Kéhachiwinga, “Wolf’s Mountain Home Maker,” was
a Winnebago woman who was the subject of a remarkable autobiographical
account written down by Nancy Lurie in 1958, and subsequently published
in book form as Mountain Wolf Woman—a notable contribution
to the literature of culture change and personality. She was
selected by Dr. Lurie, in part because her brother Hágaga had
been interviewed by Paul Radin, and that account was published in an
equally well-received book, Crashing Thunder. The comparison
and contrast between the two provided a valuable insight into the life
of one Indian family.
Kéhachiwinga
had a life which was typical in many ways of Indian women at the turn of the
century. She was born into the Thunder clan in April 1884 at East Fork
River, Wisconsin, the daughter of Charles Blowsnake and Lucy Goodvillage, both
full-blooded Winnebago. She was forced by her strong-willed brothers
to marry a man for whom she did not care, and later, when she had left him,
was forced in to yet another marriage. She had a total of 11 children,
three of whom died. At the time of her interview, she had 39 grandchildren
and 11 great-grandchildren; she was proud of her family and content with her
life.
She was
a conventional Christian for a time in her youth, but subsequently joined the
Peyote religion, staying with this group for the rest of her life. Wherever
she traveled—the Dakotas, Nebraska, Wisconsin—there were meetings
of the members of this society, which found its adherents among many strata
of Indian culture. Peyote is a hallucinogenic cactus plant (Lophophora
williamsii), which brought intense religious and mystical experiences
to those who consumed the small “button.” It has since become
better known as the sacrament used by members of the Native American Church.
Mountain
Wolf Woman’s account provided many White Americans with their first understanding
and insight into this religious practice, as well as the life of a contemporary
Indian woman. It was “the record of a great old lady recalling
a memorable life,” commented the Chicago Sun Times. And
it was indeed just that; Mountain Wolf Woman lived to enjoy her fame, succumbing
to pneumonia at the age of 76, in Black River Falls, Wisconsin on November
9, 1960.
Source: Great North American Indians by Frederick J.
Duckstander
NATIVE
AMERICAN RHYMES 
