Little Owl

Beah-at-sah-ah-tch-che, known commonly as Little Owl was a Northern Arapaho chief who signed the Treaty of Fort Laramie. Disturbed by the ways in which the United States government neglected to honor their promises made in the treaty, Little Owl refused to participate in discussion and signing of the Fort Wise Treaty.

Life Little Owl was chief of the Long Legs band of the Northern Arapaho people. His relative, Sherman Sage, a later elder, described life among his family. People lived in family groups, generally of groupings of sisters. There were generally four bands of northern Arapaho: the Beavers, Greasy Faces, the Quick-to-anger, and the Long Legs or Antelopes. Little Owl was still against moving his band of about 50 lodges to Sand Creek in 1863, when the reservation was established. There was no game on the land, and buffalo were 100 or more miles away. At the time, there was also dissension between the Northern and Southern Arapaho people. Starvation became a significant issue that caused concern that the Southern Arapaho might join the Sioux in a war against the whites.

During the Sand Creek massacre of November 29, 1864, whites attacked an encampment of Arapaho and Cheyenne without provocation. After that, Arapaho became known as "war chiefs" for their wars against the whites in Colorado, Wyoming, and Kansas.

Popular culture A book of Native American chiefs and leaders.