My Tanksi Toni Eagleman, her children and grandchildren come from a very distinguished and respected lineage of Hunkpapa Leadership. Her beloved parents are Gretchen and Oliver Eagleman. Her father, Oliver, is the Grandson of the great Hunkpapa leader, Chief Gall, who fought and was badly wounded in Greasy Grass Battle, (Little Bighorn). Chief Gall was married to Birdnest Woman and they had one child, Julia Beard Gall. Tanksi Toni can fill in the rest.
Chief Gall had a Hunka Ceremony for my Great Grandfather, Tipi Sapa, Philip Deloria and adopted him as his Misuŋka or Misu, younger brother. In that Hunka Ceremony Chief Gall gave Tipi Sapa more than 1000 acres to establish the St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church and School, along with many cattle, horses and buffalo robes.
My Tahansi Greg Sherwood said that that sometimes we are closer to our Hunka Relatives than are blood relatives, because we choose our Hunka relatives because of their character, personality, spiritual qualities and other dimensions we love and appreciate.I agree from my experience, as well. Whether your relative is blood or Hunka, the greatest achievement of a Dakota, Nakota or Lakota, according to my Grandmother Ella Deloria, is to be a good relative!
