Also known as "Red Cap", story below. He was a chief of a Mdewakanton Santee band of Dakotas in southeastern Minnesota when the French claimed the region. When the French accused him of killing a Frenchman in 1736, the Dakota then forced the French traders out of Sioux lands in 1737. Wabasha met Pierre Paul Marin on the Rock River, and Pierre took him to a Montreal council in 1740. About 1743-46 when word of the new French war reached Michilimackinac a group of voyageurs deserted the French for the far west, some living among the Sioux. In 1746 Wabasha negotiated a peace with his mother's people, the Chippewas, traditional enemies of the Sioux. When a Dakota brave kills a British trader, Wabasha ordered the brave's capture and set out to Canada to deliver him to authorities. His prisoner escaped en route. Wabasha offered himself in Montreal in place of the culprit, to protect his people from recrimination. This gained him respect from the British. Rather than becoming their prisoner, he was treated as a hero. They admired his ethics, that he would give up his life to compensate for the killing by an escaped Dakota, thus he salvaged the trade relationship with the British. Chief Wa-pa, was sent back to his home and his people, bearing gifts of ammunition, and trinkets. In gratitude, he requested a British flag to wave over his territory. The Governor of Montreal gifted him with a uniform as well, including a red cap, and then he was given seven medals for delivery to each of his seven bands. In Spring when they returned to their village dressed in their finest, marching into the village led by Wa-pa, the chief was wearing his red cap, and was waving the Brtish flag. The chief was hailed as Wah-pa-ha-shaw, which meant "Red Cap", soon shorten to the name, "Wah-pa-shaw. He fought on the side of the British during the American Revolution. After the war, Wabasha established the new village of Kiyuska at present-day Winona, Minnesota. He was succeeded by his son of the same name, also called The Leaf in English. In the early 1770's Wabasha battled the Chippewas on several occasions. In 1779-1781 smallpox strikes Sioux villages. While at his favorite encampment on the Root River, now Houston County, he succumbed to neck cancer on January 5, 1806, and was taken to Prarie du Chien for burial. Wabasha's village is now the city of Winona in Minnesota.
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Chief Red Leaf Wáhpe Šá I Wabasha was born in 1720, in Beltrami, Minnesota, United States, his father, Chief PA-HA'TANKA wa-bom-du NoKa Nokay Snow Mountain Kitche Nokay Snow Mountain Kitche Nokay Waishkey, was 25 and his mother, Ojibway Woman, was 16. He married Obenge Scarlet Plume Eshipequag in 1739, in Mille Lacs, Minnesota, United States. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 13 daughters. He died on 5 January 1806, in Houston, Minnesota, United States, at the age of 86, and was buried in Prairie du Chien, Crawford, Wisconsin, United States.
Also known as "Red Cap", story below. He was a chief of a Mdewakanton Santee band of Dakotas in southeastern Minnesota when the French claimed the region. When the French accused him of killing a Frenchman in 1736, the Dakota then forced the French traders out of Sioux lands in 1737. Wabasha met Pierre Paul Marin on the Rock River, and Pierre took him to a Montreal council in 1740. About 1743-46 when word of the new French war reached Michilimackinac a group of voyageurs deserted the French for the far west, some living among the Sioux. In 1746 Wabasha negotiated a peace with his mother's people, the Chippewas, traditional enemies of the Sioux. When a Dakota brave kills a British trader, Wabasha ordered the brave's capture and set out to Canada to deliver him to authorities. His prisoner escaped en route. Wabasha offered himself in Montreal in place of the culprit, to protect his people from recrimination. This gained him respect from the British. Rather than becoming their prisoner, he was treated as a hero. They admired his ethics, that he would give up his life to compensate for the killing by an escaped Dakota, thus he salvaged the trade relationship with the British. Chief Wa-pa, was sent back to his home and his people, bearing gifts of ammunition, and trinkets. In gratitude, he requested a British flag to wave over his territory. The Governor of Montreal gifted him with a uniform as well, including a red cap, and then he was given seven medals for delivery to each of his seven bands. In Spring when they returned to their village dressed in their finest, marching into the village led by Wa-pa, the chief was wearing his red cap, and was waving the Brtish flag. The chief was hailed as Wah-pa-ha-shaw, which meant "Red Cap", soon shorten to the name, "Wah-pa-shaw. He fought on the side of the British during the American Revolution. After the war, Wabasha established the new village of Kiyuska at present-day Winona, Minnesota. He was succeeded by his son of the same name, also called The Leaf in English. In the early 1770's Wabasha battled the Chippewas on several occasions. In 1779-1781 smallpox strikes Sioux villages. While at his favorite encampment on the Root River, now Houston County, he succumbed to neck cancer on January 5, 1806, and was taken to Prarie du Chien for burial. Wabasha's village is now the city of Winona in Minnesota.
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Chief Red Leaf Wáhpe Šá I Wabasha was born in 1720, in Beltrami, Minnesota, United States, his father, Chief PA-HA'TANKA wa-bom-du NoKa Nokay Snow Mountain Kitche Nokay Snow Mountain Kitche Nokay Waishkey, was 25 and his mother, Ojibway Woman, was 16. He married Obenge Scarlet Plume Eshipequag in 1739, in Mille Lacs, Minnesota, United States. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 13 daughters. He died on 5 January 1806, in Houston, Minnesota, United States, at the age of 86, and was buried in Prairie du Chien, Crawford, Wisconsin, United States.
