Thomas Wakeman

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Thomas Wakeman

Born Wawinape (or Wowinape)
1846
Sioux Reservation
Died January 13, 1886 (aged 40)
Redwood Falls, Minnesota, USA
Religious beliefs Native American,
Christian convert
Spouse Judith Minnetonka
Children 6
Parents Little Crow

Thomas Wakeman (Sioux: Wawinape) (1846 – January 13, 1886) was a Native American who organized the first Sioux Indian YMCA.[1][2] Over the years, 66 Sioux associations have been founded with over 1000 members.[1] Today, the Sioux YMCAs, under the leadership of a Lakota Board of Directors, operate programs serving families and youth on the 4,500 square miles (12,000 km²) Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.[2]

[edit] Biography

Chief Little Crow (Sioux: Tayoyateduta; English: His Red Nation) of the Sioux had a son named Wawinape (English: Place of Refuge) in 1846.[1][2][3] Little Crow and Wawinape survived the Dakota War of 1862. They lived at Devil's Lake in Dakota territory. On June 10, 1863, they left to make a raid into Minnesota to get horses for their family. On July 3, 1863, Little Crow and his son were in the "Big Woods" picking strawberries. A settler named Nathan Lamson saw them and shot and killed Little Crow. His son Wawinape escaped and fled back to Devil's Lake. He was later captured, tried and sentenced to hang. He was sent to a prison camp in Davenport, Iowa.[3][4] There he converted to Christianity and took the name Thomas Wakeman.[1][3] He was pardoned in 1865 and settled in Dakota Territory.[3]

Wakeman married Judith Minnetonka in January 1874.[3] They had four sons and two daughters: Solomon, Ruth, John, Jesse, Ida, and Alex.[4]

On April 27, 1879 Thomas Wakeman and his friends started the Koskada Okadiciye, a Young Man's Association, at Flandreau, Dakota Territory.[2][3] In 1885, it was recognized by the national YMCA and its name was changed to Sioux Young Men's Christian Association.[2]

Wakeman contracted tuberculosis and died at Redwood Falls, Minnesota on January 13, 1886.[3] His son Jesse succeeded his father at the YMCA.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d (2000) YMCA in America (1851–2001), A History of Accomplishment Over 150 Years. YMCA of the USA, p. 6. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Cheyenne River Reservation Sioux YMCA. Retrieved on 2008-03-24.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Wowinape or Thomas Wakeman (historical marker). Retrieved on 2008-03-24.
  4. ^ a b c Famous Native Minnesotans: Little Crow. Retrieved on 2008-03-24.

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME Wakeman, Thomas
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Wawinape, Wowinape
SHORT DESCRIPTION Native American who organized the first Sioux Indian YMCA
DATE OF BIRTH 1846
PLACE OF BIRTH Sioux Reservation
DATE OF DEATH January 13, 1886
PLACE OF DEATH Redwood Falls, Minnesota, USA