She Who Rode a Wolf

by Dr. Pelham Mead

Based on stories of the Pawnee and other Native American Indians.

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She Who Rode a Wolf

WOLF RIDER (OYADA-GE-A)

SHE WHO RODE A WOLF.

By Dr. Pelham Mead

ACT ONE- SHE WHO RIDES THE WOLF

Oyade-ge-a is pawnee for one who rode. Oyade-ge-a is an short innocent

Pawnee girl who becomes immortal and rides Sirius the Wolf constellation in the

sky. She has brown braided hair and a deerskin dress decorated with many

beads. Her tanned skin contrasts with her blue eyes. She speaks softly as she

tells the many history and Wolf stories of the Pawnee Indians during the 1800’s

before they moved to Oklahoma.

OYADE-GE-A, PAWNEE GIRL (10)

In 1824 the Pawnee nation had ten thousand

Indians. Over the next few decades the pale

face came and brought with the diseases the

Pawnee had no resistance to such as small

pox

OYADA-GE-A, PAWNEE GIRL (SHE WHO RODE

THE WOLF)

I am oyada-ge-a, the pawnee girl who rides

Sirius the Wolf in the stars in the sky. Sirius

and I travel over time and day, always watching

the Pawnee, Wolf worshippers. I see the pale

face coming to steal the land of the Pawnee.

Their many wooden wagons come in search of

land the golden rock they cherish so much. The

Pawnee were farmers and hunters, not

warriors. They did not seek a war with the pale

face. Rather they sought peace and joined the

pale face army as scouts.

SIRIUS THE WOLF STAR

Hang on oyada-ge-a as we stream across the

sky watching our Pawnee brothers and sisters

below. The Skidi Pawnee know the stars well,

for they have studied them for many winters.

2.

OYADA-GE-A, PAWNEE GIRL (SHE WHO RODE

A WOLF)

We Pawnee are known as chatiks si chatiks,

“Men of Men.” We are a proud nation. Look

down below on the Loup River there is a large

village of several thousand Pawnee hunting for

Buffalo.

SIRIUS THE WOLF STAR

When a Pawnee brother or sister is in trouble

we come to their rescue. Last hunting season

we saved a Pawnee warrior named Blue Crow,

who fell off his horse during a buffalo hunt. We

spoke to the lead buffalo, and convinced him to

turn to the left to allow the Pawnee to live as

they were stampeding across the plain.

SIRIUS THE WOLF STAR (CONT’D)

Oh great and boundless one, leader of the

Buffalo, turn left now and spare the life of the

Pawnee that fell off his horse.

LEAD BUFFALO

As you wish Wolf Star. Let us turn to the left my

brothers.

BLUE CROW, PAWNEE BRAVE

I am going to be crushed by the Buffalo. Sirius

save me. Oh, my spirit the Buffalo are turning.

Sirius has come to my rescue.

FADE OUT.

ACT 2 THE TWO WOLVES STORY

One night in a Pawnee village camped on a river there was a full moon and the

wolves in the forest all were howling. In the Pawnee village a young pawnee sat

his grandfather Bright Knife’s tepee.

INT. NIGHTOne

day in 1824 Montana.

Chief Bright Knife was a short, muscular and dark skinned Pawnee who had

fought many moons against the Sioux and Black Foot Indians. Little Elk was a

ten year old Pawnee boy.

3.

CHIEF BRIGHT KNIFE, PAWNEE

Grandson little Elk, come and sit by me in my

tepee and get warm by the fire.

LITTLE ELK, PANEE BOY (7)

Do you hear the wolves howling Grandfather.

Why do they howl at the full moon? Would you

tell me another story about Wolves

Grandfather?

CHIEF BRIGHT KNIFE, PAWNEE

A fight is going on inside me Little Elk. It is a

terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One

is evil and he is anger, envy, sorry, regret,

greed, self-pity and many other bad things. The

other wolf is good and he represents peace,

joy, hope, love, humility, kindness, empathy,

truth, faith and many more good qualities. The

same fight is going on inside you Little Elk.

Others have the same fight going on inside

them.

LITTLE ELK, PANEE BOY

What wolf will win Grandfather?

CHIEF BRIGHT KNIFE, PAWNEE

The one you feed my son.

FADE TO BLACK.

ACT 3 ATIUS TIRAWA, FATHER ABOVE

SCENE 1-EXT. DAYAtius

Tirawa, which means “Father Above” in the Pawnee language (often

translated, inaccurately, as “Great Spirit”) was the creator god. Other terms used,

and perhaps most used, are Tirawahat or Tirawahut. One day Chief Bright Knife

explained to Little Elk about the Pawnee gods and stars in the sky.

FADE IN:

4.

LITTLE ELK, PANEE BOY

Grandfather Bright Knife, tell me about the

Gods and the stars in the sky.

CHIEF BRIGHT KNIFE, PAWNEE

Gladly grandson. Bring a log over here to warm

the tepee on the fire. Let me tell you of all the

great spirits, Gods, and powers in the heavens

above. First that is Atius Tirawa. I will pretend

to be each of the Gods beginning with Atius

Tirawa.

LITTLE ELK, PANEE BOY

That sounds exciting Grandfather.

ATIUS TIRAWA, PAWNEE FATHER ABOVE

I will show you how to tame the flame for

cooking. I will give you corn, melon, and other

foods to grow. You are free to tattoo your body

and have a speech and clothing. I give you

also tobacco and sacred bundles and

sacrifices to the other God. My wife ATIRA,

Goddess of the Earth and Corn will help you

keep the Earth fertile. I give you also the male

morning Star in the east dressed as a warrior.

Next will come the female Evening Star in the

West. Each nigh and night Morning star will

have to fight with a number of forces in the

Western sky with his fireball.

NORTH STAR, SON OF SOUTH STAR

I am North Star, son of South Star and I will

watch over my people the Pawnee and keep

my position in the sky to guide travelers.

SOUTH STAR, FATHER OF NORTH STAR

I rule in the land of the dead. I rise every day

to see if my son North Star remains in his fixed

position. I require no prayers or ceremonies

from the Pawnee.

THUNDER GOD

We are the great four powers of the West.

Listen Pawnee to my noise in the sky.

(MORE)

5.

LIGHTENING GOD

We four powers obey the Evening star by

means of our constant song with Earth.

CLOUD GOD

I float above the Earth and obey the Evening

star. Beware when my clouds are black for a

storm is on the way.

WIND GOD

My might power belongs to the Evening Star.

Do not underestimate my power. The first girl,

the child of Evening and Morning Star rests

with me and the other three great Gods.

SHAKURU, DIETY OF SOLAR

I am Shakuru deity of the Pawnee sky.

PAH, DIETY OF THE LUNA MOON

I am Pah, diety of the Luna Moon in the

Pawnee sky. Together we are two minor deities

for the pawnee. We Were the last of the Gods

to be placed in the heavens.

CHIEF BRIGHT KNIFE, PAWNEE

Meteorites brought good fortune to the finders.

They were seen as the children of Tirawahut

sent down to Earth.

While the Skidi Pawnee relied a great deal on

the powers and the aid of stars and other

objects in cosmos, the South Bands came

through foremost by the assistance and advice

of a number of animals. Yet, the gods in

heaven existed, and the animals acted as gobetweens

when they instructed and guided the

South Bands.

LITTLE ELK, PANEE BOY

What of the Beaver Grandfather. Why is he

important?

CHIEF BRIGHT KNIFE, PAWNEE

The White Beaver ceremony of the Chawi

served nearly the same purpose as the

renewing or restarting Spring Awakening

ceremony (Thunder ceremony) of the Skidi.

CHIEF BRIGHT KNIFE, PAWNEE (CONT’D)

(MORE)

6.

However hibernating animals were revitalized

through this rite rather than the renewal of corn

crops.

Tirawa conferred miraculous powers on certain

animals. These spirit animals, the nahurac,

would act as Tirawa’s messengers and

servants, and could intercede with him on

behalf of the Pawnee. The nahurac had five

dwellings or lodges.

• The foremost among them was Pahuk,

usually translated “hill island”, a bluff on the

south side of the Platte River, near the town of

Cedar Bluffs where the pale face lived.

• Lalawakohtito, or “dark island”, was an island

in the Platte .

• Ahkawitakol, or “white bank”, was on the

Loup River opposite the mouth of the Cedar

River .

• Kitzawitzuk, translated “water on a bank”,

also known to the Pawnee as Pahowa, was a

spring on the Solomon River.

• The fifth lodge of the nahurac was known to

the Pawnee as Pahur (/pa’hur/, translated as

“hill that points the way” or “guide rock. Pass

me that gourd of water grandson for I am

thirsting .

Regular ceremonies were performed before

major events, such as semi-annual buffalo

hunts. Kawaha, an often-besought god of good

luck, was closely connected to buffalo hunts.

The most important ceremony of the Pawnee

culture, the Spring Awakening ceremony, was

meant to awaken the earth and ready it for

planting. It can be tied to celestial observation,

held at the time when the priest first tracked

“two small twinkling stars known as the

Swimming Ducks in the northeastern horizon

near the Milky Way.” and then heard a rolling

thunder from the West.[1]:14 and 53 (See

above for the role of Thunder in the Creation

myth).[13]

CHIEF BRIGHT KNIFE, PAWNEE (CONT’D)

7.

The Morning Star ceremony was a ritual

human sacrifice of a young girl, performed only

by a single village of the Skidi band of the

Pawnee. It was connected to the Pawnee

creation narrative, in which the mating of the

male Morning Star with the female Evening

Star created the first human being, a girl.

This is the story of Man Chief who tried to rescue a Comanche girl from the

Morning Star ceremony.

FADE IN:

MAN CHIEF, SKIDI PAWNEE

We captured some Comanches to use as

slaves, however the Priests want to sacrifice

one young Comanche girl for the Morning Star

Ceremony.

JOHN DOUGHERTY, INDIAN AGENT (32)

Man Chief I respect your traditions but the

Morning Star human sacrifice goes against the

laws of the pale faces. We have to stop this

sacrifice or some of the pale faces will come

and kill Pawnee braves as retaliation.

MAN CHIEF, PAWNEE

I have spoken to the Skidi Pawnee priests and

they will not listen. They say she must be

sacrificed to ensure a good spring planting.

The priests say the time is right when Mars is

the morning Star.

JOHN DOUGHERTY, INDIAN AGENT

We must stop this ceremony. Where is the girl

tied to a scaffold?

MAN CHIEF, PAWNEE

I know where the ceremony is to be held. We

will need many Pawnee scouts or pale faces

with thunder sticks to stop this ceremony. The

ceremony is by thunder rock by the Loop River.

We can get there in a day of riding.

Meanwhile at the ceremonial site near the

Loop river at Thunder Rock.

Back at Loop river at the ceremonial site.

8.

MORNING STAR SERVANT PRIEST

Tie the girl up to the scaffold between the two

trees. Treat her with respect at all times. She

must be cleansed. She will be sacrificed when

the Morning Star rises in the East.

SECOND PRIEST

I have selected two braves who will bring the

flaming branches to the armpits and groin of

the sacrifice. Four other braves will than touch

the sacrifice with their war clubs.

GREY BEAVER

Since I captured the Comanche girl it will be

my honor to shoot the sacred arrow from the

Skull bundle through her heart.

SECOND PRIEST

I will cut open the sacrifices chest and let the

blood drip onto buffalo eat. Following me all the

braves in the ceremony will shoot arrows into

the body.Come Morning we will take the body

out onto the plains and leave it facedown to

feed the Earth.

Just then Man Chief and the Indian agent appeared. The priests were started

and ran.

JOHN DOUGHERTY, INDIAN AGENT

Stop what you are doing. Take this woman

down from the scaffold. We cannot allow you to

kill a young woman.

MAN CHIEF, PAWNEE

I will cut her down. Get on my pony woman.

We must hurray before the braves return with

guns and bows

JOHN DOUGHERTY, INDIAN AGENT

Let’s ride. We have the girl and she is still alive

When the Priests returned with dozens of Pawnee braves they got on their

ponies and chased after Man Chief and John Dougherty along with their posse.

9.

MORNING STAR SERVANT PRIEST

Quick ride after them and bring the woman

back or we will have a bad year in our planting

FADE TO BLACK.

FADE IN:

This is a Lakota indian story called Mitakuye Oyasin Lakota, meaning We Are All

Related. As a girl I heard this story many times.

CHIEF BRIGHT KNIFE, PAWNEE

Come back tomorrow Grandson and I will tell

you of the story of the Black Wolf.

The next day

FADE TO BLACK.

LITTLE ELK, PANEE BOY

Grandfather are you in your tepee?

CHIEF BRIGHT KNIFE, PAWNEE

Yes, come in grandson. I made some birch tea

for us to drink. Come sit down by me. Where

are we? Oh, yet the story of the black wolf.

Many moons ago a young Pawnee girl walked

into the woods to play. It was a warm and

sunny day with a gentle breeze in the air. As

she explored her secret world, she heard the

faint sound of a beating drum. The rhythmic

beat was relaxing and so she sat against a

willow tree and drifted off to sleep.

As the young girl slept, she dreamt of her

secret woods and again heard the faint beating

of a drum. She was drawn to the sound and

walked toward it. A hawk flew above, guiding

the way.

RED TAILED HAWK

Follow me little one.

BLACK WOLF

Why are you not afraid of me human?

(MORE)

10.

PAWNEE GIRL

I am not afraid of you.

In the distance a Pawnee saw the wolf and the girl in a clearing

DANCING CROW, PAWNEE BRAVE

What is that foolish girl doing? The wolf will kill

her in a second.

A DRUM BEAT SOMEWHERE IN THE WIND AS THE GIRL APPROACHED THE

WOLF.

PAWNEE GIRL

I stand before you great wolf.

WOLF

You are brave little one. I lower my head in

respect to you.

PAWNEE GIRL

Can I kneel down oh great one? Can I look into

your golden eyes great one?

WOLF

Can you hear me little one? I speak to you in

the language of the wolves. Come nuzzle in my

legs little one.

Meanwhile the Pawnee brave observed everything from afar.

The young girl awoke from her dream and stood in the woods. She turned,

expecting to see the wolf but she was alone….

PAWNEE GIRL

Where am I? I must have fallen asleep. Where

is the wolf I spoke to? The was a weird dream

Years passed and the young girl grew up. She forgot about the wolf and Indian in

her dream.

PAWNEE GIRL (CONT’D)

Then one day the now woman came to a dark

place in her life. Feeling lost and alone, she fell

asleep crying and drifted off into a dream. And

in that dream the woman was given a vision. In

the distance, she heard the beating of the

drum. The black wolf came to her again. His

golden eyes illuminated and pierced the

darkness.

PAWNEE GIRL (CONT’D)

11.

Again in the distance the Indian stood silent.

In her sleep, the woman flashed back to her

childhood and remembered that day in the

woods. She knew that although she wandered,

she was not alone – she was not lost. Through

his eyes, the black wolf told her that he walked

within her.

She awoke and again looked for the black wolf

but this time she remembered… She looked

within herself and found him….And she

breathed in a new breath.

That woman now understands who she is. She

is one with the black wolf and the Indian…And

they are a part of her soul.

If you do not walk with the animals, you will not

know them –

And what you do not know, you will fear –

And what you fear, you will destroy.

I walk with the Black Wolf. Now I am Oyade-Ge-

A, one who rides the Black Wolf in the Sky.

FADE TO BLACK.

EXT. DAY

The Massacre Canyon battle took place in Nebraska on August 5, 1873 near the

Republican River. It was one of the last hostilities between the Pawnee and the

Sioux(or Lakota) and the last battle/massacre between Great Plains Indians in

North America.

FADE IN:

TWO STRIKE OGLALA/BRULE’ SIOUX CHIEF

Assemble the Braves, we are ready for the

Buffalo hunt.

LITTE WOUND OGLALA/BRULE’ SIOUX CHIEF

The pale face agent John Williamson has given

us permission to hunt along the great river

SPOTTED TAIL OGLALA/BRULE’ SIOUX CHIEF

Hurray or we will miss the Buffalo. We have

over 1500 braves ready to kill many buffalo

Chief Two Strike

The massacre occurred when a large Oglala/Brulé Sioux war party of over 1,500

warriors led by Two Strike, Little Wound, and Spotted Tail attacked a band of

12.

Across the river a few miles away were the Pawnee with a band of 100 braves

and chiefs Pawnee: Sky Chief, Sun Chief, Fighting Bear, Ruling His Son.

SKY CHIEF, PAWNEE

It is a good day to kill buffalo. Our scouts report

the herd is headed this way.

SUN CHIEF, PAWNEE

We can split our forces further down the river if

we run into the Buffalo herd.

FIGHTING BEAR, PAWNEE

I will sent six of my braves ahead to spot the

Buffalo in advance of our braves

Pawnee during their summer buffalo hunt. In the ensuing rout more than 75–100

Pawnees were killed, men with mostly women and children, the victims suffering

mutilation and some set on fire.

The Quaker Indian agent John W. Williamson stated that 156 Pawnee were

killed.

SPOTTED TAIL OGLALA/BRULE’ SIOUX CHIEF

There are only 80 to a 100 Pawnee in the

canyon below us. Attack.

CHIEF CHARGING BEAR, SIOIX CHIEF

I just killed three Pawnee braves. Now I need

to kill those woman. They are easy targets.

TWO STRIKE OGLALA/BRULE’ SIOUX CHIEF

We have the trapped in the canyon. Ride

around both cliffs overlooking the canyon and

shoot your arrows and guns down into the

canyon. They are easy kill. Time to avenge our

fathers.

SKY CHIEF (TIRAWAHUT LESHARO)

This skilling of my buffalo kill is taking forever.

Who are those riders on the hill? Oh, no it is

Sioux warriors. Woman run and hide with the

children in the canyon. I will try and hold off the

Sioux if they attack.

13.

LITTLE DOG, SIOUX WARRIOR

Look there, a Pawnee chief has killed a buffalo

and is skinning it. Let us kill him and take his

buffalo. Ah eeee, (war cry)

Elsewhere in the canyon Traveling Bear is being chased by Sioux warriors.

TRAVELING BEAR, PAWNEE

Spirits above help me to escape. Ohh an arrow

in my arm. I must ride fast and warn the others.

LITTLE DOG, SIOUX WARRIOR

Three feather hit that Pawnee with your war

club. We have him trapped in the narrow

canyon. Ride fast brother. Shoot the woman

and children hiding in the bushes.

JOHN WILLIAMSON, INDIAN AGENT (23)

I will be accompanying the Pawnee on their

buffalo hunt today. It is the 4th day of August

and the sun was beating down as we

approached the north bank of the Republican

river to make camp.

9:00 pm that evening.

HARRY DUGGAN, TRADER

Is the Indian Agent John Williamson in camp?

We have bad news. We just saw a Sioux camp

about 25 miles northwest of the Republican

river. It appears the Sioux have been waiting

for a few days for the Pawnee to move up the

river to follow the buffalo.

JOHN WILLIAMSON, INDIAN AGENT

What is all the noise about? Hey Harry, how is

trading?

HARRY DUGGAN, TRADER

John you are in trouble. We spotted a large

band of about 1,000 Sioux camped about 25

miles northwest of your campsite. They have

been shadowing you for days waiting for an

opportunity to attack.

14.

JOHN WILLIAMSON, INDIAN AGENT

I find that hard to believe. Let me take you to

Sky Chief who is in command. Sky Chief it is

Mr. Williamson, may I enter your tepee?

SKY CHIEF, PAWNEE

Come in Agent Williamson. What is it?

JOHN WILLIAMSON, INDIAN AGENT

Chief these three white men just rode into

camp to tell us that there are 1,000 Sioux

camps less than 25 miles northwest of our

camp.

SKY CHIEF, PAWNEE

You are liars white man. You are just trying to

scare the Pawnees away from our hunting

grounds. You are a squaw and a coward Agent

Williamson.

JOHN WILLIAMSON, INDIAN AGENT

You insult me Sky Chief. I believe the white

men. They are old friends of mine, and would

not lie to me. I will not go as far as you dare to

go. Don’t forget that when you see 1,000 Sioux

chasing you down.

FADE OUT.

EXT. DAYAugust

5th.

That morning the Pawnee broke camp and started north up the divide between

the Republican and Frenchman rivers.

FADE IN:

SKY CHIEF, PAWNEE

Shake brother. I am sorry for speaking harshly

last night. There is no reason to be on guard. I

did not send any scouts forward.

A Pawnee scout comes riding swiftly back to the long line of Pawnee braves,

shouting.

15.

RUNNING WOLF, PAWNEE

Buffalo, buffalo in the distance, come let us ride

quickly.

SKY CHIEF, PAWNEE

You see Agent Williamson, we have found the

buffalo and no Sioux are in sight. Come lets us

ride after the buffalo.

JOHN WILLIAMSON, INDIAN AGENT

I guess I was wrong Sky Chief. I hope you kill

many Buffalo today.

PAWNEE SCOUT

Come quickly and follow me up along the river.

SKY CHIEF, PAWNEE

They are close brothers. Leave the pack

horses behind with the old women. We will

return for them after the Buffalo kill.

SCAR NOSE, PAWNEE BRAVE

We can get there faster by going up the

canyon.

On the hills out of sight from deep in the canyon a band of Lakota Sioux were

hiding behind bushes waiting for the Pawnee braves to follow the narrow canyon

to where it rises to meet the open plains.

The morning of August 5 the Pawnees went up a canyon. Men looking for game

took the lead and the families followed with loaded down packhorses. Soon after

the battle was on.

La-Roo-Chuck-A-La-Shar (Sun Chief) was a Pawnee chief who died fighting the

Lakota at Massacre Canyon.

The Pawnees say that Sky Chief lived during the first part of the battle. He fought

for his tribe, shouting words of encouragement to it. “Today I may see the tribe

you protect here. This is the end. It is supposed to be better old men not to

become. Now, men, a man be.”[27] He killed his own little son with his knife,

telling the Sioux that they would not get his child.[28]

SUN CHIEF, PAWNEE (LA-ROO-CHURCK-A-LASHAR)

(45)

It is Sioux arrows I see. Woman take the

children and run. THe other braves and I will try

to slow the Sioux down. There are too many of

them compared to our small group.

16.

SKY CHIEF, PAWNEE

Ride on brothers. I will try to slow down the

Sioux

DOG CHIEF, PAWNEE

I am coming Big Brother to save you from the

Sioux.

SKY CHIEF, PAWNEE

Do not risk your life brother Dog Chief. Go run

for your life. The Sioux outnumber us greatly. I

will fight to my last breath. Now go before it is

too late.Take My Bear claw necklace and try to

escape. I want you to have it and I do not want

the Sioux to take possession of it.

DOG CHIEF, PAWNEE

Thank you brother. We will meet in the happy

hunting ground soon.

Meanwhile at the top of the canyon.

CHIEF LUTHER STANDING BEAR, LAKOTA

SIOUX CHIEF

We have them trapped between both sides of

the canyon. Shoot all your arrows down on

them.

CAPTAIN CHARLES MEINHOLD, FORT

MCPHERSON

Where are all these Pawnee Indians coming

from? They look like they were attacked by

Sioux warriors while hunting for Buffalo

WILLIAMSON INDIAN AGENT

We were surrounded by Lakota Sioux in a

canyon near here. They outnumber us by ten

to one or more. I was so surprised to see them.

We had a warning by some trappers but Sky

Chief would not believe that there were Lakota

Sioux within 25 miles of the Pawnee camp.

PLATT INDIAN AGENT

We managed to escape out the other end of

the canyon before the Sioux could surround us.

East of Culbertson camped Capt. Charles Meinhold with his small command from

(MORE)

17.

Fort McPherson, by twist of fate. All through the morning Pawnee survivors found

the camp as well as Williamson and Platt, who had made his escape early during

the fight. The Pawnees got instructions to proceed further east.[33]

PLATT INDIAN AGENT (CONT’D)

Look over there in the canyon. There is the

body of a dead Pawnee woman.

PRIVATE KEN JAMES

Captain there are a whole mess of Pawnees

dead inside the ravine.

CAPTAIN CHARLES MEINHOLD

Look for any survivors Private James.

PRIVATE KEN JAMES

Yes, Sir.

About an hour later.

PRIVATE KEN JAMES (CONT’D)

Captain we counted fifty-nine dead bodies.

That count includes women and men. For

some reason many of the woman were

stripped naked Sir.

Meanwhile, twenty miles away at the Lakota Sioux camp Luther Standing Bear a

ten year old boy watched the Lakota warriors return to the camp after the

Massacre Canyon battle.

CHIEF CLOUD SHIELD, LAKOTA SIOUX

I have the scalp of the great Pawnee Chief Sky

Chief. Ya ho, hee (Swinging the scalp around

in the air). We killed three hundred Pawnee

today.

SCENE…Ext. Day-Massacre Canyon, August 6, 1873.

People from nearby camps and towns visited the battle scene over the next few

days.

ROYAL BUCK, REPORTER FOR THE

NEBRASKA CITY NEWS

(Posted in the Nebraska City News) It was a

massacre and nothing more, and near 100

Pawnee victims were lying on the ground and

full two thirds were Squaws, and papooses.

ROYAL BUCK, REPORTER FOR THE NEBRASKA

18.

It was a slaughter the likes of I have never

seen before.

News of the defeat reached the remaining

Pawnees in the reservation on August 8

through a runner. “This produced intense

excitement in the village, sorrowful wailings

were heard all day”.[43]

INT. DAY-AUG.

1874-Dr. Bancroft’s office, Silver creek.

The Pawnee survivors made the 80 miles or so to Plum Creek near the Platte.

Here Dr. William M. Bancroft gave professional assistance to the wounded. By

train they arrived at Silver Creek, around ten miles south of the Pawnee Agency.

FADE IN:

RUNNING WOLF, PAWNEE

Keep riding my brothers. We have many days

to go to get to the Pale Face settlement at

Plum Creek.

LITTLE WEASLE, PAWNEE

I cannot go any further Running Wolf. I have an

arrow in my side.

SWEET WATER, PAWNEE SQUAW

I have seen a vision of our brothers in the

heavens guided by the Wolf Star.

FADE TO BLACK.

EXT.-DAYLast

week of August 1874.

Indian agent Williamson returns to Massacre canyon to cover up the dead bodies

of the Pawnee.

FADE IN:

19.

WILLIAMSON INDIAN AGENT

Captain Holden I am going back to the

Massacre Canyon to properly bury the dead

Pawnee women, children and braves.

CAPTAIN HOLDEN, US ARMY

I can send a small patrol to tend to the dead

bodies if you want Mr. Williamson.

WILLIAMSON INDIAN AGENT

That is fine Captain. I need to do this to relieve

my guilt in not preventing this tragedy. I am

leaving in a few minutes with a pack horse and

my horse. I expect I will be gone for several

days.

CAPTAIN HOLDEN, US ARMY

God speed Williamson.

Two days later Williamson arrives at Massacre Canyon. Buzzards weere flying

around in the air in droves and the stench of dead is in the air.

WILLIAMSON INDIAN AGENT

Oh my God the smell of the dead bodies is

overwhelming. There is so much rock that I will

have to use the dirt from the canyon banks to

cover the bodies. I need to remember to keep

an accurate count so that I can make a full and

accurate report to the Indian Bureau in

Washington, D.C. Let me see I count 20 dead

braves, 39 squaws and ten children. Many of

the bodies were already picked clean of their

flesh by the vultures. I am going to have

nightmares forever.

Hours later Williamson stopped in a pile of sweat to recover from covering all the

bodies. Sweat rolled down his face and he quietly cried to himself.

WILLIAMSON INDIAN AGENT (CONT’D)

Perhaps I could have prevented this by making

Sky Chief listen to the white Traders. They had

no reason to lie. I guess I will bury the indian

necklaces with the bodies, rather than bring

them back to the Fort.

Two days later Agent Williamson rode back into Fort.

20.

Far away to the north the Lakota Sioux Chief Cloud Shield remembers the winter

kill differently.

CLOUD-SHIELD, LAKOTA SIOUX CHIEF

I was a good kill that winter. The Pawnee have

always been our enemy and this was our

chance to even the score. In Lakota Sioux

history this battle will be recorded as a great

victory over 150 Pawnee braves who were

hunting Buffalo on our ancestral land.

FADE TO BLACK.

THE END.


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