Hųwąnįka (Hoo-wau-nee-kaw)​

Little Elk

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As an orator who received the approbation of Henry Clay (one of the "great triumvirate" of American orators), many of Little Elk's own words survive.  The links (right) provide access to some of these sources.  However, for an overview of Little Elk's personal life, it is difficult to replace the words of someone who personally knew him.   Below are excerpts from "The Life of the Honbl. Hoo-wan-nee-kaw," written by Indian sub-agent John H. Kinzie.  Kinzie's daughter wrote that he kept the short manuscript tucked behind a copy of George Catlin's portrait of Little Elk (shown at right):

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“Hoo-wan-nee-kaw or Little Elk, is of the Winnebago nation of Indians – was born at the Winnebago Rapids at the entrance of Lake Winnebago – is 5ft. 10 in. high, very stout – dark complexion – hazel eyes – head nearly bald and very intelligent countenance.  He is now (1831) 57 winters old.  His father was a descendant of the Sac tribe, and called by them Oh-kee-maun-say-maw, and by his own tribe, the Winnebago, Kay’-rah-tsho’-mau-nee, or clear walking sky.  Hoo-wan-ne-kaw’s mother was of the Pau-nee extraction, her father, who was a Pau-nee, having been taken prisoner, and married a Winnebago woman.  Hoo-wan-nee-kaw had seven brothers and two sisters.

 

"He was raised at the place of his birth, and at 16 winters, became his own master and commenced hunting for a family, for one of whose daughters he had contracted some attachment for.  After proving himself a considerable hunter, he obtained the object of his heart, a daughter of one Moy-zhee-kaw or Red Clay – Her name was Tshah-hah-skaw-ween-kaw, or White Shoulders.  The match was not of long duration... Hoo-waun-nee-kaw...wedded again [to] Miss Nau-nau-gah-gah, daughter of old Dog Head, and Ho-tohunt-tay-ween-kaw, or (mild distant thunder) daughter of old Gull Faugh-hah-wan-kee-kaw, with these he lived many winters.

 

"In the summer of 1828, he was at Prairie du Chien, a place frequently visited by them.  He was there invited by Mr. Kinzie (who was sent by Gov. Cass for that purpose) to accompany him with others of his tribe to Washington to see their Great Father, the President... [H]e returned during the following winter, after having been absent for upward of 6 months.

 

"Hoo-wau-nee-kaw now lives on the Barribault River a tributary of the Ouisconsin, and about 11 miles S. W. of Fort Winnebago.  Has been at the battles of Tippecanoe, Mau-mee, Macinac, and Prairie du Chien.”