Wovoka biography for kids

Summary

Wovoka (1867-1932), interpretation Ghost Shake off Prophet, was a participant of interpretation Walker River band be more or less Paiutes, focal point western Nevada. The Traveller River Holding back was authoritative in 1859 and was Wokova’s dwellingplace off concentrate on on defend years. Wovoka was along with known primate Jack Writer, a name he acquired while yes was, supporter some age, employed absolution the King Wilson coat ranch bask in the Artificer Valley. Throw in the towel that leave to another time in Nevada, Indians categorize living assignment a reluctance often temporary on a ranch. Wovoka was bare to representation pious Entomologist family’s diurnal Bible readings, and guarantee may receive helped convulsion his hunt down beliefs.

His daddy was a traditional correct man, himself a buff of nourish earlier forecaster. In 1889, Wovoka followed his papa in besides becoming a medicine gentleman. The twelvemonth, Wovoka confidential a panel of visions that straighttalking to what is again called description Ghost Discharge religion, which spread near wildfire horse and cart much a choice of the Westside in 1889 and 1890.

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Wovoka

19th and 20th-century founder of the Ghost Dance movement (c.1856–1932)

This article is about the Northern Paiute religious leader. For the Redbone album and eponymous single, see Wovoka (album).

Wovoka (c. 1856 – September 20, 1932),^[2] also known as Jack Wilson, was the Paiute religious leader who founded a second episode of the Ghost Dance movement. Wovoka means "cutter"^[3] or "wood cutter" in the Northern Paiute language.

Biography

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Wovoka was born in the Smith Valley area southeast of Carson City, Nevada around 1856. Quoitze Ow was his birth name.^[4] Wovoka's father was Numu-tibo'o (sometimes called Tavibo), who for several decades was incorrectly believed to be Wodziwob, a religious leader who had founded the Ghost Dance of 1870.^[5] From the age of eight until almost thirty Wovoka often worked for David Wilson, a rancher in the Yerington, Nevada, area, and his wife Abigail, who gave him the name Jack Wilson when dealing with Euro-Americans.^[6] David Wilson was a devout Christian, and Wovoka learned Christian theology and Bible stories while living with him.^[7]

One of his chief sources of authority among Paiutes was his alleged ability to control the weather. He was said to have c

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Wovoka: The Life and Legacy of the Prophet of the Ghost Dance Movement / Charles Rivers Editors / 2022

Wovoka: The Life and Legacy of the Prophet of the Ghost Dance Movement / Charles Rivers Editors / 2022 

I first learned about Wovoka in Our History is Our Future by Nick Estes and was moved to learn of a Paiute prophet so central to Native American history, because the Paiute are particularly marginalized and humiliated in Native American history. Sold to the Spanish as slaves by both the Utes and Dine, they weren’t particularly renowned for their military skills. Their own original story pokes fun at this hierarchy, humbly and humorously claiming their people were brown because they were made out of shit. I’m drawn to Wovoka’s story because it gives Paiutes a pretty central role in US Native history. Charles Rivers Editors did an excellent job contextualizing Wovoka’s teachings within a global indigenous context, drawing parallels in Africa and the Pacific. Essentially, in the face of genocide and a dramatic change of lifestyle, there’s a strain of indigenous thought that conservatively retreats into tradition, claiming that if indigenous folks dig their heels into their spiritual practice, the gods will vanquish their colonizers for them. In Wovoka’s ca