Adoeette, aka Big Tree, Kiowa Warrior
Adoeette, a name resonating with the echoes of the American West, was a prominent figure among the Kiowa people. Known to the encroaching white settlers as "Big Tree," he stood as a testament to Kiowa strength, resilience, and the tragic conflicts that defined an era. This article delves into the life of Adoeette, exploring his role as a warrior, his involvement in key historical events, and his complex relationship with the changing landscape of the late 19th century.
Born around 1845, most likely within the traditional Kiowa territory that encompassed parts of present-day Oklahoma, Adoeette entered a world already facing immense pressure from westward expansion. The Kiowa, a nomadic Plains tribe renowned for their horsemanship and martial prowess, had long roamed the vast grasslands, their lives intertwined with the buffalo and the freedom of the open range. However, the relentless advance of settlers, the dwindling buffalo herds, and the imposition of reservation policies threatened their very existence.
Adoeette rose to prominence as a loyal follower of influential Kiowa war chiefs such as Satank (Sitting Bear), Satanta (White Bear), and Guipago (Lone Wolf). These leaders represented a faction within the Kiowa nation deeply resistant to the confinement of reservation life. They viewed the Medicine Lodge Treaty of 1867, which established the reservation system, as a betrayal of promises and an unacceptable curtailment of their traditional way of life. Driven by a desire to protect their people and preserve their heritage, these chiefs, with warriors like Adoeette, aka Big Tree, Kiowa Warrior at their side, orchestrated raids against both rival tribes and white settlements.
The year 1868 marked a turning point for the Kiowa and other Plains tribes. General George Armstrong Custer’s aggressive campaign on the Washita River, culminating in the controversial Battle of Washita River, forced many tribes, including the Kiowa, to relocate to the reservation at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. This move, while intended to pacify the region, only intensified the resentment felt by many Kiowa warriors. They chafed under the restrictions of reservation life, the inadequate supplies, and the perceived injustices of the government.
By 1871, simmering discontent had boiled over. Adoeette, aka Big Tree, Kiowa Warrior, alongside Satanta and other Kiowa warriors, embarked on a series of attacks on wagon trains traversing through Texas. These raids were acts of defiance, a desperate attempt to reclaim their freedom and strike back against those they perceived as invaders.
The most infamous of these attacks was the Warren Wagon Train Raid, which occurred in May 1871. Led by Satanta, a large party of warriors, including Adoeette, aka Big Tree, Kiowa Warrior, ambushed a wagon train near Salt Creek, Texas. The attack resulted in the deaths of seven teamsters and the capture of 41 mules. The raid sent shockwaves throughout Texas and further inflamed anti-Native American sentiment.
In the aftermath of the Warren Wagon Train Raid, the U.S. military demanded that the responsible chiefs be brought to justice. Satanta, Satank, and Adoeette were arrested at Fort Sill and transported to Texas to stand trial for murder. The trial was a highly publicized event, a symbolic clash between two cultures.
As the Kiowa chiefs were being transported to trial, Satank, defiant to the end, refused to be taken prisoner. He attacked one of his guards and was subsequently killed. Satanta and Adoeette, aka Big Tree, Kiowa Warrior, were tried and found guilty of murder, initially sentenced to death by hanging. However, Texas Governor Edmund Davis, recognizing the potential for further conflict and bloodshed, commuted their sentences to life imprisonment.
The imprisonment of Satanta and Adoeette caused considerable unrest among the Kiowa people. Lone Wolf, another influential Kiowa chief, began negotiations for their release. In October 1873, after intense lobbying and promises of good behavior from their people, Satanta and Adoeette were released from prison, conditional upon the peaceful conduct of their tribe.
However, the peace was short-lived. By 1874, Satanta, disillusioned and unable to reconcile with the loss of his people’s freedom, was once again on the warpath. He participated in the Second Battle of Adobe Walls, an attack on a trading post and buffalo hunter encampment in the Texas Panhandle. This battle marked the beginning of the Red River War, a series of conflicts between the U.S. Army and various Plains tribes. Satanta was later captured and imprisoned once more. He tragically took his own life in prison, a stark symbol of the despair and broken promises that plagued the Native American experience during this period.
Following Satanta’s final capture, the U.S. military took further measures to suppress any remaining resistance. Adoeette, aka Big Tree, Kiowa Warrior, along with other chiefs suspected of harboring hostile sentiments, were confined as prisoners at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After his release from this imprisonment, Adoeette, aka Big Tree, Kiowa Warrior continued to live on an allotment within the confines of the reservation. He adapted to the changing circumstances, embracing a more settled life, but undoubtedly carrying the weight of his past experiences and the losses suffered by his people. Adoeette passed away in 1929, marking the end of an era for the Kiowa people.
It is important to note that Adoeette’s legacy extends beyond his role as a warrior. He also holds a unique place in American numismatic history. His likeness, along with those of other Native American figures, served as one of the models for the iconic Indian Head Nickel, a coin that circulated widely throughout the United States in the early 20th century. This representation, while seemingly a gesture of recognition, also reflects the complex and often contradictory attitudes of American society towards Native Americans during that time.
The life of Adoeette, also known as Big Tree, embodies the struggles and transformations experienced by the Kiowa people during a period of immense upheaval. He was a warrior, a leader, a prisoner, and ultimately, a survivor. His story serves as a reminder of the rich and complex history of the American West, a history that must be understood and acknowledged in order to foster a more just and equitable future. His story is a microcosm of the larger narrative of the Native American experience in the face of relentless westward expansion and forced assimilation. Adoeette’s life is a testament to the enduring spirit of the Kiowa people, their unwavering commitment to their heritage, and their ongoing struggle for self-determination.
The tale of Adoeette, aka Big Tree, Kiowa Warrior is not just a historical account; it is a poignant reflection on the human cost of conflict, the resilience of the human spirit, and the enduring legacy of a people who fought to protect their way of life in the face of overwhelming odds.