Iron Shell

Tukiha Maza (Iron Shell) was born c. 1820. Iron Shell was the son of Sicangu Chief Bull Tail. Sicangu meant 'burnt thighs', the name given to some of the Lakota people who had been caught in a prairie fire that burned their legs. It was the French who later gave the name Brule

During a raid on the Pawnee by the Brule in 1843, Iron Shell received recognition for his actions. Thirteen years later, at Fort Pierre, under Little Thunder, Iron Shell was made a sub-chief of the Brules. Iron Shell became chief of the Brule's Orphan Band during the Powder River War of 1866-1868. When General Harney and his troops made a surprise attack in 1855 against the Brules at present day Lewellen, Nebraska, Chief Iron Shell was there and fought against the Harney's troops. Two of Iron Shell's wives were captured that day, though Iron Shell escaped. That confrontation constituted the largest loss of life through death or capture and loss of property that the Sicangu had ever experienced.

Chief Iron Shell led many attacks against the Omaha and Pawnee. On September 4, 1867, Chief Iron Shell and 180 of his followers arrived at North Platte. He eventually signed the Treaty of 1868 and settled in the Upper Cut Meat District on the Rosebud Reservation. He died in the 1870's and was buried near St. Francis,

Back to Lakota People

References

http://www.dlncoalition.org

http://www.snowwowl.com/nativeleader/hollowhornbear.htm

Rosebud Sioux by Donovin  Arcadia Publishing. 2005.

Written by: Lillian Dolentz,  2008