Mato Winyan

Quapaw Tribe's last full-blood Indian dies

By Krista Duhon
The News-Record
http://www.miaminewsrecord.com/articles/2005/05/09/news/news%20000.txt

The Quapaw Indians are mourning the loss of the tribe's last pure-
blood, or "real Kwapa" male.

Robert Whitebird, known by many as "Bob" or "Big Bob" died Friday at
a local nursing facility. He was 92.

Whitebird was the first chairman of the Quapaw Tribal Business
Committee -- an office he served for 12 years. He was the first
president of the Inter-Tribal Council, Inc., a charter member of the
Oklahoma Indian Rights Association and the National Congress of
American Indians.

"He was an advocate for Indians before such a term existed," said
Whitebird's grandson, Robert Whitebird III.

He remembers his grandfather as a man of large stature who led by
example -- never using his size to intimidate.

"He was a quiet man," the young Whitebird said."But, when he spoke,
people listened because he had something of importance to say."



The senior Whitebird served as a spiritual leader for the tribe and
led the last ceremonial rites for many deceased tribal members --
telling them to walk toward the setting sun as he placed an eagle
feather into their hand.

"I prefer the Indian way," Robert Whitebird Sr. said in a 1986
interview as he contemplated his own death and the possibility of
becoming the last of his tribe's pure-blood members. "It makes me
reflect ... it makes me sad. "I don't want to be in some church ...
(however,) there may not be anyone around who knows what to do."

But Robert Whitebird Sr.'s life encouraged a new generation of tribal
members to seek knowledge of their ancestry and their traditions.

On Monday, Leanord Smith will conduct traditional Indian rites as his
elder is laid to rest.

There will be the traditional four days of mourning before his family
places moccasins of buckskin on his feet -- as is tradition -- lays
an eagle father in his hand and buries him in the morning light.

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"We see it as a desecration not only of a mountain but of our way of life. This is a genocidal issue to us. If they kill this mountain, they kill our way of life." ~Debra White Plume