About White Thunder, Cheyenne Chief and Medicine Man
White Thunder, Wakinyan Ska, a Wazhazha leader was an influential Cheyenne leader and medicine man. He was the tribe's "Keeper of the Arrows," four arrows thought to have a sacred or medicinal role.
White Thunder was not always a peace chief. In his younger days he was an impressive warrior.
In 1857, when the Lakotas were engaged in tribal war against the Omahas, White Thunder is said to have killed the famous half-breed of the Omahas, Logan Fontenelle. At that time, White Thunder was in many battles to defend Lakota hunting grounds. In 1865, when the Lakotas were forcefully driven from Fort Laramie to the Missouri River, he participated in the Battle of Horse Creek, where he acted as a leading warrior. He killed the leader of the U.S. army command, Captain Fouts. In the same fight, it White Thunder was shot in the foot.
After moving to the agency, White Thunder enlisted in 1871 as a scout for General George Crook, serving for several years. He also was involved in the arrest of Crazy Horse in 1877.
In May 1884, he was shot to death by Young Spotted Tail and Thunder Hawk, after a feud between him and Spotted Tail´s eldest son. He wanted to entice White Thunder´s wife away. In return White Thunder and his friends shot all of his rivals horses. The trouble culminated in a shootout near Rosebud Agency, where White Thunder was killed.