THEKIOWA WARRIOR TRADITION


M


ore than 300 Kiowas served during World War II out of a total tribal population of less than 3,000, so


every Kiowa family was affected. While this volume of servicemen and women was unique for


his generation, Poolaw’s recent ances-


tors would have recalled a youth powerfully defined by military life, albeit not with the U.S. armed forces. Before reservations, Kiowa men belonged to several different military societies such as the Gourd Clan, the Black Legs (or Leggings) Society, and the Ohomah Lodge (war dance society), based on a family’s rank and the warrior’s status earned in battle. As J.J. Methvin, Methodist minister to the Kiowa during the late 1800s, described of pre- reservation soldiery. “Every boy, as soon as old enough, becomes a soldier, and of course, every girl must needs become a soldier’s wife.” Poolaw’s father, Kiowa George (1864–


1939), was born just before his people were


forced onto the reservation to a Old Man Big Bow (Kiowa). Mountain View, Okla., n.d. 57PC5


‘‘A HANDFUL OF YEARSBEFORE HISBIRTH, LEADERSSUCH AS BIG BOW, LONE BEAR, WHITE BEAR ANDHUNTING HORSE WEREBORNAND LIVEDTHE OFTENVIOLENTKIOWA WAY OF LIFE, AS HONOR WAS GAINEDTHROUGH VALOR IN BATTLE, DEFENDING TERRITORY AND RAIDING NEIGHBORING TRIBES.’’


12 AMERICAN INDIAN WINTER 2014


sedentary life, a son of esteemed warrior Black War Bonnet Top. A handful of years before his birth, leaders such as Big Bow, Lone Bear, White Bear and Hunting Horse were born and lived the often violent Kiowa way of life, as honor was gained through valor in battle, defending territory and raiding neighboring tribes. Kiowa George’s two wives, in fact, were the daughters of a Mexican captive acquired in a raid; they were raised as Kiowas. Honors gained in battle were made public through ceremonies with- in their military societies. The classic war bonnet headdress, for example, is populated with eagle feathers earned through bravery and successes in battle. The


reservation period (1875–1901)


ended millennia-old Kiowa ways of life. The U.S. government, in an effort to eradicate American Indian culture, outlawed dances, ceremonies and any activity associated with traditional religions. Similarly, many 19th


cen-


tury Kiowa traditions associated with warfare were suppressed, including most of the mili- tary societies and their associated dances. Yet many military societies went underground during those years, to resurface again during the next opportunity for Kiowa men once again to go to battle: World War I. The Great War afforded the first opportunity since the reservation period began to earn honors in


© 2014 ESTATE OF HORACE POOLAW. REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION.


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