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Auction: 25002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 213

(x) A very rare Canadian Indian Chiefs Assembly Medal 1901 awarded to Cree Chief Kah-Kee-Ka-Pow - Chief Broken Jaw - who earned his nom de guerre as a result of his wounds suffered at the Battle of Battle River in December 1865

1901 Calgary Assembly of Indian Chiefs Medal, bronze issue, by P. W. Ellis & Co., Toronto, 65mm, reverse of the suspension named 'KAH KEE KA POW', the obverse with conjoined bust portraits stating 'Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York', the reverse with Royal Coat of Arms, this stating 'Calgary Sep 28th 1901 - Presented to Head Chiefs in Commemoration of Assembly of Indian Tribes', together with its hallmarked silver integral top riband bar, this depicting an Indian Warrior, retaining clip lacking, very fine and very rare

Provenance:
Sotheby's, October 1969, Lot 155.

Kah-Kee-Ka-Pow - Chief Broken Jaw was born circa 1850 of the Cree Mistawasis nation, Saskatchewan and was known as Chief Jacob Johnstone in later life. He earned his title as a result of the action on 4 December 1865. The following was reported in 2015, at the 175th Anniversary of the breaking of the Peace Treaty between his peoples and the Tsuu T’ina nation of Alberta:

'A Tsuu T’ina warrior named Bullhead sought revenge, and he came upon Kaskitapiskan, who was later known as Broken Jaw, (Nêhiyaw) from Mistawasis.

Bullhead shot Kaskitapiskan in the jaw, thinking he took the life of Kaskitapiskan, but he didn’t. Upon going towards Kaskitapiskan to finish him off, Kaskitapiskan started chanting his death song and it threw fear into Bullhead so he left the area and went back to his territory. Kaskitapiskan survived and thus the name Broken Jaw came into play.'

Having survived the action, he was the recipient of the Bronze Indian Chiefs Assembly Medal in 1901 and was named as Chief of the Mistawasis in 1904. The gallant Broken Jaw was photographed on several occasions during his life, notably wearing this very Medal. He died in February 1931.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£3,000 to £5,000

Starting price
£2600