Chief Eagle Friend - Assiniboin - Wolf Point Montana

Lisa Fretwell I created this page to share the memory of my grandfather with others.
~ Lisa Fretwell ~ Fretwell Flutes

Chief Eagle Friend
Whabnee Taco Nah-Koo

Lived among us
from 1911-1989

"May the trails thru the journey of your life shine bright with love, happiness and understanding."
~~ Chief Eagle Friend

My grandfather devoted his time on this earth to the re-education of the general public. During my grandfather's lifetime, the history of the Native American Tribes was very distorted. The history books and the movies implied that the "Indians" were not human beings. They represented them in movies as savages and never told the real stories. My grandfather traveled to Schools, Groups, and anywhere that would have him speak. He did this, so that the history of the American Indian, would be told from the American Indian perspective. He set-up a display in shopping malls. He took his traveling museum of artifacts all over. Starting in 1968, he rode in the Tournament of Roses Parade in California for many years. He was the first Native American to participate in the Tournament of Roses parade since 1904. He rode in the Parada-Del-Sol in Scottsdale, AZ for many years

My grandfather was Whabnee Taco Nah-Koo.
~ Assiniboin Tribe of the Fort Peck Reservation at Wolf Point Montana.

"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
.

Chief Eagle Friend ~ Assiniboin - Ada Zehrbach

Grandpa (Chief Eagle Friend),
Grandma (Woman Who's Hair is Gold), and Joshua Wetsit (Chief First To Fly)

Joshua Wetsit (Chief First to Fly) Wolf Point Montana

Chief First to Fly
Joshua Wetsit

Joshua Wetsit (Chief First to Fly) and Isabel (Spear Woman)
Wolf Point Montana

Joshua Wetsit (Chief First To Fly)
Grandpa (Chief Eagle Friend),
at a Rendezvous with Bill Williams Mt. Men Arizona State Coliseum - 3-19-1966

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.

Chief Eagle Friend ~ Lisa Pauline Herron

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.

Here's my mom, me and my grandma

Mobile Museum

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

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

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

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
Buffalo Skull - Turqoise

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

Chief Eagle Friend

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.

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

My husband I
put the poem to
Native American Flute music.

Listen to it:
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Lisa Fretwell
Grandaughter
Chief Eagle Friend
with husband, Jerry.

Jerry Fretwell

Lisa Fretwell
Grandaughter
"Chief Eagle Friend"

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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