Mellette County, South Dakota
County & Town Histories - Bad Nation Community
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History of Bad Nation Community by By Homer Whirlwind Soldier
(transcribed from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
Major George Wright, Jr., took over the duties of his father, Major George Wright, Sr., about the year 1891. His policy was to disband the Brule Sioux who congregated in and around Rosebud Agency because the Custer Battle and the Wounded Knee Massacre were still fresh in the minds of the Indians and they might rise up in hostility.
Any group of Indians who agreed to move away from Rosebud Creek with their leader was promised land where they could locate their camp or headquarters. The United States Government would reorganize the leader as a sub-chief and a school would be built for the use of the children. If and when this school was ever abandoned it would revert back to the use of the sub-chief or owner of the land.
Whirlwind Soldier and his group which included Spotted Tail's sons who had grouped together with relatives, agreed to leave. They moved to the present Bad Nation Community, this was on the Big White River where the Colony Building used to be. They moved along the river as far as the Presho Bridge trying to locate a suitable place to camp permanently.
Finally they located the place where they wanted to make their permanent homes, about four or five miles from the mouth of Oak Creek and the government surveyed a section of land on the creek and allotted it to Whirlwind Soldier and his wife. A day school was built for the use of the children on his wife's allotment known as Big Axe Allotment. This school was built in 1894 and continued until 1920 when it was abandoned to Whirlwind Soldier's family.
When this group of followers located in Bad Nation, Spotted Tail's sons pulled up camp and went back to Rosebud Agency and others followed because of the Indian celebration or dances that continued there at the agency.
Then a new group of Indians who were known as continual trouble makers moved to the Whirlwind Soldier camp. They were not wanted anywhere by the other Indians because of their trouble making habits. They were called "Bad" or "o-ya-te si-'ca" or undesirable. They intermarried into the Whirlwind Soldier's camp members and continued to cause various troubles. Finally the others of the camp said we ought to be called Bad Nation because of the bad behavior and acts of this certain group. Then Walking Shield, a fugitive from justice was apprehended here in 1903 and was hung in Sioux Falls. That clinched the name Bad Nation for good. Even our township is known by that name.
The Episcopal was the first frame church building built about 1896. Before that time the Episcopal laymen or preacher held services in tepees or log cabins.
The Congregationalists held their services in a long log house until the present Gilbert Memorial Church was built about 1909. The Catholic Church was built in the year 1911 by Brother Hartman of St. Francis Mission.
At the present writing all families have either passed away or moved into other communities or towns. The only remaining Indian families are, Homer Whirlwind Soldier, Sr. and family, Lucy Hawk's family which consists of her brother and Narcisse Jackson who is the only member of his family living in Bad Nation. These were descendants of the original camp of Whirlwind Soldier.
(transcribed from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
Major George Wright, Jr., took over the duties of his father, Major George Wright, Sr., about the year 1891. His policy was to disband the Brule Sioux who congregated in and around Rosebud Agency because the Custer Battle and the Wounded Knee Massacre were still fresh in the minds of the Indians and they might rise up in hostility.
Any group of Indians who agreed to move away from Rosebud Creek with their leader was promised land where they could locate their camp or headquarters. The United States Government would reorganize the leader as a sub-chief and a school would be built for the use of the children. If and when this school was ever abandoned it would revert back to the use of the sub-chief or owner of the land.
Whirlwind Soldier and his group which included Spotted Tail's sons who had grouped together with relatives, agreed to leave. They moved to the present Bad Nation Community, this was on the Big White River where the Colony Building used to be. They moved along the river as far as the Presho Bridge trying to locate a suitable place to camp permanently.
Finally they located the place where they wanted to make their permanent homes, about four or five miles from the mouth of Oak Creek and the government surveyed a section of land on the creek and allotted it to Whirlwind Soldier and his wife. A day school was built for the use of the children on his wife's allotment known as Big Axe Allotment. This school was built in 1894 and continued until 1920 when it was abandoned to Whirlwind Soldier's family.
When this group of followers located in Bad Nation, Spotted Tail's sons pulled up camp and went back to Rosebud Agency and others followed because of the Indian celebration or dances that continued there at the agency.
Then a new group of Indians who were known as continual trouble makers moved to the Whirlwind Soldier camp. They were not wanted anywhere by the other Indians because of their trouble making habits. They were called "Bad" or "o-ya-te si-'ca" or undesirable. They intermarried into the Whirlwind Soldier's camp members and continued to cause various troubles. Finally the others of the camp said we ought to be called Bad Nation because of the bad behavior and acts of this certain group. Then Walking Shield, a fugitive from justice was apprehended here in 1903 and was hung in Sioux Falls. That clinched the name Bad Nation for good. Even our township is known by that name.
The Episcopal was the first frame church building built about 1896. Before that time the Episcopal laymen or preacher held services in tepees or log cabins.
The Congregationalists held their services in a long log house until the present Gilbert Memorial Church was built about 1909. The Catholic Church was built in the year 1911 by Brother Hartman of St. Francis Mission.
At the present writing all families have either passed away or moved into other communities or towns. The only remaining Indian families are, Homer Whirlwind Soldier, Sr. and family, Lucy Hawk's family which consists of her brother and Narcisse Jackson who is the only member of his family living in Bad Nation. These were descendants of the original camp of Whirlwind Soldier.
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