Dragswolf, a member of the Hidatsa tribe, was born in 1862 at Like-A-Fishhook Village, the same year the village was attacked and partially burned by the Sioux. Like-A-Fishhook Village, south of present day Van Hook, is now under the waters of Lake Sakakawea.

Famous Chief Crow Flies High was his father, Peppermint Woman his mother. Crow Flies High led a band of Hidatsa, including Dragswolf, away from Like-A-Fishhook Village in 1869 to a new location near Fort Buford located south of present day Williston. Dragswolf returned to Shell Village, south of New Town, many years later when directed to do so by the federal government.

“He was 32 years old when he got back,” said Kenneth Dragswolf Jr., Bismarck, a descendent of Dragswolf.

When asked about the origin of his name, Kenneth Dragswolf said he had been told more than one version of how Dragswolf came to be named.

Hidatsa Chief Dragswolf wore a full headdress in this photograph taken by Leo. D. Harris in Fargo in 1934. Dragswolf was born in 1862 at Like-A-Fishhook Village south of present day Van Hook Village. His remarkable life included riding with his first war party at age 12 and a meeting with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

“One that was told to me was that when Chief Dragswolf was a little boy, he would watch the warriors go out on a war party. He wanted so bad to be a warrior that he took his bow and arrow and went hunting,” said Kenneth Dragswolf Jr. “He killed a wolf, drug the wolf back to the village and was parading around. The elders saw that and named him Dragswolf. He was probably about six or seven years old.”

When he was just 12 years of age, which would have been in 1874, Dragswolf went on his first war party. Considered too young for battle, Dragswolf trailed behind the war party until it was a long ways from the village. It was then he showed himself and drew the anger of older warriors. However, they allowed Dragswolf to accompany them. His primary duty was going for water when older warriors were thirsty.

In an interview conducted in 1934 by Colonel A. B. Welch, a friend of Dragswolf, the hereditary chief recalled his first action as a warrior.

“Finally some enemy were discovered. We watched them and knew what they intended to do, so the fight was planned,” said Dragswolf. “I rode into it with the rest of the men at that time. Several enemy were killed. They were the Piegans (Blackfeet). I helped to round up the enemy horses and struck several of the dead men. I rode an enemy horse when we entered the village upon our return. I was young but that was my first fight.”

In that same session with Welch, Dragswolf gave a fascinating account of Twin Buttes, located northeast of Killdeer, and of his participation in a buffalo hunt.

“When the Creator made the Heart River and the world, he had two handsfull of mud left. So he made these two hills. We call them Twin Buttes,” said Dragswolf.

According to Dragswolf, a large herd of buffalo were said to be near where Washburn is today. A plan was made to pursue them.

“I wanted a big bull. Great hunters kill bulls,” said Dragswolf. “It is dangerous hunting. I had a good trained buffalo horse. I always rode on the right side of the buffalo. You can shoot arrows better. I made the hit I wanted but the arrow did not reach his heart. The buffalo made a very quick turn. He caught my horse and threw him into the air.”

Dragswolf said that while the buffalo was tearing open his horse he was able to get away on foot. However, he was inside a running herd of buffalo.

“I grabbed a cow by the hair of her neck. I ran along by her side,” said Dragswolf. “She was afraid of me and soon she was outside the main herd. The old bull did not run far. He was shot in the heart and was bleeding bad from his nose and mouth. He died standing up. I got the biggest hide then. That is a hunting story.”

Dragswolf’s words were recorded through an interpreter. The chief never spoke English.

“He is remembered for many things he accomplished for his tribe. He was a spokesman for the Hidatsa tribe,” said Kenneth Dragswolf, Jr. “He attended many meetings with different people from the state and such, even though he didn’t speak English he still made a big impression.”

Living in a era of transition from warrior to politician, Dragswolf proved to be an ideal leader for the times. In 1890 he traveled from North Dakota to Fort Laramie, Wyoming as a tribal delegate. In 1934 he was with a delegation in Rapid City, South Dakota to meet with government officials to discuss the Indian Reorganization Act, which Dragswolf supported.

In 1936 he was chosen as the first councilman representing the Shell Creek District, sometimes traveling long distances by horse and buggy to attend meetings. He traveled by train to New York in 1938 along with Arthur Mandan and Foolish Bear to repatriate a medicine bundle from a museum. He raised the U.S. flag near the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor and received a peace medal from President Roosevelt.

Later Roosevelt commented, “This man Chief Dragswolf is a wise old man.”

When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers scheduled a meeting at Fort Berthold regarding the building of Garrison Dam and the flooding of river bottom land, Dragswolf made an appearance in full traditional dress. He told Lt. Gen. Lewis Pick, Chief Engineer for the Corps, that “You’ll never take me from this land alive.” That was early in 1943. Dragswolf passed away on Aug. 24 later that same year.

“He came from a long line of chiefs,” remarked Kenneth Dragswolf Jr. “Stories are passed on to children and grandchildren. They talk about their grandparents and to always be proud of who they are. They come from a proud family.”

Dragswolf lived through a very remarkable period of history, a history in which he played a prominent role, always very much aware of what his tribal members wanted and much respected for his wisdom and demeanor. Sculptures of Dragswolf are on display at the Three Tribes Museum in New Town and at the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck.