A somewhat, obscure in history, tribe called the Staitans were friends with, and later absorbed into the much better known Cheyenne. The Staitans were in Wyoming by the early 1700s, maybe earlier, but by the early 1800s they were no more, absorbed, peacefully, by the Cheyenne. When the Staitans were flourishing they were considered the most warlike of tribes on the plains. They thrived in the east central area of today’s Wyoming, reaching to the edge of the Laramie Range.
Much of the well-known Cheyenne culture was taken from the ancient
Staitans including the ceremony of the Medicine Arrows, (four arrows, two for
war, and two for hunting). They also adopted the Sun Dance and the Medicine of
the Buffalo Head, from these people.
The Cheyenne were sometimes called Dog Soldiers and likely
got that name from the French word Chen, meaning dog. Later the Dog Soldiers were but one faction
of the tribe but the entire tribe still remained know as the Dog Soldiers to
most plains people of the 1800s. The
Cheyenne were driven from their home in present day Minnesota by the Sioux, who
called them, Sha-hi-e-na.
Sha-h-e-na, literally meant those who spoke a language which
was not understandable. Tribal groups that spoke an understandable language
they were said to, “talk right,” those who did not, “talked wrong.” The
Cheyenne were said to speak, only wrong words.”
With our state Legislature now in session and all the
politicians in town it is interesting to note they are meeting in our state
capitol. A city, Cheyenne, named after wrong talking people. Hummmmmm!
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Sunset over the Laramie Range in Eastern Wyoming |
4 comments:
Fascinating. I was completely unaware of this.
Of some potential interest, the Comanche were once part of the Shoshone. Comanche means "the arguers", and the argument was about horses, which they argued to adopt, while the remainder of the tribe was reluctant to do so. They did adopt them, and therefore became a separate entity, although the Shoshone later adopted them as well.
I'm out and about visiting new blogs and glad I stopped by here. Learn something new every day if you take the time to look and listen. I have an American Indian in mu current WIP and it's rewarding to research a culture that is barely with us today.
Pat and Marcus - I have done some research on the Comanche in Wyoming and why they left, it is fascinating. The movement of tribes into and out of Wyoming is quite the history lesson.
Stephen, Thanks for stopping in. I am going to goggle you up and take a look.
I also have a writing site where I talk about some of my WIP and other writing related stuff.
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