Col.A.B.Welch takes Chief Drags Wolf and his Friends to the 1940 Minnesota Aquatenniel

Col.A.B.Welch takes Chief Drags Wolf and his Friends to the 1940 Minnesota Aquatenniel *********************************************************** Negotiations and Arrangements and Contract  “Aquatennial to feature Indian Village”…                June 19, 1940 Full Page, Minneapolis Times Tribune “Indians are Coming”…                June 23, 1940 Rotogravure Section, Minneapolis Times Tribune    Welch Article                June 26, 1940 Full Page, Minneapolis Times Tribune Indians attending the Aquatennial and Welch’s Summary “Indian Chief forbidden to make Rain during Aquatennial”…                July 25, 1940, Minneapolis Times Tribune ************************************************** Negotiations and Arrangements  and Contract May 5,  1940 Welch...

Read More

Col. A. B. Welch’s Adoption Ceremony, at Two Shields camp on Porcupine Creek, June 5, 1913

Sioux Nation Adopts Col. A. B. Welch with thousands present   ****************************************** John Grass’ invitation to A. B. Welch: invitation, page 2: Sioux Indian Name Given Welch: News Report: Adoption Escort comes to pick up A. B. Welch. Escort Photos by Frank Fiske, a friend of Welch: Adoption Escort Leaves with A. B. Welch: Adoption Escort progresses toward Ceremony Site: Welch “under arrest” and being brought to camp by the Escort: Formal Adoption Ceremony of A. B. Welch: Speech by A. B. Welch at his Adoption Ceremony: Indian Dancers at A. B. Welch’s Adoption Celebration: “Old Time” Indians dancing at A. B. Welch’s Adoption Ceremony: A. B. Welch diagram of his Adoption Ceremonies into the Sioux...

Read More

Presentation of Historic Tipi to Col. A. B. Welch, at Two Shields Camp on Porcupine Creek, July 6, 1915

Captain A. B. Welch honored with presentation of Tipi.   July 29, 1915 Article *********************************  ...

Read More

Feast at Fort Yates, Sept. 9, 1915. The Indian Agent had just forbidden ‘Dancing’ at Celebrations, much to the distaste of the Tribal Members

  Feast at Fort Yates, September 9, 1915 ******************************************  We drove across the camp circle to the Wakpallas, where a feast circle of interlaced boughs had been erected in front of two ceremonial tipis.  An invitation to a dance had been made by the Herald but when the dance was started it was stopped by the Indian Police on order from Major Covey, the Agent. There were at least twenty police there, led by Captain Tom Frosted (Mato Ska). After the excitement had subsided a herald called all the Oglala women to the center and a Wakpalla presented each of them with a new blanket or quilt, as they sat in the inner circle. The outer circle was given meat or bread by some young men helpers.  A herald then sung a song about Mato Ska and...

Read More

Formation of a War Party, Cannon Ball, July 4, 1917. Col. A. B. Welch and the young warriors who had also volunteered for service were given “an old time” send-off to France.

On July 4th, 1917 I motored to Cannon Ball to a celebration of the Indians.  About 2000 were present from many parts of the country.  Devils Lake, Fort Peck Montana and other places sent representatives.  I was in the uniform of a Captain NDNG, on account of the war with Germany and, as I entered the ceremonial enclosure, the musicians started up the Song of Mato Watakpe. I always expected to start the dance when this is sung, and did so at once.  Several old warriors joined in.  These men had all been wounded in battle.  After another grass dance or two, my song was started again and I started the dance a second time. In a few minutes I was joined by many young men who danced to the finish of the dance and then all shook hands with me.  Red Tomahawk told me that...

Read More

Col. A. B. Welch returns from World War I, Cannon Ball, late Sept. 1919.

A. B. Welch’s Indian Friends Celebrate his return from the Trenches of France, World War I, 1918 **************************************** Mrs. Welch and myself went to Yates at invitation of the Indians to be there on the second day of the Fair.  Drove from Cannon Ball in auto driven by Richard White Eagle.  As we entered the circle of tents at NW corner of camp we halted and shook hands with the Fair Officials, Basil Two Bears and Marcellus Red Tomahawk and many others crowded around to shake hands.  The women gave the tremolo and some old men started songs about Mato Watakpe.  Mrs. Two Bears, the mother of Albert Grass, killed in action in France, shook hands and ran into her tipi crying loudly.  News that Mato Watakpe had returned spread through the camp...

Read More