Tenskwatawa: Difference between revisions
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Based on his history, it seemed that he would never make a contribution to his tribe. However, that changed when Lalawethika was put in trance by the [[Master of Life]]. In May 1805, he experienced the first of several visions. In one of his alcoholic stupors he fell into a fire and was thought dead. Unexpectedly reviving, he recounted a powerful vision and soon began preaching. As a [[religion|religious]] leader, he taught that the [[whites|white]] [[United States|Americans]] were children of the [[Great Serpent]], the source of evil in the world. He also conducted witch hunts against Christian Indians. <!--http://nativenewsonline.org/history/hist1124a.html--> He forbade his people to use [[Europe]]an foods, [[clothing]], manufactured goods and [[alcohol]]. He changed his name to Tenskwatawa (The Open Door or One With Open Mouth). In 1808 Tenskwatawa and [[Tecumseh]] moved their followers to a new village called [[Prophetstown State Park|Prophetstown]] (Tippecanoe), near the present-day town of [[Battle Ground, Indiana|Battle Ground]], near the juncture of the [[Wabash River|Wabash]] and [[Tippecanoe River|Tippecanoe]] rivers in [[Indiana]]. |
Based on his history, it seemed that he would never make a contribution to his tribe. However, that changed when Lalawethika was put in trance by the [[Master of Life]]. In May 1805, he experienced the first of several visions. In one of his alcoholic stupors he fell into a fire and was thought dead. Unexpectedly reviving, he recounted a powerful vision and soon began preaching. As a [[religion|religious]] leader, he taught that the [[whites|white]] [[United States|Americans]] were children of the [[Great Serpent]], the source of evil in the world. He also conducted witch hunts against Christian Indians. <!--http://nativenewsonline.org/history/hist1124a.html--> He forbade his people to use [[Europe]]an foods, [[clothing]], manufactured goods and [[alcohol]]. He changed his name to Tenskwatawa (The Open Door or One With Open Mouth). In 1808 Tenskwatawa and [[Tecumseh]] moved their followers to a new village called [[Prophetstown State Park|Prophetstown]] (Tippecanoe), near the present-day town of [[Battle Ground, Indiana|Battle Ground]], near the juncture of the [[Wabash River|Wabash]] and [[Tippecanoe River|Tippecanoe]] rivers in [[Indiana]]. |
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===Beliefs=== |
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Tenskwatawa had a series of religious visions which transformed his life and led him to reject his old ways. More revelations followed in succeeding months, revelations that the white invaders from the east were “not my children, but the children of the Evil Spirit."<ref>Edmunds, ''The Shawnee Prophet'' p. 39 </ref>. He led a purification movement to return his people to their traditional ways, and to do extirpate the evils represented by the Americans. Indian witches still remained the most active agents of that spirit on earth, and Tenskwatawa so to identify and destroy them.<ref>Edmunds, ''The Shawnee Prophet'' p. 39 </ref>. |
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When some chiefs tried to promote compromise and conciliation, Tenskwatawa, proclaiming his obedience to the Great Spirit, lashed out against these government chiefs, depicting them as wicked traitors and minions of the Americans.<ref>Willig, ''Restoring the chain of friendship'' (2008) p. 207 </ref> |
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===Tecumseh's War=== |
===Tecumseh's War=== |
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Revision as of 19:57, 7 December 2010
Tenskwatawa, (also called Tenskatawa, Tenskwatawah, Tensquatawa or Lalawethika) (1775 – November 1836) was a Native American religious and political leader of the Shawnee tribe, known as The Prophet or the Shawnee Prophet. He was the brother of Tecumseh, leader of the Shawnee. He was originally given the name Lalawethika (He Makes a Loud Noise or The Noise Maker). He fathered a total of 20 children and had 3 wives.
Biography
Early years
Because his father died before he was born and because his mother left his family shortly after, Lalawethika grew up without parents. Lalawethika was then dependent on his siblings to teach him the Shawnee ways. Because he was not close to his older sister or older brother, he never learned how to hunt or fight successfully, skills essential to a Shawnee man. He also lost an eye in a hunting accident, and his poor looks and braggart personality didn't win him many friends. As a result, Lalawethika grew up to be the laughing-stock of his community and turned to alcohol.
Based on his history, it seemed that he would never make a contribution to his tribe. However, that changed when Lalawethika was put in trance by the Master of Life. In May 1805, he experienced the first of several visions. In one of his alcoholic stupors he fell into a fire and was thought dead. Unexpectedly reviving, he recounted a powerful vision and soon began preaching. As a religious leader, he taught that the white Americans were children of the Great Serpent, the source of evil in the world. He also conducted witch hunts against Christian Indians. He forbade his people to use European foods, clothing, manufactured goods and alcohol. He changed his name to Tenskwatawa (The Open Door or One With Open Mouth). In 1808 Tenskwatawa and Tecumseh moved their followers to a new village called Prophetstown (Tippecanoe), near the present-day town of Battle Ground, near the juncture of the Wabash and Tippecanoe rivers in Indiana.
Beliefs
Tenskwatawa had a series of religious visions which transformed his life and led him to reject his old ways. More revelations followed in succeeding months, revelations that the white invaders from the east were “not my children, but the children of the Evil Spirit."[1]. He led a purification movement to return his people to their traditional ways, and to do extirpate the evils represented by the Americans. Indian witches still remained the most active agents of that spirit on earth, and Tenskwatawa so to identify and destroy them.[2].
When some chiefs tried to promote compromise and conciliation, Tenskwatawa, proclaiming his obedience to the Great Spirit, lashed out against these government chiefs, depicting them as wicked traitors and minions of the Americans.[3]
Tecumseh's War
There is some disagreement among historians over whether Tecumseh or Tenskwatawa was really the primary leader of the Pan-Indian community that grew up around Prophetstown. Either way, Tenskwatawa's preachings grew more militant and narrowly political from 1808-1811, as more and more young disaffected warriors from nearby tribes joined his movement. By 1811, both white settlers in the region and the U.S. Army had become quite concerned about what was happening at Prophetstown.
Late in 1811, Tecumseh journeyed south to meet with representatives of other tribes in hopes of building a larger alliance, leaving Tenskwatawa in command at Prophetstown. According to legend, Tecumseh ordered Tenskwatawa to avoid any confrontation with whites during his absence. However, on November 7, 1811, while Tecumseh was still away, Tenskwatawa saw a vision and told the other Indians to attack the coming white people. The Americans were under the command of future President William Henry Harrison. Tenskwatawa's forces were soundly defeated. (See the Battle of Tippecanoe.) It was a two hour battle that left many Indians dead or wounded. The Indians buried their men in the night, and stripped The Prophet of his powers. The village at Prophetstown was burned down and the defeat put an end to Tecumseh's hope of a broad Native alliance.
With his brother, Tenskwatawa participated in the defense of the Canadian colonies during the War of 1812. In 1813 he was present at the Battle of the Thames, but fled with the British forces and was absent when Tecumseh was killed.
Later years and death
In the following decade he unsuccessfully tried to regain a position of leadership among Native Americans. In 1825 he returned to the United States and assisted in removing many of the Shawnees west of the Mississippi. In 1826 he established a village at the site of modern Kansas City, Kansas. He died in 1836 at his village in Kansas City, Kansas (located in the Argentine area; the White Feather Spring marker notes the location).
Tenskwatawa in fiction
Tenskwatawa, along with his brother Tecumseh, is one of the major characters in Orson Scott Card's alternate history fantasy series of novels The Tales of Alvin Maker (especially the second book, Red Prophet). In those books he is called Tenskwa-Tawa (previously Lolla-Wossiky).
He is a supporting character in James Alexander Thom's historical novel Panther in the Sky.
Further reading
- Pirtle, Alfred. (1900). The Battle of Tippecanoe. Louisville: John P. Morton & Co./ Library Reprints. p. 158. ISBN 9780722265093. as read to the Filson Club.
External links
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
Wilson, J. G.; Fiske, J., eds. (1900). Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)
