John Buck

John Buck, titled Skanawati among other variants, (Variant transliterations include Sha-na-wa-de and Shanawati.) A contemporary source translated Ska-na-wa-ti as meaning "beyond the swamp" and said that the name had been in his family for several generations.

Background Buck (third from left), with other leaders of the Six Nations, 1871. John Buck was born . He was described in an obituary as being descended from "ancient Iroquois nobility" and was of Tutelo descent.

Role as cultural keeper Buck assumed the role of wampum keeper in 1843. As the official keeper of the wampum records of the Haudenosaunee, he was described as being a "conservative" leader who closely followed the traditional customs of his people. Although Buck did not speak the language, he gave lengthy interviews with English-speaking historians in an effort to preserve Haudenosaunee culture.

Political advocacy In June 1887, Buck and several other members of the Haudenosaunee petitioned the Canadian government to repeal portions of the Franchise Act, which had offered tribes including the Onondaga the right to vote.

Work with anthropologists He was friends with Horatio Hale. Frank Speck purchased Buck's ritual mask collection.

Death and legacy He died in 1893, aged approximately 75. (Kenyon and Kenyon estimate Buck's birth as between 1823 and 1826, suggesting that he was younger than 75 in 1893.)