KINGFISHER — The City of Kingfisher, Oklahoma has a newly built visitor’s center, and a new sculpture that depicts Cheyenne Medicine Man Lame Bull in front of their new facility.
The Kingfisher Visitor’s Center will present the unveiling of the new sculpture of Cheyenne Medicine Man Lame Bull and historical marker at 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. The event will feature a ceremonial blessing by Cheyenne Peace Chief Gordon Yellowman Sr. and unveiling by Lamebull descendants. Special remarks are scheduled from descendants of Lame Bull along with Cheyenne and Arapaho Governor Reggie Wassana and Cheyenne District 1 Legislator George Woods.
Lame Bull Of the Cheyenne (Hotóávé'áhe)
Lame Bull is honored here as a prominent medicine man, artist, and leader within the Cheyenne. He was also a Cheyenne Arrow Priest and knowledgeable of Cheyenne Arrow ceremony. He was born in 1833 to Shaking Crane and Yellow Horse Woman and lived most of his life with the Cheyenne and So'taeo'o Tribes in what is now the states of Montana and South Dakota. Despite his disability, Lame Bull became a prominent Dog Soldier War Society Member and fought in several battles including the Battle of Little Big Horn in Southern Montana. Lame Bull was married to Bull Behind Woman and settled in the geographical location of what is now downtown Oklahoma City around 1890. As Oklahoma approached its statehood and the Land Run drew near, many bands were, once again, removed from their settlements and Lame Bull moved his camp to what is now Western Kingfisher County where the Lame Bull allotment remains. Lame Bull passed away on February 20, 1901 followed by his wife Bull Behind Woman in 1908 and are both buried on the allotment. Today the Lamebull name still lives on with several great-grandchildren, some whom were born and raised on the historic family grounds. Lame Bull's teachings, art, and stories remain still, being passed down through the generations.
“The city of Kingfisher is proud to bring a piece of Cheyenne history to the Visitors Center,” Dee Alexander, decendant of Lame Bull said. “The Lame Bull name is known within the Cheyenne Tribe and long-time Kingfisher residents have known the Lame Bull family and their residence west of town. Lame Bull was known as one of the most powerful Cheyenne Indian medicine men.”
The event is open to the public and is being sponsored by the Kingfisher’s Visitor Center. Sculpture and historical marker sponsors are the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribe, the tribe’s Cultural Affairs Office, and great grandson Robert Lamebull. Family members are attending from across the country.
Event is scheduled from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 27, 2021.
For more information contact John Gooden, sculptor / project manager at 405-361-7111 or by email at john@goodenstudios.com.