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Touch the Clouds

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Touch the Clouds (Lakota: Mahpia Icahtagya) was a chief of the Minneconjou Teton Lakota.

Childhood and family

Born in 1836 in present day South Dakota, Touch the Clouds was son of chief Lone Horn and Stands on the Ground, brother to chief Big Foot, and a cousin of Crazy Horse. His father and uncles taught him how to fight at a young age, so upon reaching adulthood, he took up weapons against the American intruders, although with limited success.

Sioux Wars

Touch the Clouds felt it as his destiny to help his family members at all costs, and allied with Crazy Horse in the Sioux Wars. He fought beside Crazy Horse, and showed himself to be a skilled warrior and military commander. Even after the Sioux Wars, he remained at Crazy Horse's side, and was with him at his deathbed in 1877. After this, he left the army and eventually gave up his chieftain-rank.

Last years and death

Touch the Clouds spent the remainder of his life (1884-1905) at the Cheyenne River Agency, translating Lakota legends and folk stories. He taught young natives to read, and told stories about his life to all those willing to listen. Many of his stories are still in the Cheyenne River Agency archives.

Chief Touch the Clouds died from a stroke at the age of 69. His life spanned the period of the greatest triumphs of the Teton Sioux nations and the following period of sadness and divisiveness. Nonetheless, he left a history of kinship and faithfulness to his ideals and his friends which lingers in tribal memories today.

See also

References



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Last updated on Saturday February 09, 2008 at 10:34:58 PST (GMT -0800)
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