Young Elk

Young Elk was a leader of the Omaha tribe in the mid-19th-century.

The Diary of Hosea Stout describes him as the son of Big Elk, and says that he was involved in peace negotiations with a group of Mormons regarding return of six stolen horses.^[1]

The Government of Nebraska released an article focused on the historical mystery surrounding the date of death for Big Elk.^[2] In this publication, there are references to ‘Big Elk the Second', with catalogue information indicating that 'Big Elk the Second' and 'Young Elk' are one and the same, describing him as: "a man of natural abilities, but took to dissipating, and died from the effects of [a] prolonged debauch at the foot of Blackbird Hill, and was buried by the grave of Blackbird in 1852.” ^[2]

History also mentions a son of 'Big Elk' named 'Standing Elk'. It is unclear whether this is another name for Young Elk or a sibling.^[3][4]

References

1. Coates, Lawrence G. Cultural Conflict: Mormons and Indians in Nebraska (PDF). Retrieved 2015-04-01.
2. Ludwickson, John. "The Death and Burial of Big Elk, the Great Omaha Chief" (PDF).
3. Robert A Trennert Jr, "The Mormons and the Office of Indian Affairs: The Conflict Over Winter Quarters, 1846-1848," Nebraska History 53 (1972): 381-400.
4. Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology: Omaha Sociology - Omaha Indian Heritage Project. Retrieved 2015-04-06.

External links

• "To Nebraska in 1857: A Diary of E.F. Beadle, part 3 of 4". Retrieved 2015-04-06.
• Standing Elk (Omaha), photographs by F. A. Rinehart, 1898, 1, 2, 3