Bad Eagle

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Bad Eagle (1839-1906 or 1909) was a kwerharenu (abbreviated to Quahadi, or "Antelope") Comanche from the Southwest Plains area of the United States. In the Comanche language, his name is quin-ne kish-su-it, which means "wild (or wicked) eagle".

1 Early life and capture
2 Return to the Comanche
3 The Bad Eagle Foundation
4 Notes

[edit] Early life and capture

As a young brave ca. 1855, Bad Eagle was captured by Spanish military forces while on a raid and taken to Mexico. He was legally adopted by Captain Luis Portillo, at the fort El Conejo in Coahuila. As a result of this adoption, Bad Eagle was given the name Cruz Portillo, and became the only full-blooded Comanche to wear the uniform of the Mexican military.^[1] The Spanish Catholic christening of Bad Eagle as Cruz Portillo was witnessed by godfather Captain Don Antonio Ponce De Leon at El Conejo.^[2] At the fort, Bad Eagle began a family with another Comanche captive, and had two sons named Ignacio and Hermragildo.

[edit] Return to the Comanche

Bad Eagle returned to the Comanche tribe and became a band headman after observing that America offered a more meaningful existence for Native Americans than Mexico did at the time.^[3] He was the cousin of Mumsekai and Ishatai, of the Quahadi. After his return, he began a new family, as his family in Mexico did not wish to leave. Bad Eagle (also known among the Comanche as Tu-vi-ai and Ka-dose), married two sisters, Erk-say and To-nar-ci, daughters of Horse Back (Ten-a-mahk-i), a famous Comanche leader. There were only two children born to Bad Eagle through these sisters, O-dah-pee-ah (by Erk-say) and Pee-so-vo-ee (by To-nar-cy). O-dah-pee-ah died in her early teens. Pee-so-vo-ee was blind. There were no children from either of these girls, as far as is known.^{[citation needed]}

As social and political circumstances evolved in Indian Territory (later called Oklahoma), Bad Eagle realized that Comanche life on the plains was over. Bad Eagle (Tu-vi-ai), together with Dr. Jacob Sturm and Wild Horse (another Comanche) led Col. Ranald McKenzie's cavalry to Palo Duro Canyon, where Quanah Parker and the last of the Quahadi Comanche hid out. This act is considered noble by some and traitorous by others. Bad Eagle made this decision in order to save the lives of his people, and lived with the consequences of a controversial decision. Quanah's group surrendered at Fort Sill on June 2, 1875, due to starvation.^{[citation needed]}

Some time after this, Quanah Parker abducted To-nar-cy from the home of Bad Eagle while Bad Eagle was away. (To-nar-cy had no children after Pee-so-vo-ee). Since To-nar-cy was barren, Bad Eagle let her go, but he extracted a very high price for her. Quanah was determined to have her and paid it.^{[citation needed]}

Later, Bad Eagle sent for his sons in Mexico. Hermragildo died suddenly, and Ignacio was soon murdered in cold blood, as witnessed by his son, Anacleto (George) Portillo. Bad Eagle himself was apparently poisoned to death in 1906 (or 1909). Several members of the immediate family died under suspicious circumstances in close succession, in 1902, 1903 (Ignacio), and 1904. After Ignacio was murdered, Bad Eagle sent for George, who was about eight or nine years old. George lived with Bad Eagle in southwestern Oklahoma for several years, while many Comanches were still holding on to traditional customs, such as living in tipis. Bad Eagle later sent George to Chilacco Indian School.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] The Bad Eagle Foundation

David A. Yeagley, who claims to be a direct descendant of Bad Eagle, created the non-profit Bad Eagle Foundation in 2004 in Oklahoma City. The stated goal of the foundation is to support modern Native American citizens who are conservative and patriotic. The foundation also expresses a message of unity for all Native Americans, social force, preservation, and advocation of such views through media outlets.^[4]