Big Elk

Big Elk
Chief Big Elk by George Catlin, 1832.
Native name	Ontopanga
Born	1770
Died	1846/1853
Nationality	Omaha
Known for	A chief of the Omaha Indians, warrior, orator
Successor	Joseph LaFlesche
Children	Standing Elk (son) Mitain(daughter) Meumbane(daughter)

Big Elk, also known as Ontopanga (1770–1846/1853), was a principal chief of the Omaha tribe for many years on the upper Missouri River. He is notable for his oration delivered at the funeral of Black Buffalo in 1813.

Big Elk led his people during a time of increasing changes, with threats from Sioux warfare, disease and European-American encroachment. He created alliances to protect his people and prepare for a future which he thought depended on a closer relationship with the United States. He was willing to exchange land for the promise of protection for his people but was often disappointed by the failures of the US government.

Big Elk struggled to protect his people from encroachment by European Americans, but more importantly, from warfare by the Sioux. The Omaha suffered from smallpox epidemics in the early nineteenth century and were much reduced in number. Big Elk was among the Native American allies of the United States during the War of 1812, through his relations with the French-American trader Lucien Fontenelle. He also was seeking United States aid for protection against the Sioux.

Big Elk admired some aspects of European-American culture and made strategic alliances through the marriages of his daughters: two married prominent European-American fur traders. His mixed-race grandson Logan Fontenelle worked with the US Indian agent as interpreter for the Omaha from the age of 15. He was increasingly important after 1853, during negotiations for land sales. He may have been considered a chief for that process, but contemporary accounts were confusing. In 1855, he was killed by an enemy Sioux band. Fontenelle was one of the seven signatories to a treaty in 1854 by which the Omaha ceded most of their land to the United States, in exchange for annuities and goods.

In 1843 Chief Big Elk designated his adopted son Joseph LaFlesche as his successor; LaFlesche was a Métis fur trader of French-Canadian and Ponca descent, who lived many years with the Omaha. He was one of the chiefs who signed the 1854 treaty. Highly assimilated, LaFlesche served as principal chief from 1853/1855-1888, encouraging the Omaha to become educated and to adopt some European-American ways.