Petalesharo biography templates

19th century Pawnee leader

Petalesharo (c. 1797 – c. 1836) was a Skidi Pawnee chief or brave who rescued an "Ietan" girl, that is Comanche girl,^[3]: 159 from a ritual human sacrifice around 1817 (in present-day Nebraska) and earned publicity for his act in national newspapers.

In 1821, he was one of numerous Great Plains tribal chiefs to go to Washington, D.C. as part of the O'Fallon Delegation where they met President James Monroe.

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History

As was their traditional practice, the Skidi Pawnee had captured an enemy girl to sacrifice her as part of the spring equinoxMorning Star ceremony. They would care well for her before the sacrifice in the weeks or months beforehand.^[4]

Petalesharo's father Knife Chief (Lachelasharo) opposed the ceremony, but the tribe ignored his concerns.

The ritual had a long tradition and the people believed that their crops and hunting would suffer if the Morning Star did not receive a human s