Spoon Cugiga Decora (abt. 1808 - 1889)

Born about 1808 in Lower Barribault [Baraboo] Village, No. 1, Columbia, Wisconsin

Ancestors

Died 13 Oct 1889 at about age 81 in Necedah, Juneau, Wisconsin, United States

Spoon was Ho-Chunk.

Spoon Decora is Notable.

Biography

Čugiga was born in 1808. He was the son of Čaxšépsgaga Decora. He passed away in 1889.

Name

Amisquam is probably Menominee for "Spoon," cf. Ojibwe, Emikwaan, "Spoon." The Menominee are the friendship tribe of the Hocągara, and many of the Hocągara have had Menominee names.

He seems to have been named "Spoon" (Cugiga) after his uncle. The name "Spoon" or "Ladle" refers to the utensil by which a feast is portioned out to those invited to participate. The chief, who is drawn from the Thunderbird Clan to which the Decoras belonged, is often in charge of ritual feasts and is therefore himself an instrument by which the feast is apportioned.

Life

"Spoon ... was a tall, well-formed, manly-looking fellow, with a well-shaped head, pleasant, open features, and dignified demeanor — quite superior in appearance to the majority of Wisconsin Winnebagoes."^[1]

McKenney (363) gives a sketch of him: "Although we shall scarcely infer the fact from his name, Amisquam, or the Wooden Ladle, is a very noted leader of the Winnebagoes, a fierce and restless tribe of the Upper Mississippi. ... He is a fine looking man, of large stature, and commanding mien, whose influence over the entire mass of the warriors of this numerous tribe is very great. He has led many war parties against the Chippewas, and has always been successful, returning laden with spoil and scalps.

The leader of such parties seldom engages in a fight as a common brave, nor does he usually even carry a gun. The systematic and cautious tactics of Indian warfare, and the inevitable disgrace which results from defeat, imposes upon him a responsible office; and like the general in the army of a civilized people, he is expected rather to direct the efforts of others, than to fight with his own hand. The plan of the enterprise is often the subject of a council, in which all who are of sufficient age may speak, and the decision is usually unanimous; for we know of no instance among the Indians in which questions are decided by majorities. When the leading features of the scheme are agreed upon, the execution is left to the war chief, who may rely on the secrecy, as well as the implicit obedience, of his well trained followers. On the eve of a battle, he gives his orders to his captains, or if the party be small, to the whole band; and during the fight he is engaged in overlooking (364) and directing the whole operation. Occasions may occur, as in all military enterprises, where it may be proper for the leader to place himself at the head of his men, and go foremost into battle; and in all cases when the fight thickens so that the braves meet hand to hand, the leader is thrown into personal contact with the enemy; but the general practice is as we have stated.

The Wooden Ladle was a general, or war chief, who led large parties of his people, and gained reputation by the sagacity with which he directed these military enterprises. He usually assembled his braves at Prairie du Chien; and before going out always adorned himself with a string of beads which he wore round his neck. This was to be the prize of the first warrior who should kill an enemy, and bring his head to the leader, and the trophy was always given on the spot."

"Spoon Decorah was a son of Old gray-headed Decorah. (It will be remembered that Old Decorah had a brother Choukeka, also called Spoon Decorah). Spoon Decorah was born at his father's village near the mouth of the Baraboo river, Wisconsin. In March, 1887, Dr. Reuben G. Thwaites had an interview with him. He was then 'living with his aged squaw,' whose name, it is said, was Gray Eagle-eye. 'His progeny, reaching to the fourth generation, were clustered about the patriarchal lodge in family wigwams.' He could only converse in his native tongue. He related, 'In 1840, we were all moved to the Turkey river [Iowa]; but in the spring our party went to Iowa [Upper] river, where Little Decorah had a village. We went down soon afterwards to the Turkey river to get our ammunition, but for some reason perhaps because we had moved to Iowa river without the consent of the agent we couldn't get any.' He then went back to Wisconsin, where he died October 13, 1889, in a cranberry marsh, near Necedah. It is said that he was about eighty-four years old when he died."^[2]

Residence

Spoon himself says, "I was born at my father's village near the Caffrey schoolhouse at the mouth of the Baraboo River, a few years before the Tecumseh war." This was the Lower Barribault (Baraboo) Village, No. 1 (43.528053, -89.572360), near Portage, Wisconsin.^[3]

"In 1840, we were all moved to the Turkey river [Iowa]; but in the spring our party went to Iowa [Upper] river, where Little Decorah had a village."^[4]

Reuben Gold Thwaites interviewed Spoon at his home, "in the town of Big Flats, Adams county, some ten miles north of Friendship, March 29,1887."^[5]

Death

"Spoon ... died in a cranberry marsh northwest of Necedah, Oct. 13, 1889."^[6]

Sources of Confusion

Sometimes this Spoon Decorah is confused with his paternal uncle Spoon, after whom he was likely named.

Sources

Footnotes

1. ↑ Thwaites, nt. 2.
2. ↑ Hexom, 35-36.
3. ↑ Thwaites, 448; Kinzie Census Rolls.
4. ↑ Thwaites, 455.
5. ↑ Thwaites, nt. 2.
6. ↑ Thwaites, nt. 2.

Bibliography

• Spoon Decorah, "The Narrative of Spoon Decorah," in an Interview with Reuben Gold Thwaites, Wisconsin Historical Collections, XIII (1895): 448-462.
• "Winnebago Village List, compiled by John H. Kinzie," in Richard Dieterle, The Encyclopedia of Hočąk (Winnebago) Mythology.
• Thomas Loraine McKenney (1785-1859) and James Hall (1793-1868), History of the Indian Tribes of North America: with Biographical Sketches and Anecdotes of the Principal Chiefs. Embellished with One Hundred Portraits from the Indian Gallery in the War Department at Washington, Vol. I and Vol. II (Philadelphia : D. Rice & Co., 1872).
• Charles Philip Hexom, Indian History of Winneshiek County (Decorah, Iowa: A. K. Bailey and Son, Inc., 1913).