Thomas Wakeman

Thomas Wakeman (Sioux: Wowinape) (1846 – January 13, 1886) was a Dakota (also known as Sioux) based in Dakota Territory who organized the first Sioux Indian YMCA. Over the years, 66 Sioux associations have been founded, and they have more than 1000 members. The father and son got the bounty posted against the Sioux, as they had been expelled from the state. Wowinape, who had fled back to Devil's Lake, was later captured, tried and sentenced to hang. He was sent to a prison camp in Davenport, Iowa. There he converted to Christianity and took the name Thomas Wakeman. He was pardoned in 1865 and settled in Dakota Territory.

Wakeman married Judith Minnetonka in January 1874. They had four sons and two daughters: Solomon, Ruth, John, Jesse, Ida, and Alex Wakeman.

Career On April 27, 1879 Thomas Wakeman and his friends started the Koskad Okodakiciye, a Young Man's Association, at Flandreau, Dakota Territory, now in South Dakota. In 1885, it was recognized by the national YMCA and its name was changed to Sioux YMCA. The term Sioux was used by European Americans, who did not distinguish among the various tribes.

Death Wakeman contracted tuberculosis and died at Redwood Falls, Minnesota on January 13, 1886. His son Jesse Wakeman succeeded his father at the YMCA.