Paying homage to a queen of history

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | Saturday, October 25, 2003 | Elizabeth Barczak

[Willie Green]

Long before Sophie Masloff made history as Pittsburgh's first female mayor, another woman reigned at the confluence of the Ohio, Monongahela and Allegheny rivers.

She led a band of American Indians through turbulent times. She met with George Washington. A city in Beaver County is named for her. And she was a queen to boot, at a time when most women were ruled rather than rulers.

[Willie Green]

If it weren't for Queen Aliquippa, Pittsburghers might be speaking French instead of a yinzer's version of the King's English.

"Jagoff" is an Indian word that means "French".

[mountaineer]

Vraiment!

[Senator Goldwater]

"A city in Beaver County is named for her"

What is the county named for?

[ntnychik]

Beaver County is named for the animal of the same name.
http://www.bchistory.org/beavercounty/EarlyBCHistory/EBCH.Address.html

[Willie Green]

What is the county named for?

BEAVER

Beaver County, Beaver Borough, Beaver Falls, Big Beaver, South Beaver Township, Beaver River, Little Beaver Creek; the list goes on. There is much controversy as to the source of the name of Beaver Borough. A state historical marker in town attributes it to King Beaver (Tamaqui or Amockwi), a chief of the Delaware Indian tribe. Others claim it was named for the beaver, for which the river and other towns were named. In the historical Indian period, a village called Shingas Town was located here. Shingas was one of two brothers of King Beaver.

Fort McIntosh was built here during the Revolutionary War by General Lachlan McIntosh, long after the Indian inhabitants had moved westward. The Beaver River was named "Amahkwi-sipu" (there are many spelling variations of all Indian names) which meant "beaver stream" to the Delawares and "Tankamahkwisipu" was Little Beaver Creek. South Beaver Township, now much reduced in size, was one of the six original townships of Beaver County in 1800.

[Willie Green]

Vraiment!

Il semble sensible à moi.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I love how the phrases "King", "Queen", "Princess" etc... is thrown around. I an't count the number of times I've heard someone say "My great-great grandmother was a cherokee princess" etc... Other than possibly in some northwestern tribes, and in central and south america, there was never any inherited royalty in any tribes - even then, the use of those words is purely a white thing, much like use of the word "shaman"...

That being said, it IS a fact that there were female "chiefs" in some tribes at various times in history, particularly among the Shawnee.

Anyway, just my two cents, for what it's worth... :0)

[ruoflaw]

Thanks for the article

[iconoclast]

LOL, Senator.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

In later years, Queen Aliquippa led a band of British-friendly natives through the untamed wilderness of Penn's woods.

I think that her correct title would be Sachem not Queen.

[ruoflaw]

Well, ignorant white people sometimes called them King or Indian princess when referring to a chief or a chief's daughter.

As for the Shawnee,could you please give me an example of a female chief?

[Chad Fairbanks]

Nonhelema, I believe, was a "Female Chief" in the Shawnee nation at one time...

[Chad Fairbanks]

Although I doubt it, since Sachem was more Alqonquin in nature, and the Seneca were Iroquoian. Totally different socio-economic structures, and seperate and distinct linquistic groups...

[Willie Green]

You're welcome.

Here's a link for additional information about Aliquippa and other memorable Native Americans in Beaver County history.

[ruoflaw]

In the Iroquois, certain women elders governed...there were chiefs but the Iroquois had a well developed system of government....I am kinda rusty but I will look it up later.

I am a local historian and the Shawnee lived here before they left on their own trail of tears in 1833/34. I will try to find the name you gave me for research...thanks!

[Chad Fairbanks]

Actually, being Haudenosaunee, I understand how the Iroquoian system worked. My great-grandmother, who taught me about our language and culture as a child, made a big deal of the fact that the women DIDN'T govern, but they had a far more important responsibility and duty - the older, wiser woman chose the "Chief" who would lead, and also could initiate a "recall" (to use a modern term of recent note) to depose a sitting chief for whatever reasons... Though they did'nt actually govern, they controlled who did ;0)

[ruoflaw]

bless your Great Grandmother's heart. You are fortunate to learn the old ways from someone who would know. I have to get my history from research and books written by people that are not native American.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I was lucky and fortunate, yes. I went through a brief phase around age 10 where I thought old people were stupid and "who wants to hang out with an old broad" but eventually, I got back to normal and had several more good years with her before she finally died at age 98...

I learned more from time spent with her than at any other time...

[martin_fierro]

"Jagoff" is an Indian word that means "French".

Yeah, except in French it's spelled, Le Jageuffe