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Chief
Eagle Friend
Whabnee Taco
Nah-Koo
Lived among us
from 1911-1989 |
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I created this page
to share the memory of my grandfather with others.
~ Lisa
Fretwell ~ Fretwell Flutes |
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"May
the trails thru the journey of your life shine bright with love,
happiness and understanding."
~~ Chief Eagle Friend |
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My grandfather was
Whabnee Taco Nah-Koo. He was adopted into the Assiniboin
Tribe of the Fort Peck Reservation at Wolf Point Montana as a
full member and later made chief. He was given the name "Friend
of Eagle". He rode in the Tournament of Roses Parade in
California for many years. He rode in the Parada-Del-Sol in Scottsdale,
AZ for many years and in 1967 won the top trophy. He traveled
around to schools and other places with his mobile museum educating
the public. He was an artist. He created turquoise and silver
jewelry.
...Excerp from a letter
written by Chief Eagle Friend to his cousin dated 12-31-66
"Received your nice card and the note. Yes, I've become
an Indian. I am a full member of the Assiniboin tribe of the
Fort Peck Reservation at Wolf Point Montana and a year ago
was given the highest honor that an Indian can hope for. I
was made a Chief and a very impresssive ceremony was held
in my honor. The tails of feathers were given me to wear and
in the presence of 600 Indian and Whites was given the name of
"Friend of Eagle" The respect, which I enjoy from Indian
and Whites which were present made me feel very proud indeed.
I'm sure you're wondering why or how this honor was bestowed
on me. Quite some time ago I began speaking to schools, girl
scout groups and other clubs on Indian lore and custom. I was
invited to join a dancing group of 55 Indian dancers from various
tribes of the Plains group. After performing with this group,
we had a visit from two old people from the Assiniboins, Chief
First to Fly and an Old Medicine Man Al First to Sound. I soon
became very close to them and after they found I was actually
white, they ask me, and since the medicine man was present, if
I would like to become one of them, naturally I was honored and
accepted. After about 4 months of increased speaking activities
trying to further the Indian Cause, I was approached with the
idea of being made a Chief. You can well imagine my feeling of
pride, so the ceremony was planed, the feathers which I wear
represent deed's of honor. Recently I've been visiting childrens
wards at hospitals and people who are confined " in full
dress, of course". My lodge (tipi) is very nice, but as
yet has not been blessed, the symbols which are on the tipi,
have to be blessed in a ceremony before the lodge can be shown
to the public. This will be done in Feb. I also have a tape recording
of this ceremony... My people, the assiniboin tribe are making
me a bonnett now of all Eagle feather, (tail feathers). They
have had to go all the way into Canada to get them. As you know
our government says it is unlawful to own the eagle feathers,
except in cases such as this so I am now looking forward to getting
it. The one I wear is also Ealge but was not made by my people,
even though it was placed on my head by the old medicine man
and the oldest Chief of the Assiniboin in a most impressive cermony."~~ Chief Eagle Friend |
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"With majestic wings, the Eagle Soars on freedom's
breath
We are One.
His soul is blessed
by the Great Spirit and is at peace.
We are One.
With a valiant
heart he fights in his struggle to be.
We are One.
We are One. I
am the Eagle. The Eagle is me. "
~~ Chief Eagle Friend
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Grandpa (Chief Eagle Friend),
Grandma (Woman Who's Hair is Gold), and Joshua Wetsit
(Chief First To Fly) |
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Joshua Wetsit (Chief
First to Fly) Wolf Point Montana
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Chief
First to Fly
Joshua Wetsit |

Joshua Wetsit (Chief
First to Fly) and Isabel (Spear Woman)
Wolf Point Montana |
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Joshua Wetsit
(Chief
First To Fly)
Grandpa (Chief Eagle Friend),
at a Rendezvous with Bill Williams Mt. Men Arizona State Coliseum
- 3-19-1966 |
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As Chief he performed
marriage ceremonies. I attended one such ceremony. It was an
awesome experience.
The couple he married is in the center of the picture. Grandpa
is on the right. I don't know the name of the fellow on the left. |
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This is a picture
of my grandpa (Chief Eagle Friend), my grandma, my mom,
my sister, me and my brother on the day of the wedding ceremony.
I'm the little girl in the middle with the hot pink pants. Picture
was taken sometime between 1972-1974. |
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Here's my mom, me
and my grandma |
Mobile Museum
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Grandpa (Chief Eagle Friend), traveled around with his mobile
museum educating the public. He had Native American artifacts
galore. These included his full headdress, bonnets, his tipi
(which he sometimes set up), a huge drum, stuffed mountain lion,
many different animal skins, arrow heads, toma hawks, moccasins
that once belonged to "Sitting Bull", a huge stuffed
buffalo and much much more. He visited schools, clubs, shopping
malls etc.. with his museum on wheels. He educated people on
Native American culture, traditions, and history. |
Educational Lectures
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Grandpa spent most of his
time traveling around to schools, clubs, shopping malls etc..
giving lectures and answering questions on Native American culture,
history, and traditions. Public awareness was important to him.
He tried to educate people in the hopes of removing the stigmatism
and prejudice involving Native Americans. |
Parades ~ The
Tournament of Roses

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Starting in the year 1968,
Grandpa rode the Leonard Appaloosa Stallion named "The
Wheel" in the tournament of Roses Parade.
He was the first Native American to participate in the Tournament
of Roses parade since 1904.
He rode many years in this parade. He was division Marshall once.
He rode in many other parades throughout the southwest. |
Silversmith ~Turquoise
Jewelry
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Grandpa (Chief Eagle Friend), was a master silversmith. He made
jewelry and created phenomenal pieces of art. In these pictures
he is wearing his bolo tie, belt buckle and bracelet.
These are exceptionally large pieces of turquoise. Everything
grandpa did, he did in a BIG way. He lived his life, ~ BIG ~.
He loved his family, ~ BIG ~. He taught me to embrace whatever
I was doing and do it ,~ BIG ~. Life is too short to live small. |
Buffalo Skull
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This piece took him a long
time to create. It is individual pieces of turquoise. Each piece
is set in fine silver and affixed to the skull.
" I
helped him make this piece" ~~ Lisa |
Steer Skull
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This piece took him awhile
to create. It is individual pieces of turquoise. Each piece is
set in fine silver and affixed to the skull. |
Grandpa had a
dream and from that came this poem.
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To The Woman Who
Sat By My Side
Today, I take the white
man's magic stick
That makes the marks on the talking leaf.
It will say the thoughts in my heart.
My heart is sad now.
It says the place where you sat in my tipi is empty.
I sing to myself;
But my thoughts say back to me the many times
I shared my food with you.
I go to hunt for food.
And I talk to the bear and the deer.
They look in my eyes; And say how sad they are.
Soon the Big Snows will come.
And I will again change the place of my tipi
To where the Warm Sun shines.
Again my heart will be sad and cry.
But soon; the Great Father;
Father of All Fathers Before Us, will come
And say to me, "Follow me now."
And we will once again sit by the fire
And say good things to each other;
And make our hearts happy again.
Now, into the wind I throw the leaf.
When you find it I will know.
And my heart will be happy.
And sing again.
Together.
Forever.
H. Zehrbach
Chief Eagle Friend
Copyright © All Rights Reserved
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My husband I
put the poem to
Native American Flute music.
Listen
to it:
Click
Here |

Lisa
Fretwell
Grandaughter
Chief Eagle Friend
with husband, Jerry. |
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Jerry Fretwell |
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Lisa Fretwell
Grandaughter
"Chief Eagle Friend" |
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Grandpa was an exceptional
man. He and my grandmother had 3 children, 10 grandchildren,
and many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
I miss him a lot. |
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Our Native
American Flute Music
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Now Playing |
"I Did Not Die"
from our CD Spirit Flyer. |
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