Dohasan (chief)
Dohasan was a prominent chief of the Kiowa tribe, known for his leadership and unifying efforts following the tribe's defeat by the Osage in 1833. After taking over from the deposed chief Adate, he successfully brought together various bands of Kiowa, transforming them into a strong and cohesive group. During the 1840s, as the Kiowa faced significant challenges from diseases and encroaching white settlers, Dohasan led defensive actions against these intrusions. His leadership was marked by a willingness to negotiate, as evidenced by his signing of the Treaty of Fort Atkinson in 1853, which sought to end hostilities in exchange for payments to the tribe. However, conflicts continued, leading to further negotiations that culminated in the Little Arkansas Treaty of 1865, which resulted in the Kiowa settling on a reservation in present-day Oklahoma. Dohasan’s tenure as chief ended with his death in 1866, after which he was succeeded by Lone Wolf, reflecting the divided perspectives within the tribe regarding leadership and strategy. His legacy highlights the complexities of Native American leadership during a tumultuous period of change and adversity.
Dohasan (chief)
Category: War chief
Tribal affiliation: Kiowa
Significance: Dohasan forged an alliance between independent Kiowa bands, making the tribe a major power in the southern Plains in the 1840’s
After the Kiowas were defeated in war by the Osage in 1833, Dohasan was chosen to replace the deposed chief, Adate. Dohasan quickly proved his worth by uniting the several bands of Kiowa into a cohesive and formidable tribe. He likewise negotiated peace with the Osage.
In the 1840’s, as the Kiowas were devastated by cholera and smallpox and were increasingly threatened by white migration onto their lands, Dohasan led numerous raids against the white intruders. After army retaliation, Dohasan signed the Treaty of Fort Atkinson in 1853, by which the Kiowa were paid an annuity in exchange for promising to cease their raiding. Hostilities continued virtually unabated, however, until Dohasan agreed to the Little Arkansas Treaty of 1865, by which the Kiowas agreed to settle on a reservation in the Oklahoma panhandle in Indian Territory.
After his death in 1866, Dohasan was succeeded by Lone Wolf, the tribe’s compromise choice, over the war leader Satanta and the peace faction’s leader, Kicking Bird.