Red Fox James

Red Fox James at the White House, 1915

Rev. Red Fox James PH D. D. D.[1], also known as Red Fox Skiuhushu, was a Native American, presumed to be from the Blackfoot Tribe of Montana. He is best known for riding over 4,000 miles on horseback from state to state seeking approval for a day to honor Native Americans. On December 14, 1915, he presented the endorsements of 24 state governments at the White House.[2]

Red Fox was an active member of the Society of American Indians and was the Most High Chief of the Tipi Order of America. He was also the first to organize the Indian Boy Scouts in America, at the United States Indian School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.[3][4][5][6][7]

By 1920, Red Fox was the Head Chief of the American Indian Tepee Christian Mission, a cooperative of the American Christian Missionary Society.[4][8]

The First American Indian Boy Scout Troop

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In January 1915 he organized The First American Indian Boy Scout Troop; Boy Scout Troop 1 Carlisle, Pennsylvania.[9][5][10][11][12]

Support for women's suffrage

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Red Fox James was a supporter of giving women the right to vote, because "In the early days, before the white-man came, the Indian women had equal voice in the council, and even was [sic] elected chieftain..."[13]

New York City College speech

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On July 4, 1917 Red Fox James gave a speech at New York City College Stadium 25,000 people were present including US Secretary of War Newton D. Baker.[14]

Adoption of Florence Harding

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In 1920 Red Fox James, as Chief of The Tipi Order of America, presented Florence Harding with honorary Indian Citizenship and the Indian name "Snow Bird" meaning Worker.[15][16][17][18]

Known biographical timeline

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  • Born about 1884 in Blood Indian Reserve No. 148, Alberta Canada[19][20][1]
  • Father Thomas St. James
  • Mother Blackfoot Indian Woman
  • His cousin and later assistant Pastor Rev Black Hawk was born in 1896.[19]
  • 1914 Resident of Waldheim, Montana.[21] The town changed its name to Bundy when the railroad arrived in 1919 and was disestablished in 1935.[22][23]
  • First involved with Boy Scouts in 1914.
  • In January 1915. Organized The First American Indian Boy Scout Troop; Boy Scout Troop 1 Carlisle, Pennsylvania[9][5][10][11][12]
  • Ordained a minister in 1915.
  • Founded TeePee Order in 1915[24]
  • 1918 Founded The American Indian Christian Teepee Mission on the Yakima Indian Reservation in Washington State.[25]
  • Son Dr. Vincent Red Fox James, Jr[1]
  • Death date unknown ( after 1946 )[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Waukesha Daily Freeman from Waukesha, Wisconsin on October 17, 1946 · Page 2". 17 October 1946.
  2. ^ "Indian Affairs - National American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month History".
  3. ^ "The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Illinois) 1911-1917, March 04, 1915, NOON EDITION, Image 11". 4 March 1915.
  4. ^ a b "Letter : 1920 January 5, Red Fox Skiuhushu to Richard Henry Pratt". Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  5. ^ a b c "The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, July 08, 1914, Image 7". 8 July 1914.
  6. ^ "New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [New York]) 1866-1924, May 05, 1915, Image 7". 5 May 1915. p. 7.
  7. ^ "The Ogden standard-examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1920-current, July 07, 1922, LAST EDITION - 4 P. M., Image 14". 7 July 1922.
  8. ^ "Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) 1879-1948, July 07, 1919, Image 2". 7 July 1919. p. 2.
  9. ^ a b "Boys' Life". June 1915.
  10. ^ a b "Red Fox James". 17 May 2013.
  11. ^ a b "Charles".
  12. ^ a b "The Ogden standard-examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1920-current, July 07, 1922, LAST EDITION - 4 P. M., Image 14". 7 July 1922.
  13. ^ "The Coconino sun. (Flagstaff, Arizona) 1898-1978, September 22, 1916, Image 4". 22 September 1916.
  14. ^ "Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Arizona) 1890-1930, January 09, 1921, Image 2". 9 January 1921.
  15. ^ "The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, North Dakota) 1916-current, July 09, 1920, Image 3". 9 July 1920.
  16. ^ "South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, July 07, 1920, Morning Edition, Image 4". 7 July 1920. p. 4.
  17. ^ "Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vermont) 1866-1928, July 08, 1920, Image 4". 8 July 1920. p. 4.
  18. ^ "Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, July 07, 1920, Image 13". 7 July 1920. p. 13.
  19. ^ a b "Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) 1879-1948, June 25, 1919, Image 2". 25 June 1919. p. 2.
  20. ^ "Biographical Background for Red Fox Skiuhushu".
  21. ^ "The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minnesota) 1903-192?, September 05, 1918, Image 8". 5 September 1918.
  22. ^ "Bundy, Montana". 22 February 2013.
  23. ^ "Bundy, Montana - Bundy, Montana Map & Directions - MapQuest".
  24. ^ Hertzberg, Hazel W. (1971). The Search for an American Indian Identity: Modern Pan-Indian Movements. Syracuse University Press. ISBN 9780815600763.
  25. ^ Leahy, Todd; Wilson, Nathan (2016-07-29). Historical Dictionary of Native American Movements. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442268098.