Tall Chief (ca. 1840-1918) was a hereditary chief of the Quapaw Tribe and a peyote roadman. He served in this position after his father, Lame Chief, died in 1874, until his own death in 1918 at around 78 years old.
Tall Chief was the last individual to be selected in the traditional manner from a hereditary chief line among the Quapaw people.Tall Chief also facilitated the introduction of the Peyote Religion among the Quapaw and Osage people
Tall Chief was born around 1840 in Indian Territory along the Neosho River in what is now Kansas at a Quapaw village referred to as Hu-cha-pa Tah-wha. His father was a hereditary Chief named Ka-hi-ka te-dah, or Lame Chief, and his mother was named Mi-ska no-zhe, or White Sun Standing; both of Tall Chief’s parents were Quapaw. Tall Chief’s given name was Wa-zhi Hunka which in the Quapaw language refers to an eagle in Quapaw tradition which led the people to the earth. Tall Chief would translate this name as “Sacred Angel Bird” which led to him receiving the English name “Louis Angel”.
Around 1870, when Tall Chief was approximately 30 years old, the group of Quapaws he belonged to moved from Hu-cha-pa Tah-wha to a location near present-day Skiatook, Oklahoma
Tall Chief’s father Lame Chief died in 1874, at which point Tall Chief was chosen to succeed his father in his position in the traditional fashion.Multiple peace medals from European governments had been given to Quapaw Chiefs in the past; these were passed to Tall Chief and continue to be passed down among his descendants today.
Tall Chief was a highly respected leader of the Quapaw people and was often asked to name children, perform marriages, and officiate at tribal ceremonies.His testimony was also sought on many occasions for legal proceedings regarding Quapaw tribal members.
While serving as Chief, he became known as Ki-he-kah-steh-teh or “Tall Chief” on account of height, which was further accentuated by his habit of wearing large hats with eagle feathers placed in them
