Hallo,
My highest compliment for your figurine Quan!
!
Perhaps it is of interest to add some more information about Kicking Bird.
His Lakota Name was Mato Wanachtaka (Bear that kicks someone) or Mato Anachtaka (Bear who kicks).
He was born in 1848, his father Black-Fox was Oglala-Lakota, his mother Iron-Cedar-Woman was Minneconjou-Lakota. According to the Lakota tradition he was therefore Minneconjou. His brother was Flying-Hawk, who later gave his experience about the Battle of the Little Bighorn to white historians.
The two brother were raised among the Oglala and become friends of Crazy-Horse, who’s mother was also a Minneconjou. (For this reason my Minneconjou friends claim strongly that Crazy-Horse was a Minneconjou).
Kicking-Bear married a Minneconjou girl named Woodpecker, a nice of the Minneconjou chief Spotted-Elk or Sitanka (Big-Foot) and he had 3 children.
He was among the warriors who defeated General Crook at the Rosebud River.
At the morning of Battle of Little Bighorn Kicking-Bear together with his brother were like all the Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho surprised by the attack of Major Reno. They hurried to Crazy-Horse and prepared for battle. Both were in the front of the Oglala warriors who cam to the aid of the heavily attacked Hunkpapa-Lakota. The victims of the attack of Major Reno were mainly women and children which infuriated the warriors. Kicking Bear was together with Crazy Horse, in the lead of the charge. He killed some soldiers when they try to cross the river and count coup on others. Finally he killed together with the Olglala Red-Feather two of the Arikara Scouts of Reno.
His further appearance in the battle is not recorded.
He also fought to defend the Lakota village at the Slim Butts when General Crook takes revenge for his defeat at Rosebud.
In 1889 he travels to the prophet Wovoka and become a strong supporter of the Ghost Dance in the hope to better the horrible life conditions of the Lakota people on the Reservations. When the 7. US Cavalry massacred 300 unarmed Minneconjou-Lakota he was not present, otherwise he surely had been killed.
In 1891 he worked for the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show and visit with the show Europe. After two years he returned to the Pine Ridge Reservation. He died 1904. He was a very brave and courage’s man, who never gave up the fight for the right of the Lakota Nation to survive and live in human conditions.
His War Shirt of Kicking Bear is of interest, as it is in the typical Lakota style, but with the rectangular neck flap in Crow style.
Best regards
Bruno
