was a signatory of the Little Arkansas Treaty, and also the Medicine Lodge Treaty in 1867. In 1869, he helped gain the release of Lone Wolf and Satanta from army custody. His position, however, made him enemies in the war faction, who accused him of cowardice. He then sought to restore lost prestige, eventually leading his own raiding party, which led to the battle of the Little Wichita River on July 12, 1870. The victorious raid was the end of his military actions, however, and he worked thereafter toward peace for his people. In 1873, he negotiated the release from custody of Satanta and Big Tree, a diplomatic achievement that earned him the loyalty the majority of his tribe. The war faction was then virtually destroyed at the second battle of Adobe Walls on June 27, 1874. Satanta stepped down as war chief, and Lone Wolf surrendered shortly thereafter. Kicking Bird was left as the only leader with a real following. The Army intruded upon tribal politics to name Kicking Bird principal chief in early 1875. The majority of the tribe acquiesced. When the army then demanded Kicking Bird choose which of his incarcerated tribesmen would be transferred to a Florida prison, he did so, choosing among them, White Horse and Lone Wolf. This action was seen as a betrayal by many in the tribe, when he then died suddenly after drinking a cup of coffee, it was widely speculated, but never proved, that he had been poisoned. He was buried at Fort Sill, his grave was marked with a wooden cross, though he had never converted. When the wooden marker eventually decomposed, the exact location of his remains was lost.
Bio by: Iola
Inscription
CHIEF
KICKING BIRD
"TENE - ANGOPTE"
KIOWA TRIBE
MEDICINE LODGE
TREATY SIGNER
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