Beth Shumway Moore and Blackhawk Walters with a combined talent of one hundred and fifty years; tell stories from a view point that will soon be lost forever.
Blackhawk as a young boy kneeling at Geronimo's grave making a vow that he would be a great warrior and keep American Indian History alive. Blackhawk's father; a Virginia Game Warden, had connections with the elders who had hunted and fished the home lands of the Virginia tribe. When the elders heard his son was a descendant of Oklahoma Indians; they were anxious to hear the stories of great Indian Warriors and they were more than happy to share the story of Opecancanough. Opencancanough was a great warrior who was made a slave and later returned to lead his people as a War Chief. When he was one hundred years old; he led his warriors into battle and almost stopped the colonization of America. 'The Legend of Red Eagle' a mixed blood Indian who stood toe to toe with General Andrew Jackson and watched his warriors get slaughtered, leaving only a handful alive. The next day; riding blazingly into General Jackson's camp, he confronted him with the words, "I am Red Eagle, great Chief of the Red Sticks. I am not afraid of you. I fear no man. You can kill me if you desire. I have fought the white people with bravery and damaged them all I could. If I had an army I would continue to fight. I have none. My people are gone. Once I could animate my warriors to battle, but I cannot animate the dead."
Blackhawk has dedicated over 50 years of his life not only learning oral history but researching historical documents to put time and places of the 'Red History' with the 'White History.' The time has passed where American Indians would gather around the campfire and tell their oral history. Just as the young white generation; the younger American Indians want instant gratification of the internet, cell phones and yes, even e-books. Luckily for the readers that Beth Shumway Moore heard Blackhawk tell these stories sitting around campfires at Utah's Village of Many Nations. After many years and lots of convincing she talked him into putting these Legends into print so they would be saved for prosperity. Beth and Blackhawk admit these are 'Legends' based on true history that has never been told from the Indian's point of view. Are they biased...? HECK YEA! Isn't it about time we have the people who have been under attack for over 500 years tell their side of the story? Sit back and enjoy the 'Legends of the Chiefs;' a history of great American Indian Warriors like you have never heard before.
