CHIEF KICKING BIRD
Years ago, many tribes of the Great
Plains met together to sign a peace
treaty at a place called Medicine Lodge
in Oklahoma.
(A “treaty” is an agreement between
groups of people. They agree to end
their fighting and make peace between
them.)
One leader there was Chief Kicking Bird
of the Kiowa tribe. For many years,
Kicking Bird had been working for peace
with the settlers and government.
Years before, Kicking Bird himself had
fought in many battles against early
settles in Oklahoma. But Kicking Bird changed his mind.
He hoped that signing this peace treaty would help his people. Kicking Bird
also wanted schools for his tribe’s children. He lived to see his dream of
Kiowa schools open on Kiowa lands.
1. How did Kicking Bird change his mind?
2. What did Kicking Bird want for his people and its children?
3. Why was signing a peace treaty important to Kicking Bird?
Courtesy Oklahoma Council for Social Studies