Satanta
Chief Satanta was a prominent leader of the Kiowa tribe, recognized for his distinctive red headdress and buffalo-hide shield, which he carried into numerous battles. Born to To-quodle-kaip-tau (Red Tipi) on the southern Plains near the Arkansas River, he formed close bonds with fellow warriors, including Satank and his half-brother Black Bonnet. Satanta played a significant role in the 1867 Medicine Lodge Treaty, where the Kiowa ceded their lands and agreed to relocate to a reservation. He later led the Kiowa in resistance against white encroachment during the Red River campaign in 1871, an effort that resulted in his arrest and imprisonment along with Satank. Despite being paroled in 1873, Satanta continued to face challenges as he fought to protect the buffalo herds vital to his people's way of life. His legacy is marked by his leadership in what is considered an ecological war against the destruction of buffalo populations. Satanta's life concluded in prison under uncertain circumstances, and he left behind a legacy with eight children, whose descendants continue to honor his memory, including his election to the National Hall of Fame for Famous American Indians in 1993.
Subject Terms
Satanta
- Born: c. 1830
- Birthplace: Unknown
- Died: October 11, 1878
- Place of death: Huntsville, Texas
Tribal affiliation: Kiowa
Significance: Satanta was one of the major Kiowa leaders to sign the Medicine Lodge Treaty of 1867; later, he led raids against whites
Chief Satanta was the son of To-quodle-kaip-tau (Red Tipi). He spent his youth on the southern Plains south of the Arkansas River. One of his closest friends was Satank. He was also close to his half-brother, Black Bonnet, and his cousin, Stumbling Bear.
Satanta was distinguished by his red headdress; his red tipi, with red streamers; his zebat, or medicine arrow-lance; and his buffalo-hide shield, which was the last of the “sun shields.” The shield was carried into more than a hundred fights. When Satanta went to war, he wore a buckskin shirt painted red on one side and yellow on the other. He was known well enough as a warrior to speak at length at the Medicine Lodge Treaty meeting in 1867, a treaty he signed. In this treaty, the Kiowa agreed to cede their lands and move to a reservation.
In 1871, Satanta, along with Satank and Big Tree, led the Kiowa against the whites in the Red River valley. The leaders were arrested and sent to Fort Richardson for trial. Satank was killed trying to escape. The other two leaders were tried and sent to the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville. In 1873, the two were paroled and returned to Fort Sill.
In 1874, the Kiowa, joined by the Comanche, Cheyenne, and Arapaho, went to war against the whites to protect the remaining buffalo herds from slaughter. In this first ecological war, the United States Army prevailed tactically, but the buffalo were saved from extinction. Satanta was sent back to the prison in Huntsville, while the other tribal leaders were sent to Fort Marion in Florida. Satanta died in prison in Huntsville. It never has been decided with certainty whether he died trying to escape or committed suicide. He was buried in the prison cemetery.
Satanta left eight children. His descendants numbered more than 150 in 1993, the year that Satanta was elected to the National Hall of Fame for Famous American Indians in Anadarko, Oklahoma.