Victor Griffin (Quapaw)
| Victor William Griffin | |
|---|---|
| Geh-Hu-He Jinka | |
| Chief of the Quapaw Tribe, Peyote Roadman | |
|
In office 1929 – 1956/7 |
|
| Preceded by | John Quapaw |
| Succeeded by | Robert Whitebird |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1873 Indian Territory, modern day Osage County, Oklahoma |
| Died | April 10, 1958 (aged 84) Quapaw, Oklahoma |
| Spouse(s) | Good Eagle, Sarah Lewis, Minnie Track |
| Residence | Quapaw, Oklahoma |
| Alma mater | Quapaw Indian School |
| Profession | Interpreter, peyote roadman, chief |
| Known for | last elected Chief of the Quapaw Tribe prior to the creation of the Quapaw Tribal Business Committee |
Victor Griffin (c. 1873–1958) was the elected chief of Quapaw Tribe of Indians and a peyote roadman from Quapaw, Oklahoma. He conferred with every U.S. president during his term as chief.
Griffin also served as an interpreter and also was an important figure among the practitioners of the Big Moon variant of the Native American Church, and played a significant role in the spreading and continuing this religion among multiple tribes. Griffin was also a 32 degree Scottish Right Mason and a member of the Akdar Shrine.
Victor Griffin was born around 1873 in Indian Territory in what is now Osage County, Oklahoma. Griffin was orphaned at a young age, and was adopted and raised by Mary "Widow" Stafford.
Details about the early life of Griffin are scant and conflicting. Mary Stafford was born prior to the first Quapaw removal, and died at over 100 years of age and was buried on her home allotment. Due to his upbringing with Stafford, Griffin was fluent in the Quapaw language and well versed in tribal oral history. Griffin was given the Quapaw name Geh-Hu-He Jinka.
Being well educated and well spoken in both English and Quapaw, Griffin frequently served as a translator during meetings or when an elderly Quapaw tribal member needed his services, for example when drafting a will.
He was interviewed by many individuals such as news reporters and researchers. In 1940, linguist Frank T. Siebert interviewed Griffin regarding the Quapaw language; Griffin provided several Quapaw words to Siebert and stated to him "that Quapaw was closely related to Ponca and Omaha, especially to the latter... (you) should study these languages instead".
After the death of John Quapaw, elected chief of the Quapaw Tribe, Griffin was elected chief and served from 1920 to 1957.
During his tenure as chief, he frequently went to Washington D.C. for meetings in the interest of the Quapaw Tribe. It is noted that he met with every President of the United States that served during his time as chief. Griffin was also noted for being the first "Short-Haired Chief of the Quapaws," because he cut off his braids. He was quoted as saying "formerly our chiefs were chosen by inheritance but now we are elected".
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Wikipedia