Victor Griffin (c. 1873–1958) was the
elected chief of
Quapaw Tribe of Indians
The Quapaw ( ; or Arkansas and Ugahxpa) people are a tribe of Native Americans that coalesced in what is known as the Midwest and Ohio Valley of the present-day United States. The Dhegiha Siouan-speaking tribe historically migrated from the Ohi ...
and a
peyote roadman
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 re ...
from
Quapaw, Oklahoma
Quapaw is a town in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, Ottawa County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 906 at the United States Census, 2010, 2010 census, a 7.9 percent decline from the figure of 984 recorded in United States Census, 2000, 2000. ...
. Griffin was commonly called either Victor or Vic, and rarely used his first name, William. He conferred with every U.S. president during his term as chief.
["Death Claims Chief Griffin."](_blank)
''Miami Daily News Record''. April 10, 1958.
Griffin also served as an interpreter and also was an important figure among the practitioners of the Big Moon variant of 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 re ...
, and played a significant role in the spreading and continuing this religion among multiple tribes.
Griffin was also a 32 degree Scottish Right Mason
Mason may refer to:
Occupations
* Mason, brick mason, or bricklayer, a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork, or who lays any combination of stones, bricks, cinder blocks, or similar pieces
* Stone mason, a craftsman in the stone-cut ...
and a member of the Akdar Shrine.
Early life
Victor Griffin was born around 1873 in Indian Territory
The Indian Territory and the Indian Territories are terms that generally described an evolving land area set aside by the Federal government of the United States, United States Government for the relocation of Native Americans in the United St ...
in what is now Osage County, Oklahoma
Osage County is the largest county by area in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Created in 1907 when Oklahoma was admitted as a state, the county is named for and is home to the federally recognized Osage Nation. The county is coextensive with the Os ...
. Griffin was orphaned at a young age, and was adopted and raised by Mary "Widow" Stafford.
Details about the early life of Griffin are scant and conflicting. Mary Stafford was born prior to the first Quapaw removal, and died at over 100 years of age and was buried on her home allotment. Due to his upbringing with Stafford, Griffin was fluent in the Quapaw language
Quapaw, or Arkansas, is a Siouan language of the Quapaw people, originally from a region in present-day Arkansas. It is now spoken in Oklahoma.
It is similar to the other Dhegihan languages: Kansa, Omaha, Osage and Ponca.
Written documentation ...
and well versed in tribal oral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews. These interviews are conducted with people wh ...
. Griffin was given the Quapaw name Geh-Hu-He Jinka.
Translation and linguistic work
Being well educated and well spoken in both English and Quapaw, Griffin frequently served as a translator during meetings or when an elderly Quapaw tribal member needed his services, for example when drafting a will.
He was interviewed by many individuals such as news reporters and researchers. In 1940, linguist Frank T. Siebert interviewed Griffin regarding the Quapaw language; Griffin provided several Quapaw words to Siebert and stated to him "that Quapaw was closely related to Ponca and Omaha, especially to the latter... (you) should study these languages instead".
Political career
After the death of the John Quapaw, the previous tribal chief, Griffin was elected chief on April 3, 1929, defeating Antione Greenback for the office. He served from 1929 to 1957.
During his tenure as chief, he frequently went to Washington D.C. for meetings in the interest of the Quapaw Tribe. It is noted that he met with every President of the United States that served during his time as chief. Griffin was also noted for being the first "Short-Haired Chief of the Quapaws," because he cut off his braids. He was quoted as saying "formerly our chiefs were chosen by inheritance but now we are elected".[
While serving as chief, Griffin was known for colorful displays and often was pictured in tribal regalia, which often included a full Plains eagle-feather headdress.] Griffin also featured prominently in the commemorative festivities when paving was completed for Route 66
U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The h ...
in Quapaw, Oklahoma
Quapaw is a town in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, Ottawa County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 906 at the United States Census, 2010, 2010 census, a 7.9 percent decline from the figure of 984 recorded in United States Census, 2000, 2000. ...
on March 24, 1933. The two halves of Route 66 met in the town of Quapaw, leading to the town being referred to in some instances as "where east meets west." Griffin laid a zinc tablet on Main Street to memorialize the event.
In 1956, the Quapaw Tribe, influenced by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), also known as Indian Affairs (IA), is a United States federal agency within the Department of the Interior. It is responsible for implementing federal laws and policies related to American Indians and A ...
,[ ended their system of governance by chief. They passed a series of governing resolutions that created new form of government by an elected tribal business committee headed by a chairperson.][ When this took place, Griffin no longer held his position as chief and the political authority of the Quapaw Tribe was vested in the new committee.][
]
Native American Church involvement
John Wilson (Caddo
The Caddo people comprise the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, a federally recognized tribe headquartered in Binger, Oklahoma. They speak the Caddo language.
The Caddo Confederacy was a network of Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands, wh ...
-Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...
), also known as Moonhead, introduced the Peyote religion
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 re ...
to the Quapaw people living near present-day Quapaw, Oklahoma, in 1880[ or the mid-1890s at the request of ]Tall Chief
Tall Chief (ca. 1840-1918) was a hereditary chief of the Quapaw Tribe and a peyote roadman. He served in this position after his father, Lame Chief, died in 1874, until his own death in 1918 at around 78 years old.
Tall Chief was the last indiv ...
. Because Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
missionaries had influenced Quapaw religion, their practice of peyotism incorporates aspects of Catholicism.[
When he visited Quapaw, Moonhead introduced Griffin to peyotism. Griffin was in his teenage years or early twenties.] Moonhead instructed Griffin in this religion and authorized him to conduct Native American Church ceremonies.[ Following John Wilson's death, Griffin became the Native American Church priest to the Quapaw.][
Griffin became an ardent believer in the Peyote religion and helped to spread its practice, especially among members of the ]Osage The Osage Nation, a Native American tribe in the United States, is the source of most other terms containing the word "osage".
Osage can also refer to:
* Osage language, a Dhaegin language traditionally spoken by the Osage Nation
* Osage (Unicode b ...
and Quapaw tribes, but also among other tribal groups such as the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma.
He also was instrumental in the incorporation of the Native American Church under Oklahoma law in 1911, the incorporation of the religion specified the use of peyote as a sacrament.
Death and legacy
Griffin died at his home residence near the Spring River outside of the town of Quapaw
The Quapaw ( ; or Arkansas and Ugahxpa) people are a tribe of Native Americans that coalesced in what is known as the Midwest and Ohio Valley of the present-day United States. The Dhegiha Siouan-speaking tribe historically migrated from the Ohi ...
, in Ottawa County, OK, in 1958 at the approximate age of 85.[
Griffin's image was featured on a brick sculpture between Twelfth and Military Avenue in ]Baxter Springs, Kansas
Baxter Springs is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States, and located along Spring River. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 3,888.
History
For thousands of years, indigenous peoples had lived along the waterwa ...
. The sculpture depicts local history and includes a depiction of Griffin.
Griffin was survived by two sons: Sidney Griffin of Lawton, Oklahoma and Hayes of Wichita, Kansas; two daughters:Mrs. Ardina Buergey and Mrs. Victoria Waters, both of Quapaw; twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was a member of the Native American church, and of the Baptist Church at Devil's Promenade.
Victor and Minnie Track Griffin's granddaughter, Ardina Moore
Ardina Moore (née Revard, December 1, 1930 – April 19, 2022) was a Quapaw/ Osage Native American from Miami, Oklahoma. A fluent Quapaw language speaker, she developed a language preservation program and taught the language to younger tribal m ...
teaches the Quapaw language today.[
]
See also
*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 re ...
* Quapaw Tribe
*Quapaw, Oklahoma
Quapaw is a town in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, Ottawa County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 906 at the United States Census, 2010, 2010 census, a 7.9 percent decline from the figure of 984 recorded in United States Census, 2000, 2000. ...
Footnotes
Notes
References
*
*
External links
1955 photo of Victor Griffin
collection of the Oklahoma History Center
Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma
{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffin, Victor
Chiefs of the Quapaw Nation
1870s births
1958 deaths
Native American Church
People from Ottawa County, Oklahoma
American Freemasons
Native American leaders
Religious figures of the indigenous peoples of North America
1873 births