Black Hawk: Famous Native American Indian Chief ***

Fast Facts about Black Hawk
The following fact sheet contains interesting facts, background history and information about the life of Black Hawk and the events in history that led to his fame as a great Native American Indian leader.

Fast Facts about Black Hawk

Tribe: Sauk and Fox
Lifespan of Black Hawk: 1767 - 1838
Alternate names: Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak
Place of Birth: Saukenuk, Illinois
Clan: Thunder Clan of the Sauk
Date of Birth: 1767
Date of Death: October 3, 1838
Place of Death: On the north bank of the Des Moines River in Davis County, Iowa. He was buried in Iowaville Cemetery
Name of Father: Py-e-sa
Name of Wife: Singing Bird
Famous Battles: The 1832 Black Hawk War

Black Hawk - the Early Years
Black Hawk may have been born into one of the regular families within the Thunder Clan of the Sauk. The two small nations of the Sauk tribe and the Fox tribe had lived as one family for a long time and shared the Algonquian language. Their lands stretched from the northern Great Lakes to the Mississippi River, and down to Illinois and Iowa. Their number was not more than six thousand. Black Hawk was born at Saukenuk which was the principal Sauk city located just along the Rock River. His father’s name was Py-e-sa, a respected medicine man.

Black Hawk the Warrior
Black Hawk was a member of the warrior class which were highly regarded in their tribe. He was able to kill his first opponent at the age of 15. This allowed him to wear war paint and feathers with permission of his tribesmen. Time and again he was able to prove his bravery and his prowess in battle through constant clashes they had with neighboring tribes which threatened the Sauk and Fox tribes.

Black Hawk - The War of 1812
In 1812, he sided with the British in the War of 1812 with the hopes of driving the invading Americans away from their land. The group of Native Indians that he was leading was highly recognized among the ranks of the British Army and highly trusted. This may have been the result of several battles that the group won. In fact, the win over at Campbell’s Island and the Credit Island was associated with the group led by Black Hawk.

Black Hawk
There was however a point in time where he retreated back home as he grieved in the number of Native Americans who died during the War of 1812. However, when he knew that his rival became a member of the war council, he went back to the British war front and helped them win eventually. Reports have been made that Black Hawk rode with the British Band through the Great Sauk Trail receiving gifts from British settlements every year.