Wolf Tooth: Hawkins Pursued Sand Creek Research

Some of the foundation for current Sand Creek Descendants research was begun many years ago by the late Kish Hawkins, or Wolf Tooth, a Southern Cheyenne. 

Hawkins was the son of Blackhead, a survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre and Starving Elk or Spotted Hawk.  A descendant of Chief White Antelope through Yellow Horse Woman, Hawkins played a key role in many tribal affairs, including efforts to revitalize tribal leases, regain tribal reserve lands, collect indemnities from the 1865 Treaty of the Little Arkansas, and identify Cheyenne genealogies.  Another of Hawkins efforts involved attempts to repatriate a blanket purportedly taken from Chief White Antelope at Sand Creek - a pursuit in which he was assisted by Historian Joseph Thoburn and Oklahoma Congressman Toby Morris.  Hawkins was a member of the initial Cheyenne and Arapaho Business Committee in 1938 as well as a Cheyenne Chief.

Many of Hawkins skills were acquired in the 1880's while a student at Carlisle Indian School, PA. Hawkins in one of approximately 250 Cheyenne that attended Carlisle - and the first Cheyenne graduate.

After his return to Oklahoma, Hawkins used his education as a employee of the Indian Bureau.  Also, Hawkins assisted many researchers who visited Cheyenne and Arapaho country - his role as interpreter was vital to Fred Eggan's classic 1937 work: The Cheyenne and Arapaho Kinship System.

As a Sand Creek Descendant, Hawkins was joined in many efforts by his cousin Sam Dicke (Shavehead).  Together, Hawkins and Dicke began a legacy of research that has continued to spur generations of Cheyenne genealogists and historians.

Kish Hawkins passed away on December 30,1951; he is buried in the Cheyenne and Arapaho Cemetery, Concho, Oklahoma.

Twelve years after Hawkins death, the first Sand Creek Descendants Association was officially chartered.