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Quick Bear

Wazhazha Brule

 

 

My great grandfather Quick Bear (Mato Ohanko), who was of the Wozhazha band (Brule), was often listed in error as Mato Luza (which means "Swift Bear" & "Fast Bear"). In fact there was a Swift Bear (Corn Band) who also was a Brule. Swift Bear, himself, was for a long time (treaties) listed in error as Mato Ohanko while Quick Bear was listed as Mato Luza (Swift/Fast) But both Quick Bear and Swift Bear were eventually assigned the correct Indian names matching their English names in 1877-1883 for the Rosebud leader pictures. All the pictures after 1883 were corrected. (Both Quick Bear and Swift Bear were in photos together as Delegates to Washington DC.)

However, there's a 1868 picture of both Fast Bear & Spotted Tail (SIRIS). Fast Bear's picture exactly resembles the pictures of Quick Bear as show re 1888/91 Washington Delegates. Also, I inherited a picture of Quick Bear, never copyrighted (photographer unknown), which resembles the 1868 Fast Bear/Spotted Tail pictures (2). Importantly my recent analysis of Quick Bear's 1916 probate (1827-1916) papers indicates a witness on behalf of Quick Bear stated he knew "Fast Bear" for the past 10 years (1906-16). Person has name is was local to the community. (It appears some people were calling Quick Bear "Fast Bear"--probably due to the incorrect Indian name assignment (Mato Luza).

Quick Bear (Mato Ohanko) was a sub-chief of the Wozhazha Band headed originally by Scattering Bear (1851 Treaty). Scattering Bear was killed about 1852. His brother Red Leaf then became leader--Quick Bear (who, in error, was assigned the name Mato Luza (meaning Swift Bear) is listed on the 1868 treaty along with Red Leaf of the Wozhazha band. Swift Bear was listed erroneously as Mato Hanko (meaning Quick Bear). Along the way Quick Bear became head man during (or after) the Custer battle. He settled in Rosebud where there are pictures of him as representative of the Black Pipe district (part of Rosebud) after the establishment of reservations. (See Rosebud website--photos.)

According to our family history, and as repeated in Archie Fire Lame Deer book Gift of Power (grandson of Henry Quick Bear, brother of chief Quick Bear), Quick Bear was active in all the battles including the Bozeman Trail skirmishes, Fetterman's fiasco and, of course, Custer's battle. Considering Quick Bear was born in 1827 he would have been of age to participate in all the Sioux battles during that era as stated by his son, Henry Quick Bear.

There was also another Swift Bear. He was documented as of the Hunkpapa people one place and in another place as an Arapaho (in the SIRIS picture.) This Swift Bear died in the Custer Battle and generally not part of the above mix up.
— Shaw-lee Haynes

Spotted Tail & Quick/Fast Bear at Fort Laramie in 1868
Spotted Tail & Quick/Fast Bear at Fort Laramie in 1868

Quick Bear and Corn band leader Swift Bear among other Brule at Laramie 1868
Quick Bear and Corn band leader Swift Bear among other Brule at Laramie 1868:
standing l.t.r.: Quick Bear, Spotted Tail, White Eyes, Swift Bear, Whirlwind Soldier, Long Mandan

Spotted Tail chose Quick Bear to accompany him to Washington in 1870:

Quick Bear, Spotted Tail, Swift Bear, Yellow Hair
Sitting left to right: Quick Bear, Spotted Tail, Swift Bear, Yellow Hair (all Brule)

There is also a John Anderson portrait of Quick Bear around 1899.

There were only a few Brule at the LBH in 1876. Most of them were Wazhazhas; we must have discussed this in an older thread. So it's not unlikely that Quick Bear was there.

Here is Quick Bear as a part of the Sioux delegation to Washington in 1888:

Quick Bear is sitting third from left in the front row.
Quick Bear is sitting third from left in the front row.

— Dietmar Schulte-Möhring

 

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