Hodges Soileau (American, B. 1943) "Little Raven" Signed lower left. Original Mixed Media painting on Foam Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood Little Raven Commemorative Cover postmarked February 18, 1985. Little Raven was born on the Platte River in Nebraska. After his father died, Little Raven inherited the leadership of the Arapaho bands who occupied eastern Colorado. Little Raven's leadership covered the most critical period for the Arapahos, the survival of the tribe being sometimes in doubt when they were challenged by pressures from their allies as well as from white settlers who wanted their territory. At first, Little Raven chose a peaceful compromise, signing the Treaty of Fort Wise on February 18, 1861. In this treaty Little Raven relinquished claims to a vast territory. He agreed to settle on a reservation along the upper Arkansas River and to live by farming instead of hunting. When government officials failed to keep the the treaty, the Arapahos were forced to leave the reservation to hunt buffalo in order to keep from starving. Little Raven's roving warriors became involved in conflicts that came to a climax with the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864, when Little Raven offered his people as prisoners of war. During the following two years he kept the Southern Arapahos together by taking them south of the Arkansas River where they were out of the mainstream of white settlement. When the government summoned the Southern Plains leaders to a council at Medicine Lodge, Kansas, Little Raven was one of the principal advocates for peace. Little Raven signed the Medicine Lodge Treaty October 28, 1867. He died on his reservation in Indian Territory during the winter of 1889. Image Size: 14 x 12.5 in. Overall Size: 19.5 x 17.5 in. Unframed. (B06905)