June 21, 2007

Nickel Indians played golf

Models for coin learned to play golfBorgeson is known for teaching the game to the three Native American men whose images were used to form the composite design for the nickel. They were Chief Two Guns White Calf, a member of the Blackfeet Tribe; John Big Tree, a Seneca; and Chief Iron Tail of the Sioux Tribe. The nickel was circulated around 1900.

"They made my grandpa and my grandma honorary members of the Blackfeet Indian Tribe," said Ulvedal, who was first taught to play golf at age 3 by his grandfather. "His name was Chief Eagle Tail Feathers and hers was Princess Mountain Climbing Woman. He was a huge influence on not only my golf but life in general."

3 comments:

writerfella said...

Writerfella here --
The only thing wrong with this article is that the Native American models for the buffalo nickel were, Chief Iron Tail of the Lakota Sioux, Chief Two Moons of the Cheyenne, and John Big Tree (tribe not specified). Thus it is that James Earle Fraser's design by documentation mentions not at all any such Chief Two Guns White Calf. Fraser had drawn and photographed the first three Natives mentioned above when they were participants of wild west shows that were touring the US. Just where, then, does White Calf enter the picture? Even if he supposedly was an early Tiger Woods?
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'

Rob said...

I don't know about White Calf.

Anonymous said...

Sorry Russell but you are 100% wrong. My grandparents told us kids a long time ago that it truly was White calf. By the way, Im Blackfeet and White calf is my family name and surprise.....HE WAS MY GRAND-DAD"S BROTHER. I should know more then you......sorry