Chiefs and leaders of the Pembina & Turtle Mountain Band

1874 Delegation to Washington DC

Hereditary Head Chiefs

​ ‘Aisance’ Little Shell I (b. ca.1756 – d. 1813)

• Term of Leadership from about 1776 to 1813. Killed in battle at Devil’s Lake.

‘Makadeshib’ Black Duck (b. ca. 1790 – d. 1824)

• Served as ‘regent’ from 1813 until 1815, until Weesh-e-damo (Little Shell II) came of age.

‘Weesh-e-damo’ Little Shell II (b.  ca. 1895 – d. 1872)

• Assumed leadership of the band from 1815 until his death in 1872.

‘Ayabe-way-we-tung’ Little Shell III (b. 1830 – d. 1903)

• Served as head chief from 1872 until his death in 1903. He had no successor.

Alternative Chiefs (appointed by the US)

‘Misko-Makwa’ Red Bear (b. 1829 – d. 1879)

• Served as a chief of a competing group of Pembina before and during the 1863 treaty. After signing the 1864 amendment, his influence waned and his group of followers was absorbed under Little Shell’s leadership. 

‘Way-shaw-wash-ko-quen-abay’ Green Setting Feather (also called Sakikwanel)

• Was appointed “chief” of the Indians camped at Pembina by Major Samuel Wood while Little Shell II was away in Canada.

‘Majekkwadjiwau’ End of the Current

• Appointed as 1st chief by Maj. Wood

‘Kakakanawakkagan’ Long Legs

• Appointed as 2nd chief by Maj. Wood

Half-Breed ‘Chiefs’ (Appointed by Maj. Wood in 1850)

J.B. Wilkie (b. 1803 – d. 1886)
J.B. Dumont (b. 1799 – d. 1884)
Baptiste Vallee (b. 1810 - d. ???)
Edward Harmon (b. ca. 1805 - d. ???)
Joseph Laverdure (b. 1814 – d. 1888)
Joseph Nolin (b. 1804 – d. 1872)
Antoine “Labelle” Azure (b. 1794 – d. ???)
Robert “Bonhomme” Montour (b. 1787 -  d. 1857)
Baptiste Lafournaise (b. 1815 – d. ???)

Sub-Chiefs & Headmen

'Mis-to-ya-be' Little Bull

• 1st sub-chief to Little Shell III in 1876

'Kaeespa' Something Blown up by the WInd (Joseph Gourneau)

• 2nd sub-chief to Little Shell III in 1876

'Ke-wo-sais-we-ro' The Man Who Knows How to Hunt

• 3rd sub-chief to Little Shell III in 1876

Auguste

• 4th sub-chief to Little Shell III in 1876 (removed to White Earth)

'Misko-biness' Red Thunder

• 1st sub-chief to Little Shell III in 1896

'Susswain' Man Afraid of His Trails (Henri Poitra)

• 2nd sub-chief to Little Shell III in 1896

Louis Lenoir

• 3rd sub-chief to Little Shell III in 1896

'Oske-na-wince' Young Man

• 4th sub-chief to Little Shell III in 1896

Modern Chiefs

'Kakenowash' Flying Eagle

• Successor to Little Shell III

'Kanick' Walking with Thunder

• ​Last chief and first Chairman of the Turtle Mountain Tribe