Big Head
(1838 – 1897)
Pahtanka or Nasula-tanka
This Biographical Essay Compiled by Gregor
Big Head (Pahtanka or Nasula-tanka, which means Big Head or Big Brain), son of a Yanktonais Chief with the same name and his wife Turns Back (ca. 1814 - ?), was born about 1838. The Yanktonais lived in the Dakota Territory east of the Missouri River and north to Apple Creek Valley, which they considered their homeland.
The 1858 treaty with the Yanktons (they had agreed to a massive land cession of 11 million acres, nearly 23 percent of the present state of South Dakota) infuriated the Lakotas and Yanktonais. This land cession directly affected the Yanktonais, whose primary bison hunting grounds were east of the Missouri River. Upper Yanktonai chief Big Head (father), who had a reserved attitude toward the whites, refused the treaty and to accept treaty annuities.
In 1863, the older Big Head and the Yanktonais were involved in the punishment campaign following the Minnesota Uprising. On 3 September 1864, they were at Whitestone Hill consisting of mainly Yanktonais under the leaders Two Bears, Little Soldier, and Big Head when many were taken prisoners to Crow Creek Agency.
Some Winter Counts for the years 1863/64 – e.g., the count of No Two Horns (Hunkpapa) at the Buechel Museum – report the death of a Dakota called Big Head, who was taken prisoner by soldiers. This must have been the older Big Head.
After the death of his father, the son [b. ~1838] took the name Big Head. 
On 20 and 28 October 1865, the U.S. made treaties with Hunkpapa and Yanktonai at Fort Sully. The signers included Two Bears, Big Head, Little Soldier, and Black Catfish.
Three years later, in 1868, Big Head was a signatory to the Fort Laramie Treaty. In 1869, the Grand River Agency (moved and renamed Standing Rock in 1874) was established.
The 1874 Census revealed the following populations at Grand River Agency: Upper Yanktonai, 1,406; Lower Yanktonai, 2,607; Hunkpapa, 1,556; and Blackfeet, 871. Big Head and his Cut Head band still roamed the upper Missouri and even the Milk River region in Montana in the 1870s. His band settled, at least for a time, at the Fort Peck/Poplar River Agency.
In 1872, Big Head was one of the Yanktonais leaders who traveled to Washington. The Yanktonais head chiefs; Medicine Bear, Black Eye, Two Bears, Big Head, and others, failed in their wish to stay in Montana at the new Milk River Agency (later Fort Peck).
In the early 1880s, Big Head, who called himself Felix Big Head, moved to Standing Rock, where he had 17 lodges and 168 people under his care in the northern part of the reservation (Standing Rock Ration List for 1885). In 1882, U.S. Senator George F. Edmund initiated a law that declared polygamy a crime. On the Standing Rock Reservation and under the tutelage of Agent McLaughlin, Big Head, who had evolved into one of the main Standing Rock leaders, belonged to the strong supporters of the Edmunds plan.
Taking part in reservation politics, Big Head got his hair cut and, in 1888, he went to Washington, dressed in a suit, as part of the Sioux delegation to negotiate the cession of Sioux lands. On this occasion (and with the support of Agent McLaughlin) the Sioux successfully fought against the selling out of reservation land, but that would change in 1889.
When the Crook commission convened at Standing Rock in July 1889, Gall, John Grass, Mad Bear, and Big Head were prepared to speak out against the second Sioux bill as they had in Washington. But Major McLaughlin switched his position and, in private conversations, he changed the minds of Grass, Mad Bear, and Big Head. Grass, argued convincingly on behalf of the new position with Gall, Mad Bear, and Big Head giving shorter but likewise influential speeches, enraging Sitting Bull.
Sources:
The History of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian ... By David Miller, Dennis Smith, Joseph R. McGeshick, James Shanley, Caleb Shields
Handbook of North American Indians: Plains, Teil 1 Von William C. Sturtevant, Raymond J. DeMallie
by LaDonna Brave Bull Allard
Born 1838 and died 1897, Pahtanka (Big Head) was a chief of the Upper Yanktonais of the Dakota Band. He had 25 families and lodges in his camp. The Yanktonais lived in the Dakota Territory east of the Missouri River north to the Apple Creek Valley which they considered their homeland. In 1863 he survived and was captured at the massacre at Whitestone Hill located near Kulm, North Dakota. Chief Big Head and Chief Two Bears with other survivors were taken to Fort Randall, South Dakota and held prisoner for two years. In 1868, he was a signatory to the Fort Laramie Treaty. In 1876, he was in the Battle of Little Bighorn (Greasy-Grass). After the Battle; he took refuge in Grandmother’s country (Canada) with other chiefs and bands. According to oral history, Sitting Bull told the chiefs to scatter in their return to the United States so they would not be killed prior to his surrender. Chief Big Head has descendants in Canada and Standing Rock. At the taking of their picture Chief Big Head’s hair was cut and he dressed in a suit as part of the delegation from Standing Rock that went to Washington D.C. in 1888. Upon his death in 1897, he was buried in the Cannon Ball area.
The following is primarily from the LaDonna Brave Bull Allard documentation with annotations from other resources:
1- Big Head the Older, b. unknown, d. 1863/64 - (A paragraph in the Kulm Diamond Jubilee (Kulm, North Dakota) of June 26 & 27, 1967, writes in Section about Whitestone Battlefield Historic Park [Correctly it is: Whitestone Hill State Historic Site], "Chief Two Bears (1797-1871) headed the Yanktonia Tribe. In leading a charge [sic], Chief Big Head was killed and is buried near the monument." FindAGrave has a memorial (#127647994) for him but no photo of marker.
Spouse - Kawunge-One Who Turns Backs, b. 1814
Children:
Son - 100- Nasulatanka-Chief Felix Big Head, b. 1838
Daughter - Hustewin, b. 1844
100
Nasulatanka-Chief Felix Big Head, b. 1838, d. 1 February 1897 - Buried in Old Catholic Cemetery, Cannon Ball, FindAGrave Memorial #148694301.
1st Spouse - Hinhansa Koyake Win-Wears Red Owl, b. 1839
2nd Spouse - Obogawin- Annie/Alice-Obozawin, b. 1857
Children:
Daughter - 200- Jane, b. 1854
Son - 300- Natanhinapa-Comes Out Attacking-James, b. 1854
Son - 400- Wakuwamani- Chase, b. 1858
Son - 500- Wamani-Thief, b. 1859
Daughter - 600- Wipuhi Round Woman, b. 1866
Daughter - 700- Tasina Ska Win White Robe Woman, b. 1870
Son - 800- George, b. 1877
Daughter - 900- Hasan Waste Win
Son - 1000- Koyagmani-Attacked-Gilbert, b. 1884
Daughter - 1100- Laura, b. 1892
200
Jane Big Head b. 1854
Spouse - Cetanmato-Harry Hawk Bear, b. 1849
Children:
Daughter - Lousia Hawk Bear, b. 1899
Daughter - Josephine Hawk Bear, b. 1908
300
Natanhinapa-Comes Out Attacking-James Big Head, b. 1854
Spouse - Mahpiya-Claudia Cloud, b. 1858
Children:
Daughter - Istasapa-Blackeyes, b. 1870
Son - Shot At, b. 1875
Son - Hegata-Forked Horns, b. 1876
Son - Pehinna-Hair, b. 1880
Son - Tatanka, b. 1886
Daughter - Charlotte Big Head, b. 1893
400
Wakuwamani- Chase, b. 1858. Nothing specific found in documentation but apparently Chase Big Head took the name Nasulatanka-Chief Chase Big Head when his father died. Newspaper account indicates Mrs. Big Head ordered the burial monument for Chief Chase Big Head.
Spouse - Tanyamani, b. 1858
800
George Big Head - Glonica, b. October 1876
Spouse - Imelda - Wastewicakiwin, b. November 1879
Children:
Daughter - 810- Alice, b. 1899
810
Alice Big Head - b. 16 June 1899, d. 23 August 1957 in Sioux County
1st Spouse - Robert Bear Ghost
2nd Spouse - Frank Edward Two Horses, b. 16 August 1893.
Children:
Son - Harding, b. 28 October 1921
Daughter - Delores Melda, b. 8 October 1923
Son - Grady, b. 3 October 1927
Son - Raymond, b. 4 March 1930
Daughter - Grace, b. 23 June 1932
Son - Carl, b. 8 February 1939
Daughter - LaVerne, b. 12 November 1941. Married Eugene C. Junker
1100
Laura C. Big Head, b. 21 April 1891
1st Spouse - Charles Dogskin, b.1888
2nd Spouse - Charles Ramsey
Children:
Son - Edward Dogskin
Son - Benedict Dogskin, b. 27 August 1918
Son - James Dogskin, b. 9 October 1920
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