Pearua-akupakup
| Piarʉ Ekarʉhkapʉ Big Red Meat / Red Food |
|
|---|---|
| Nokoni Comanche leader | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1820/1825 |
| Died | January 1, 1875 Fort Sill icehouse |
| Cause of death | sickness (probably pneumonia) |
| Children | |
| Known for |
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Big Red Meat (Comanche piarʉ ekarʉhkapʉ (big red-meat); c. 1820/1825 – January 1, 1875) was a Nokoni Comanche chief.
In his early life, Big Red Meat was trained under the Nokoni Chief Huupi-pahati, a.k.a. "Tall Tree", and his second-in-command Quenah-evah, a.k.a. "Eagle Drink". Quenah-evah later replaced Huupi-pahati, after his death, possibly due to the smallpox and cholera epidemics of 1849. Quenah-evah took the role of principal chief, presumably with Horseback's (Tʉhʉyakwahipʉ) as second-ranking chief, and Big Red Meat grew up as a war leader.
During the 1850s and 1860s, Big Red Meat gained fame among the other Native American tribes in Texas because of his success in battle against them.
Big Red Meat became the second chief of the Nokoni after Quena-evah's death and Horseback's choice as head chief, possibly in 1866.
When Horseback, as the first-ranking chief, signed the Medicine Lodge Treaty on behalf of the Nokoni on October 21, 1867, he emerged as the leader of the "peaceful" faction of the band. The second-ranking chief, Big Red Meat, led the uncompromising faction, and was joined by Tahka ("Arrowpoint"), the war chief of Horseback's group.
In 1868, the Comanche and Kiowa raids increased as Guipago had not signed the Medicine Lodge Treaty. In January, 25 people were killed, 9 more were scalped, and 14 children were kidnapped. In February, 7 people were killed, 5 children were kidnapped, and 50 horses and mules were stolen. Later that same year, Big Red Meat and some of his Nokoni followers (including possibly Tahka), together with Mow-way, who brought his Kotsoteka, and Satanta with his Kiowa braves led several raids through Texas. On October 6, in Montgomery County, 1 man was killed, 3 children were kidnapped, and many horses were stolen by a Kotsoteka and Nokoni Comanche party. In Atascosa County, 8 men were killed and several hundred horses were stolen by a Comanche and Kiowa party. In addition, the Indian warriors successfully defeated a posse of cowboys and farmers who were attempting to capture them.
On December 12, 1868, soldiers of the U.S. 3rd Cavalry and 37th Infantry arrived at the Nokoni village, later known as Soldier Spring, while Horseback was away. War Chief Tahka engaged them in battle. The Nokoni were defeated and Tahka died in the battle. The village was burned and the livestock were killed.
Big Red Meat was among the Comanche leaders involved in the fight against the buffalo hunters at Adobe Walls. After the Adobe Walls battle on June 27–28, 1874, several Yamparika (Isa-nanica, Hitetetsi aka Tuwikaa-tiesuat, Piyi-o-toho, and, camping nearby, Tabananika and Isa-rosa), Kotsoteka (Mow-way, also camping nearby), Nokoni (Big Red Meat) and Quahadi (Kobay-oburra, head chief after Parra-ocoom's death) bands went to the Fort Sill agency for the census and the distribution of annuities, but only Isa-nanica was allowed to stay in the Fort Sill reserve. The other chiefs had to lead their people to the Wichita agency at Anadarko. Following the killings carried out by the Kiowa, Capt. Gaines Lawson and his company (25th Infantry) were sent to garrison Anadarko. They were reinforced by Colonel John W. "Black Jack" Davidson with four companies of 10th Cavalry from Fort Sill. On August 22, near Anadarko, a cavalry detachment was sent to Big Red Meat's village (60 tents) to take their guns and bow-and-arrows, and deport the Nokoni to Fort Sill as prisoners. The Kiowa laughed at the misfortune of the Comanche, and the Nokoni warriors attacked the troop. The soldiers fired at both groups of natives as they fought. During the night Davidson ordered Comanche tents to be burned. The fight continued the following day, August 23, with four soldiers and 14 native warriors wounded (one more was killed). After this engagement, Nokoni and Kiowa retreated, burning the prairie and murdering some settlers near Anadarko and along the Beaver Creek. After this, Tosawi and Asa-havey led their Penateka to Fort Sill, while Horseback went with his Nokoni band to the Wichita agency. The Yamparika and Nokoni joined the Quahadi and Kotsoteka, camping at Chinaberry Trees, Palo Duro Canyon.
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