Ahpeahtone, also known as Que-Tah-Tsay or Apiatan (1856 – August 8, 1931) was a chief of the

Kiowa tribe Kiowa () people are a Native American tribe and an indigenous people of the Great Plains of the United States. They migrated southward from western Montana into the Rocky Mountains in Colorado in the 17th and 18th centuries,Pritzker 326 and ev ...

in Oklahoma, who is regarded as the last traditional chief of the tribe.

Background

Ahpeahtone was born in 1856 near Medicine Lodge, Kansas.Methvin 335 His Kiowa name, also spelled Apeahtone or Ah-pe-a-ton, means "Wooden Lance"Shirk 5 or "Kills With a Lance". His lineage includes several noted Kiowa leaders and warriors. He was the son of the Kiowa leader Red Otter and related by blood to Little Otter and

Red Cloud Red Cloud ( lkt, Maȟpíya Lúta, italic=no) (born 1822 – December 10, 1909) was a leader of the Oglala Lakota from 1868 to 1909. He was one of the most capable Native American opponents whom the United States Army faced in the western ...

, the Oglala Lakota war chief. Lone Wolf ( Guipahgah), a prominent Kiowa chief was Ahpeahtone's paternal uncle.

Leadership

Ahpeatone was highly respected for his decisions and leadership qualities. In the spring of 1890, the Ghost Dance religion spread among the Plains Indians. This prophecy foretold the destruction of the European-Americans and a return of the old times and the buffalo. He was chosen by the Kiowa to visit

Pine Ridge Agency The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation ( lkt, Wazí Aháŋhaŋ Oyáŋke), also called Pine Ridge Agency, is an Oglala Lakota Indian reservation located entirely within the U.S. state of South Dakota. Originally included within the territory of the Gr ...

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state in the North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes, who comprise a large porti ...

. He was given a cordial welcome by his Lakota relatives. He also traveled to Fort Washakie, thinking he would find religion guidance among the northern Arapahoes. They sent him to the Paiutes in Nevada, where he found the prophet in the Mason Valley. When he returned home a great council was called to meet at Andarko and area tribes attended and Arapahoes were to present their side at the council. Ahpeahtone rose and spoke of his anxiety to know the truth. He related the story of his trip and feeling that the prophecy was a fraud. Ahpeahtone belonged to the

Native American Church The Native American Church (NAC), also known as Peyotism and Peyote Religion, is a Native American religion that teaches a combination of traditional Native American beliefs and Christianity, with sacramental use of the entheogen peyote. The ...

and used peyote as a sacrament. He belonged to the Gourd Dance Society and composed some of the songs. He composed other dance songs and participated in all the tribal dances. Around 1916, he became a

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's ...

. He joined the Rainy Mountain Church in 1925, and became an active member. In later years, Chief Ahpeahtone established the Kiowa Indian Hospital in Lawton, Oklahoma. During his years as chief, Ahpeahtone adopted a democratic system of tribal government and developed the idea of a committee to transact tribal business. He believed he earned enough to care for himself and his family and would not accept pay for his work on behalf of the tribe. The only gift he ever received from the Kiowa Tribe was a new Model-T Ford in 1927. It cost $550. Chief Ahpeahtone was a firm believer in education for Kiowas, and he would travel anywhere he could to learn the new modern way of life.

Family

He was married to Kaubin (1869-1938) and to Guohaddle Ahpeatone (1860-1935). His son, Norman "Lon Ahpeatone" Kaubin (1895-1980), served in the Field Artillery in World War I. Chief Ahpeatone and his family were land allottees. They farmed row crops and raised cattle and horses on their land southwest of

Carnegie, Oklahoma Carnegie is a town in Caddo County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,723 at the 2010 census, a 1.7 percent decline from the figure of 1,752 in 2000. History and culture Carnegie was named after the famous Scottish American philant ...

Death and legacy

Ahpeahtone died on 8 August 1931, and is buried at Rainy Mountain Cemetery south of Mountain View, OK. In 1996, he was inducted into the National Hall of Fame for Famous American Indians in Anadarko and a bust was commissioned in his likeness.''Lawton Constitution'' 8-3-96 The town of Ahpeatone, located in

Cotton County, Oklahoma Cotton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,193. Its county seat is Walters. When Oklahoma achieved statehood in 1907, the area which is now Cotton County fell within the boundar ...

was named for the chief.

Notes

References

* Methvin, Rev. J. J
"Ahpeahtone, Kiowa—A Bit of History."
''Chronicles of Oklahoma.'' Volume 9, No. 3, September, 1931. * Shirk, George H
''Oklahoma Place Names.''
2nd edition. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1987. .

External links

Ahpeatone (Apiatan, ca. 1859-1931) in straw hat sitting next to Quanah Parker (ca. 1845-1911) in council
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahpeahtone Kiowa people People of Lakota descent Native American leaders 1856 births 1931 deaths Native American Church People from Medicine Lodge, Kansas Converts to Methodism 19th-century Native Americans 20th-century Native Americans