Hišjahįšišika Hochunk (abt. 1774)

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Hišjahįšišika was Ho-Chunk.

Biography

Hišjahįšišika was born about 1774. He is the son of Unknown Hochunk.

"Stephen Mack of Pecatonic, Winebago County, State of Illinois being sworn saith that he has been married about ten years, that his wife is named Hononegah, and that she is of three fourths or full Winebago blood That the father of Sd woman was named Blacksmith and resided at or near the four Lakes, and has been dead about 18 years. Deponent has been unable to ascertain fully whether Sd Blacksmith was a half, or a full Blood Wiinebago, but knows that he was at least half — The mother of Deponent’s wife was a full Blood Winebago woman, has been dead Several years — Deponent’s wife has one sister and three Uncles now living in the vicinity of this place [Prairie du Chien]. The Uncles names are Co-no saip kah (or Little Black), Es tche e she sheek, and Ho ro hon kak — the sisters name is We hun see gah." (Waggoner, 25a)

Name

Es-tche-e-she-sheek is for Hišjahįšišika, which is from hišjahį, "eyelashes" (< hišja, "face"; hį, "hair"); šišik, "bad, evil"; -ka, a definite article suffix used in personal names. As an Eagle Clan name, it would refer to the lack of eyelashes in raptorial birds.

Clan

Inasmuch as his brother's name is Xorahųka, an attested Eagle Clan name, Hišjahįšišika is also a member of this clan, since membership is patrilineal.

Sources

• Norton William Jipson, Story of the Winnebagoes (Chicago: The Chicago Historical Society, 1923). This is an unpublished typescript.
• Linda M. Waggoner (ed.), “Neither White Men Nor Indians: Affidavits from the Winnebago Mixed-blood Claim Commissions, Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin, 1838-1839” (Roseville, Minnesota: Park Genealogical Books, 2002). Extracted from Territorial Papers of the United States, Wisconsin, 1836-1848. M236. “Special Files of the Office of Indian Affairs,” 1836-46. “Special File 161” (Roll 41). “Special File 190” (Roll 42). National Archives, Washington D.C., Documents on Microfilm, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (Record Group 75).