Joseph LaFlesche
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Joseph LaFlesche (ca 1820-1888), also known as E-sta-mah-za or Iron Eye, was the last recognized chief according to the old rituals of the Omaha tribe of Native Americans. He was the son of the French fur trader Joseph LaFlesche and his Ponca Indian wife. Iron Eye became the adopted son of Chief Big Elk of the Omaha; Big Elk personally selected him as his successor for chief. Iron Eye believed that his people's future lay in education and assimilation, including the adoption of the white man's agriculture and in accepting Christianity. This was met with some resistance among members of the tribe. He was a strong influence on his children, among them the Native American activists Susette LaFlesche Tibbles and Francis LaFlesche, and physician Susan LaFlesche Picotte. Although these siblings disagreed about political and economic issues, all of them worked for the improvement of the quality of life for Native Americans and particularly for the Omaha tribe in Nebraska.
| Preceded by Big Elk (younger) |
Leading chief of the Omaha tribe ?-1888 |
Succeeded by ' |
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