9. Gourd Rattle (naiíkúts) ~1804
10. Chief Dog (xaaneesaánu’) ~1804
11. Many Wolves (siriitiraaNIhuu’) ~ 1804
12. Male Crow (KaakaawiítA) ~ 1804
13. Gray Eyes (ir’Ataraáwiis’) ~1806 / 1823
*14. Star - Bloody Hand (staanápaa’At{sajaa’A}) 1825
Star became the head chief of the Sahnish in 1825. Little is known or written about Star. He was father to Son-of-the Star. He was sketched by Karl Bodmer who called him Bloody Hand.
15. Male / Brave Crow (KaakaawiítA) 1825
16. Face Looks Afraid (skaarín) 1825
17. Fool Chief (Neessanaax) 1825
18. Chief Afraid (neesaánu naríno) 1825
19. Mad Bear (kunnx te nosiíA’) 1825
*20. Chief Iron Bear – Bear Chief (kuuNx tee saanu) 1851
Iron Bear, also called Bear Chief (kuuNx tee saanu) was born when the Arikaras were living along the Grand River (South Dakota) in the late 1700s.
21. Young Eagle Chosen (pi’aáts tawiíA) 1851
*22. White Shield I (Nah T Asuútaáka’ I) 1866
Much is known of White Shield I, who became chief in 1866. His name is remembered in many stories and in the historical record.
Chief White Shield Stories:
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Photo courtesty SHS
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*23. Son-of-the-Star – Rushing Bear (kuunNux tunawiinx) ~1825 - 1881. Son-of-the-Star was chief during a time of great changes for the Sahnish Nation.
24. Two Bears (kuúNUx pítkUx) 1878
25. Wolf Necklace (Siriiskaá,) 1878
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 Photo courtesty SHS
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26. Crow Chief (kaakaaneesaan,) 1878
27. Whistling Bear (KuuNUxisWAhnaáhUx) 1878
28. Yellow Knife (Neésitahkáta) 1878
29. Bear of the Woods (KuuNUxtika’isAt) 1878
30. Dog Chief (Xanéesaanú’) 1878
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*31. Sitting Bear – Sugar (KuúNUx teewiita/ka’it) 1881 - 1915
Sitting Bear became like his father and his grand father became chief at the death of Son-of-the Star.
32. Bear's Teeth (KuuNUxaánu’) 1881
33. Strikes Two (TitaráwiiA) 1881
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 Photo courtesty SHS
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34. Standing Soldier (XunáNis teéRIt) 1881
35. Soldier (XunáNIs) 1881
*36. Floyd Bear - Arrow (Niisu’) 1915 – 1926
Arrow was Awahu chief, son of Chief Sitting Bear and Black Calf Woman. He was instrumental in securing army pensions for the last nine remaining Ree Scouts who had fought with General Armstrong Custer. At the time of his death, his son Robert Bear Senior was considered too young to serve as Head Chief. The Sub chiefs appointed Harry Gillette (White Shield II) as Head Chief until such time as Robert Bear, Sr. was old enough.
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*37. Harry Gillette - White Shield II
(Nah T Assuutaáka’ II) 1926 - 1947
Born in Fort Berthold in 1867 at Fort Berthold Reservation. He became chief in 1915.
Photo of Harry Gillette. Northwestern University Library, Edward S. Curtis's 'The North American Indian': the Photographic Images, 2001.
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*38. Robert Bear, Senior – Yellow Tail (NeetaanTakaTa) 1947-1961
Robert Bear, Senior became chief in 1947 at the time of his uncle’s death (Harry Gillette - White Shield II). A member of the Dead Grass Society, he married Dora Hopkins in 1925. They had seven sons and five daughters. His son is the current Sahnish Chief.
*39. Robert Bear, Junior – Swift Hawk (KuunuxTuunawiinx) 1961
A direct descendent of Chief Son-Son-of-the-Star, Robert Bear Junior- Swift Hawk is the current chief and the last hereditary chief of the Awahu. He became chief in 1961, after his father’s death in a mining accident. Chief Bear has a wide range of knowledge of Sahnish oral history, Grass Dance songs, veteran songs, Old Scout Songs and Ree hymns learned from his father, uncles and Sahnish Elders.
Yellow Bird, Dorreen, 2003, The History and Culture of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Sahnish, Department of Public Instruction, Bismarck, North Dakota.
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