Jackson Sundown
Encyclopedia
Jackson Sundown born Waaya-Tonah-Toesits-Kahn (meaning Blanket of the Sun), was a Native American
rodeo
rider who has become a folk-hero for his mythic performance in the 1916 Pendleton Round-Up
, largely popularized by Ken Kesey
's novel The Last Go 'Round. He was born in 1863 in the Wallowa Band of the Nez Perce tribe. The Nez Perce were renowned for their mastery of horses and Sundown learned how to breed and raise horses at an early age. By the age of 14 he was active in the Nez Perce War
, led by Chief Joseph
. Unlike Joseph and many of his tribesmen, Sundown escaped the US Cavalry during the Nez Perce Retreat of 1877 and fled to Canada
with a small group of wounded warriors. Legend holds that Sundown stayed for two years with a group of Sioux
, including the iconic Sitting Bull
. He was considered to be a war criminal and lived in hiding with Sitting Bull
and those that defeated General George Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn.
In 1879, Sundown returned to the US and lived with family on the Flathead Reservation, then moved to Washington briefly before settling back in Montana with Cecilia Wapshela, a ranch owner. All the while, Sundown made his living by breeding, raising, 'breaking' and selling horses. To make additional money, Sundown entered into rodeos and dominated his opponents, many of whom would withdraw after learning that he would participate. Jackson Sundown won many all-around cashpots, which takes the highest average scores from all events, though he was best known for bareback and saddle bronc horse riding. His appearance differed greatly from other rodeo riders as he wore bright colored shirts, large and elegant woolen chaps
and tied his long braids under his chin. Sundown entered into rodeos across the west and in Canada until his early 50s.
In 1915 at age 52, he took third place in the all-around at the Pendleton Roundup and decided to retire from rodeo, which had wrecked his body. The following year, an artist who was doing a sculpture of Sundown convinced him to enter the Roundup one last time, an offer that Sundown only accepted after the artist agreed to pay the entry fee . Sundown was twice the age of the other semi-finalists but advanced after high scores in the saddle bronc and bareback horseriding competitions. His final ride is an event of great mythology to this day among American Indians and rodeo aficionados. It is told that Sundown drew a very fierce horse named Angel and that the horse bucked so furiously that Sundown removed his cowboy hat and fanned the horse to get it to cool off, at which time he and the horse merged into one being. Sundown won the all-around event and became immortalized as a hero of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
, which includes the Nez Perce. Sundown died of pneumonia 7 years later at the age of 59 and was buried at Slickpoo Mission Cemetery near Jacques Spur, Idaho. At the time of his death, the US Government did not consider Native Americans to be American Citizens.
A large gathering of Native Americans continues at the Pendleton Roundup in Pendleton, Oregon
where a pow-wow
is held during the Round-up in late September. Stories of Waaya-Tonah-Toesits-Kaun continue to fill the air at this event among the drumming, fry bread, gambling and rodeoing.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
rider who has become a folk-hero for his mythic performance in the 1916 Pendleton Round-Up
Pendleton Round-Up
The Pendleton Round-Up is a rodeo held in Pendleton, Oregon, United States, during the second full week of September each year, since 1910. The rodeo brings roughly 50,000 people every year to the city of Pendleton...
, largely popularized by Ken Kesey
Ken Kesey
Kenneth Elton "Ken" Kesey was an American author, best known for his novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest , and as a counter-cultural figure who considered himself a link between the Beat Generation of the 1950s and the hippies of the 1960s. "I was too young to be a beatnik, and too old to be a...
's novel The Last Go 'Round. He was born in 1863 in the Wallowa Band of the Nez Perce tribe. The Nez Perce were renowned for their mastery of horses and Sundown learned how to breed and raise horses at an early age. By the age of 14 he was active in the Nez Perce War
Nez Perce War
The Nez Perce War was an armed conflict between the Nez Perce and the United States government fought in 1877 as part of the American Indian Wars. After a series of battles in which both the U.S. Army and native people sustained significant casualties, the Nez Perce surrendered and were relocated...
, led by Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph
Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, popularly known as Chief Joseph, or Young Joseph was the leader of the Wal-lam-wat-kain band of Nez Perce during General Oliver O. Howard's attempt to forcibly remove his band and the other "non-treaty" Nez Perce to a reservation in Idaho...
. Unlike Joseph and many of his tribesmen, Sundown escaped the US Cavalry during the Nez Perce Retreat of 1877 and fled to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with a small group of wounded warriors. Legend holds that Sundown stayed for two years with a group of Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
, including the iconic Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull Sitting Bull Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (in Standard Lakota Orthography), also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow"; (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to United States government policies...
. He was considered to be a war criminal and lived in hiding with Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull Sitting Bull Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (in Standard Lakota Orthography), also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow"; (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to United States government policies...
and those that defeated General George Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn.
In 1879, Sundown returned to the US and lived with family on the Flathead Reservation, then moved to Washington briefly before settling back in Montana with Cecilia Wapshela, a ranch owner. All the while, Sundown made his living by breeding, raising, 'breaking' and selling horses. To make additional money, Sundown entered into rodeos and dominated his opponents, many of whom would withdraw after learning that he would participate. Jackson Sundown won many all-around cashpots, which takes the highest average scores from all events, though he was best known for bareback and saddle bronc horse riding. His appearance differed greatly from other rodeo riders as he wore bright colored shirts, large and elegant woolen chaps
Chaps
Chaps are sturdy coverings for the legs consisting of leggings and a belt. They are buckled on over trousers with the chaps' integrated belt, but unlike trousers they have no seat and are not joined at the crotch. They are designed to provide protection for the legs and are usually made of leather...
and tied his long braids under his chin. Sundown entered into rodeos across the west and in Canada until his early 50s.
In 1915 at age 52, he took third place in the all-around at the Pendleton Roundup and decided to retire from rodeo, which had wrecked his body. The following year, an artist who was doing a sculpture of Sundown convinced him to enter the Roundup one last time, an offer that Sundown only accepted after the artist agreed to pay the entry fee . Sundown was twice the age of the other semi-finalists but advanced after high scores in the saddle bronc and bareback horseriding competitions. His final ride is an event of great mythology to this day among American Indians and rodeo aficionados. It is told that Sundown drew a very fierce horse named Angel and that the horse bucked so furiously that Sundown removed his cowboy hat and fanned the horse to get it to cool off, at which time he and the horse merged into one being. Sundown won the all-around event and became immortalized as a hero of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is a federally recognized confederation of three Sahaptin-speaking Native American tribes who traditionally inhabited the Columbia River Plateau region: the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla....
, which includes the Nez Perce. Sundown died of pneumonia 7 years later at the age of 59 and was buried at Slickpoo Mission Cemetery near Jacques Spur, Idaho. At the time of his death, the US Government did not consider Native Americans to be American Citizens.
A large gathering of Native Americans continues at the Pendleton Roundup in Pendleton, Oregon
Pendleton, Oregon
Pendleton is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. Pendleton was named in 1868 by the county commissioners for George H. Pendleton, Democratic candidate for Vice-President in the 1864 presidential campaign. The population was 16,612 at the 2010 census...
where a pow-wow
Pow-wow
A pow-wow is a gathering of North America's Native people. The word derives from the Narragansett word powwaw, meaning "spiritual leader". A modern pow-wow is a specific type of event where both Native American and non-Native American people meet to dance, sing, socialize, and honor American...
is held during the Round-up in late September. Stories of Waaya-Tonah-Toesits-Kaun continue to fill the air at this event among the drumming, fry bread, gambling and rodeoing.
External links
- Jackson Sundown at Nez Perce History
- Jackson Sundown at National Cowboys of Color Museum and Hall of Fame