Wapasha (1718-1806) was the name of a Mdewakanton Sioux chief. Wapasha was born in in present-day Minnesota in 1718. During his youth he befriended the agents of king Louis XV of France and was a long time friend to the French against the British. The French had enjoyed the loyalty of Wapasha and his Indian Followers who aided them in their defeat with the British. After the French defeat, the English were both suspicious and fearful of the Indians.

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  • Wapasha (1718-1806) was the name of a Mdewakanton Sioux chief. Wapasha was born in in present-day Minnesota in 1718. During his youth he befriended the agents of king Louis XV of France and was a long time friend to the French against the British. The French had enjoyed the loyalty of Wapasha and his Indian Followers who aided them in their defeat with the British. After the French defeat, the English were both suspicious and fearful of the Indians. As a result, there were no English trappers and traders bargaining with the Sioux. They had become more accustomed to hunting with rifles than bows and arrows. Fur trading with French trappers brought provisions and ammunition and the Dakota found it difficult to survive without this commerce. Several incidents that took place during the French and Indian War made English trappers apprehensive about returning to the Mississippi River valley. One such incident took place in 1761. A Dakota named Ixkatapay had shot an English trader called Pagonta by the Indians. The two had quarreled earlier, and Pagonta was reportedly killed while sitting in his cabin smoking. Ixkatapay was turned over to the British for the killing. Wapasha I led the party, composed of 100 men, to the English headquarters in Quebec. By the time Wapasha had reached Green Bay, Wisconsin, there were only six of the original 100 left, Wapasha and five braves. The others had drifted off in small groups. One of these deserting bands had taken Ixkatapay with them and returned to their homelands. Wapasha and the remaining five continued to Quebec and offered themselves as surrogates for Ixkatapay in the English court. Because Wapasha said he would have himself executed for Ixkatapay, the British decided to release both Wapasha and the formentioned brave out of Admiration. The Governor of New France awarded the Dakota chief seven military medals for his noble deed, hanging one around his neck in a ceremony at Fort Beauharnois,the chief and the Governor Became the best of friends. Wapasha then became a War chief and his forces fought in the American revolutionary war with the French Canadian militia against the British, Mohawk and Shawnee Armies. Wapasha himself was greeted by the salute of a cannon. Wapasha died of Throat Cancer just after the dawn of the 19th century. He was succeeded by his son, Wapasha II. A song was even dedicated to his noble father; "Hail to the chief! who his buffalo's back straddles, When in his own country far,far from this fort; whose brave young canoe men here hold up there paddles in hopes that the whizzing balls may give them sport. Hail! to the great Wapasha He comes, beat drums, the Sioux chief comes. They now strain there nerves till the canoe runs bounding As swift as the Solen goose skims o'er the wave While on the lake's boarder a guard is surrounding A space where to land the Sioux so brave. Hail! to great Wapasha! Soldiers!your triggers draw! Guard! wave the colors and beat the drum Hail! to great Wapasha Raise the banner, the King's friend has come"
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  • Wapasha (1718-1806) was the name of a Mdewakanton Sioux chief. Wapasha was born in in present-day Minnesota in 1718. During his youth he befriended the agents of king Louis XV of France and was a long time friend to the French against the British. The French had enjoyed the loyalty of Wapasha and his Indian Followers who aided them in their defeat with the British. After the French defeat, the English were both suspicious and fearful of the Indians.
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  • Wapasha I
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