Natawista Iksina (born c. 1825, Alberta, Canada – died March 1893, Stand Off, Alberta, Canada), also spelled Natawista Iksana, Natoyist-Siksina', or Natúyi-tsíxina, was a Kainah interpreter and diplomat.[1] Her father, Two Suns, was a Kainah leader. Her name was alternatively translated "Medicine Snake Woman" [2] or "Holy Snake."[3]

Portrait of Natawista Iksina

She was married to Alexander Culbertson, chief trader of Fort Union. Natawista and Culbertson were first married in Fort Union in 1840, when Natawista was 15 years old and Culbertson was 30 years old. They later participated in a Roman Catholic marriage ceremony in 1858 in Peoria, Illinois.[4] The couple had five children.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Mary E. Virginia. "Natawista". In Carole A. Barrett; Harvey Markowitz (eds.). American Indian Biographies. Pasadena, CA: Salem Press. pp. 336–337.
  2. ^ "Natawista Iksina (Medicine Snake Woman)". Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site (US National Park Service). Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  3. ^ Wischmann, Lesley (2004). Frontier Diplomats: Alexander Culbertson and Natoyist-Siksima' among the Blackfeet. University of Oklahoma Press.
  4. ^ Schemm, Mildred Walker (January 1952). "The Major's Lady: Natawista". The Montana Magazine of History. 2 (1): 6.
  5. ^ Gage, Sarah. "Haunted by Memory - Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site (U.S. Nationjal Park Service)". Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site. Retrieved 2019-09-06.

Sources

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