Weucha (Shake Hand)/le Liberateur(the Deliverer): (? - 1804/07)
     On 31 August 1804, he and his band encountered the Lewis & Clark expedition on the Missouri (just above the mouth of the James River) and met in council with the two representatives of the American government. The expedition journals describe Weucha as an old, grand Chief of the Yankton, (Z.Pike in 1805-06 names White Buffalo or Petessung as Head-Chief of this tribe) which numbers 200 warriors. The journals also recorded his speech which was probably translated by either Pierre Dorion I (who was the expedition interpreter at this time) or Pierre Dorion II (who was present and trading among this tribe at the time):
     "I see before me, my Great Father's two sons. You see me and the rest of our chiefs and warriors. We are very poor; we have neither powder, no ball, nor knives; and our women and children at the village have no clothes. I wish that as my brothers have given me a flag and a medal, they would give something to those poor people, or let them stop and trade with the first boat which comes up the river. I will bring chiefs of the Pawnees and Mahas together, and make peace between them; but it is better that I should do it than my Great Father's sons, for they will listen to me more readily. I will also take some chiefs to your country in the spring; but before that time I cannot leave home. I went formerly to the English, and they gave me a medal and some clothes; when I went to the Spanish they gave me a medal, but nothing to keep it from my skin; but now you give me a medal and clothes. But still we are poor; and I wish, brothers, you would give us something for our squaws"
     The expedition journal goes on to describe a inter-tribal society of this tribe:
"...It is an association of the most active and brave young men, who are bound to each other by attachment, secured by a vow, never to retreat before any danger, or give way to their enemies...These young men sit, camp, and dance together, distinct from the rest of the nation; they are generally about 30 or 35 years old, and such is the deference paid to courage that their seats in council are superior to those of the chiefs and their persons more respected...that band is now reduced to four warriors, who were among our visitors. These were the remains of 22 who composed the society not long ago..."
     Weucha's sub-Chiefs at this council with Lewis & Clark were: Mahtoree/Monlori (White Crane/Grey Bear/White Bear) [he was chief signer of 1815 treaty at Portage des Sioux with the Yankton], Pawnawneahpahbe (Struck By A Pawnee) [probable 3nd signer at the 1815 treaty] & Aweawechache (Half Man).
     The Yankton lands at this time included the head-waters of the Des Moines River and to the west including the Sacred Pipe-Stone Quarry and the lower James River region. At one time they were united with the Yanktonai & Assiniboine, making up one of the three main divisions (Dakota, Nakota & Lakota) of what is generally called the Sioux today. Probably some time in the later part of the 17th century the tribe (Nakota) split off into two factions, the Assiniboine migrating to the north-west, than sometime in the mid 1700's the remaining tribe split again with the Yanktonai migrating to the west & the Yankton migrating to the south-west. From early French exploration reports it seems this tribe had long migrated annually to the prairie's for hunts but would winter in the shelter of central Minnesota. Returning to the forest lands discontinued at some point due problably to the increasing war party pressures of their neighbors the Cree & Ojibwe and including attacks from their brothers the Assiniboine. Pierre LeSueur was visited by the Hinkaneton or "village of the Red Stone Quarry" (Yankton) while he was on his trading/mining expedition in 1700 at south-central Minnesota. The Marin's in the 1750's puts the main Yankton village number at 160 lodges and says they roam to the Missouri River.

Waskaigingo/Wahhaginea/Waskaijingo(Little Dish or Little Bowl or Pettit Plat):
     From before 1806 to after 1836 he was Chief of theYankton. About 1813 his tribe is driven to migrate west to the Big Sioux River due to war with the Sac & Fox. On the19th of July in 1815 Chiefs & warriors of the Yankton Tribe met with William Clark, Ninian Edwards & Auguste Chouteau, representing the United States, at Portage des Sioux signing at treaty of "...re-establishing peace and friendship...". The order of Yankton signers was ; Monlori (or White Bear), Waskaijingo (or Little Dish), Padamape (or Panis Sticker), Chaponge (or Musquitoe), Mindalonga (Parisan or War Chief), Weopaatowechashla (or Sun Set), Tokaymhominee (or The Rock That Turns), Keonorunco (or Fast Flyer), Mazo (or The Iron), Haiwongeeda (or One Horn) & Mazehaio (or Arrow Sender) [Maurice Blondeau, Manuel Lisa, Thomas Forsyth, Louis Dorion & John Hay were also present at the Treaty, all of whom were very familiar with the Yankton and would likely have been the sources of the names and translation of the individual Yankton signers]. Again on the 22nd of June in 1825 at Fort Look-Out (near the Three Rivers of the Sioux Pass) Chief, Headmen & warriors of the "Teton, Yancton and Yanctonnies" met with Gen.Atkinson and Benj.O'Fallon (representing the U.S.) in a Treaty of "...perpetuating the friendship...". The order of Yankton signers was; Maw-too-sa-be-kia (The Black Bear), Wacan-o-hi-gnan (The Flying Medicine), Wah-ha-ginga (The Little Dish), Cha-pon-ka (The Musqueto), Eta-ke-nus-ke-an (The Mad Face), To-ka-oo (The One That Kills), O-ga-tee (The Fork), You-ia-san (The Warrior), Wah-ta-ken-do (The One Who Comes From War), To-qui-in-too (The Little Soldier) & Ha-sas-hah (The Ioway) [Jean Bte Dorion was present at the Treaty and more than likely the interpreter of the names and translations]. Before 1830 he was replaced as primary Chief by War Eagle (Wahmedawahkee) trading with William Dickson at his post near the mouth of the Vermillion River. In 1825 he was one of the primary signers of a treaty with the Teton, Yankton & Yanktonai.
 

He Who Eats No Buffalo Cow (Tatankayeteshene/Peteyuteshni):
     In 1823 Keating & Renville credit him as Hereditary Chief of the Yankton and in 1838-39 Joseph Nicollet also names him as primary Chief of the Yankton at the source of the Des Moines. In a 1830 treaty at St.Louis with the Yankton & Santee, He Who Dont Eat Buffalo (Citta-eutapishma) is 3rd signer under Matto-Sa-Becha (Black Bear) & Pa-con-okra. In September of 1836 he was primary signer (Pittaeutapishna) for the Yankton in a treaty with Col. Zachory Taylor (future President) with Washkashinga signing second.
 
note: I have recently received an e-mail from Christine (a descendent of Smutty Bear) who beleives the person Mattosabecha (Black Bear) referred to in the Treaty of 1830 was actually Mato Sabi Ceya (or Smutty Bear) - brother to Black Bear. I am looking forward to an exchange of information with Christine and will update the page in the future.
     The treaty referred to was signed in St.Louis on the 13th of October in 1830 by the following "Yancton and Santie Bands of Siouxs" in order of signing; Matto-Sa-Becha (The Black Bear), Pa-con-okra, Citta-eutapishma (He Who Dont Eat Buffalo), To-ki-e-ton (The Stone With Horns), Cha-pon-da (or Mosquitoe), To-ki-mar-ne (He That Walks Ahead), Wock-ta-ken-dee (Kills And Comes Back) Ha Sazza & Chigga Wah-shu-she (Little Brave) [Jacques Mette was the interpreter at this signing of the treaty & it is unknown to me as to his possible connection with the Yankton].
 
 

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