Schuh-De-Gá-Che, Ponca Chief

Description

On May 11, while the Yellow Stone was stopped near White Bear Bluffs, three Ponca Indians from a nearby village were taken on board. One of them was Schuh-De-Gá-Che ("He Who Smokes"), an imposing man referred to by Maximilian as the chief of the Ponca tribe. Like many of the Indians portrayed by Bodmer, Schuh-De-Gá-Che wears a silver peace medal around his neck. Such highly prized medallions played an important role in frontier Indian policy, since they were given as symbols of friendship and allegiance, first by the French and the British and later by agents of the American government. The American medals were generally made in three sizes. A directive issued in 1829 specified that the largest medals were to be given only to principal village chiefs, the smaller ones to less distinguished individuals. The medal depicted here bears the image of President Madison; its large size confirms Maximilian's estimate of the Ponca chief's importance. Schuh-De-Gá-Che's portrait was included in Tableau 7 of the aquatint atlas.

Medium

pencil and wash on paper

Dimensions

11 3/4 x 8 3/8

Call No.

JAM.1986.49.241

Approximate Date of Creation

11th May 1834