An Indian Christmas!

An Indian Christmas

(A legend of the camp by the spring)

On Christmas night the encampment was a noisy place. The fires were burning brightly in every tepee and shouts of laughter told of the good time that was being had by everyone as a part of the celebration that the old priest had taught them to have.

Outside the wind was blowing cold, with skiffs of snow. A strange boy wandered into the camp. He stopped at the tent of the Chief and asked that he be admitted and given food and allowed to get warm. The Chief drove him away. He went to the tent of Wolf Bow and tried to be admitted but Wolf Bow grunted and his boys drove him away with whips. He then went to many of the tents including those of Poor Elk and Black Feather but none would receive him, one even set a dog upon him. His feet were bare and tears were frozen on his cheeks.

He was about to leave the camp when he noticed a small tepee made of bearskin off by itself. He walked slowly to it and quietly peeped in. Inside he saw a deformed Indian who was known everywhere by the name of Broken Back. His wife sat near him preparing a scanty meal for them and their children. The children were playing on the ground but were watching their mother closely, for they were hungry. The fire was low and the boy started to turn away but broke a twig that lay on the ground.

Broken Back ran out and stopped him as he was about to turn away.

"What do you want?" he said. The boy commenced to cry.

"I am so cold and hungry," he said, I have been to all the tents and they will not let me in."

Then Broken Back took him by the hand and led him into the tent, they divided the food with him and built up the fire until he became warm and happy. They urged him to stay all night until the storm was over.

So he sat on the ground near the fire and talked and played with the children until it was time to go to sleep.  Then he stood up and they all noticed that he was tall and as they looked they saw that he was a man instead of a boy. His clothes were good and over his shoulder hung a beautiful blanket and over his head was a strange feathered bonnet.  As they looked, he reached out his hand and said:  "Broken Back you have been good to a poor, cold and hungry boy. You and all of yours shall have plenty." Broken Back stood up and he was deformed no more but was large and strong and well and his wife stood by his side. Both were dressed in the best of Indian clothes. The children jumped about with joy as they noticed that they were at once supplied with many things that they had always wanted. "Broken Back" he said you shall be chief of your tribe and all of your people shall love and respect and honor you. Your name shall be Broken Back no longer but shall be Standing Tall."

As they talked, all of the tribe came marching about his tent shouting in gladness, "Great is Standing Tall our Chief forever." As they shouted the man disappeared and they saw him no more.  The next day the good priest came to the camp, they told him what had happened and he said, "It was Jesus."

In Loving Memory~

In Loving Memory of our Family that was murdered on this day Oct. 3^rd 1873

Captain Jack (our Chief), Schonchin John, Boston Charley and Black Jim 

Although it’s been 144 years ago, we will never forget!

On 1 July 1873, a military commission consisting of five Army officers heard evidence against Captain Jack and five other Modocs. All were found guilty of murder. Four were sentenced to be hanged by the neck until dead. Once President Ulysses S. Grant approved their sentences, the accused were hanged at Fort Klamath, Oregon, on 3 October 1873.

Some 2,000 people, among them soldiers, newspaper reporters and school children, attended the hangings on Oct. 3, 1873, at Fort Klamath, Ore. The Army required all Modocs to bear witness.

Measured against today's court-martial procedure, the Modoc military commission was flawed. The accused did not have the assistance of defense counsel, and the trial lasted only four days. Perhaps most importantly, the five officers who decided the case were not impartial or unbiased; all knew Canby, and all admired him. However, this military commission was a unique event in our military legal history: the only time the Army ever prosecuted Native Americans for violating the law of armed conflict. Although the US Military killed unarmed Modocs and murdered some of our unarmed elders, women & children, murdered our people under a flag of truce.  They have never been held accountable for their actions.

I am but one man. I am the voice of my people. Whatever their hearts are, that I talk. I want no more war. I want to be. You deny me the rights of a white man. My skin is red; my heart is like any man's heart; but I am a Modoc. I am not afraid to die. I will not fall on the rocks. When I die, my enemies will be under me. Your soldiers began (fighting) me when I was asleep on Lost River. They drove us on these rocks like a wounded deer. I have always told the white man heretofore to come and settle in my country; that it was his country and Captain Jack's country. That they could come and live there with me and that I was not mad with them. I never received anything from anybody, only what I bought and paid for myself. I have always lived a humble life like all men, and wanted to do so. I have always tried to live peaceably and never asked any man for anything. I have always lived on what I could kill and shoot with my gun, and catch in my trap.

Kintpuash (Captain Jack) Last Free Chief of the Modoc’s

The bag of winds
Long ago the Wind did much damage, blowing violently over the country of the Indian. Moreover, it often killed many people and destroyed much property. At that time there was a man who lived near Tulelake, and who had three sons.
The youngest was very ambitious, and fond of trying to do wonderful things. One day he said to his father and brothers, "I will snare the Wind"; but they laughed at him, saying, "How can you do that? The Wind is unseen." However, he went out and set a snare.
He did not succeed for several nights, as his noose was too large. He made it smaller every night and on visiting his snare one morning, found he had caught the Wind. After great difficulty, he succeeded at last in getting it into his blanket and made for home with it where he put it down. He told his people that he had at last captured the Wind.
They laughed at him. Then to verify his statements, he opened one corner of the blanket and immediately it began to blow fiercely and the lodge itself was almost blown over.
The people cried to him to stay the force of the Wind, which he did by again tying up the corner of the blanket.  At last he released the Wind on the condition that he would never blow strongly enough to hurt people in the Indian country again, which promise he has kept.

The Modoc Nation Gathering 2017

THE MODOC NATION GATHERING 2017

JUNE 23^rd, 24^TH & 25^TH   

EAGLES NEST RV PARK, 634 COUNTY ROAD 97A, TIONESTA, CA.

If you do travel through or visit the Lava Beds National Monument be sure to show your Modoc Nation I.D. card and you will not be charged admission through.    Eagles Nest advises you not to drive on Forest Service Roads to get to them even if that is what your GPS unit recommends. About the 28 mile marker on Cal Hwy 139 take Tionesta Road - County Road 97 west 2.5 miles to County Road 97A. Make a left turn and proceed to the end of the road. Both of these streets are paved until you enter the park. Eagles Nest tent camping is $5.00 a day per person. RV Parking full hookup is $20 a day for 3 people (electricity extra) Contact Eagle Nest for exact information be sure to tell them you are with The Modoc Nation. Their e-mail is eagesnest@cot.net Phone: 530-664-2081  Contact people are Craig and Barb,  please make your own arrangements for your stay with them.  They have fire pits and wood to buy for the campers, Electric and sewer for the motor homes, with pull through driveways and a patch of grass. Ice will be available to purchase too! You can also bring your own firewood.  Campgrounds reserved Fri-Sunday!  

Schedule of Events:   Saturday Potluck/ Gathering 12:00 PM Followed by a General Council

Informal meeting, question and answer.  Bring a dish for the Potluck so we can all enjoy the time together.  Bottled water and Soft Drinks will be provided. Bring anything else you would like to have for yourself.   Please remember no Alcohol or Drugs!   Also this is a Peaceful Gathering!   Any trouble makers will be asked to leave and escorted off the premises from our Sargent of Arms! Crafts for the Kids! 

Please remember this is desert area close to the Lava Beds National Monument.  Bring Food and shelter for you and your family.  Think Camping!     

Please bring chairs for you and extra if you can. If you have a few tables, shade tents please contact it would be greatly appreciated. There are no shade trees in the area so shade is at a premium.   Please contact Chief Greywolf   e-mail:  Modoc-Nation@hotmail.com