Touch the Clouds
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (February 2008) |
| Touch the Clouds | |
|---|---|
| Chief of Minneconjou | |
| File:Chief Touch the Clouds.jpg Honorable Chief Mahpia Icahtagya, 1883 | |
| Reign | 1873-1894 |
| Successor | Chief Blac Eagle |
| Father | Lone Horn |
| Mother | Stands on the Ground |
Touch the Clouds (Lakota: Mahpia Icahtagya) was a chief of the Minneconjou Teton Lakota.
Childhood and family
Born in 1836 in present day South Dakota, Touch the Clouds was son of chief Lone Horn and Stands on the Ground, brother to chief Big Foot, and a cousin of Crazy Horse. His father and uncles taught him how to fight at a young age, so upon reaching adulthood, he took up weapons against the American intruders, although with limited success.
Sioux Wars
Touch the Clouds felt it as his destiny to help his family members at all costs, and allied with Crazy Horse in the Sioux Wars. He fought beside Crazy Horse, and showed himself to be a skilled warrior and military commander. Even after the Sioux Wars, he remained at Crazy Horse's side, and was with him at his deathbed in 1877. After this, he left the army and eventually gave up his chieftain-rank.
Last years and death
Touch the Clouds spent the remainder of his life (1884–1905) at the Cheyenne River Agency, translating Lakota legends and folk stories. He taught young natives to read, and told stories about his life to all those willing to listen. Many of his stories are still in the Cheyenne River Agency archives.
Chief Touch the Clouds died from a stroke at the age of 69.[citation needed] His life spanned the period of the greatest triumphs of the Teton Sioux nations and the following period of sadness and divisiveness.
See also
References
- Lost Worlds: An Interactive Museum of the American Indian
- Indian genealogy
- Rosebud Sioux
- Southern Oregon Digital Archives First Nations Tribal
 | This article relating to the Indigenous peoples of North America is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |