Wahweveh (Black Eagle)

Who is Wahweveh (Black Eagle)?

Wahweveh (Black Eagle) was a leader of the Oregon Walpapi Paiute. He was head war chief in the final phase of the Shoshoni Rebellion, known to Americans as the Sheepeater War of 1879. Little is known of Wahweveh's early life. His full siblings were Chief Paulina, Bright Eyes, and Puna. His half-brother was Weahwewa.

On June 7, 1878, during the leadup to what became known as the Bannock War, Malheur Reservation Indian agent William Rinehart reported to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that Wahweveh, with 55 braves, had picked up supplies and was heading east. On Saturday, June 22, 1878, Black Eagle rescued the severely injured Pony Blanket from the battlefield—saving his life, but signaling the end of Egan's tenure as war chief. By July, news of a new Tukadika Snake outbreak in Idaho drew Wahweveh and his Hunipui Snake dog-soldiers onto the battlefront. On their way, on July 4 Black Eagle and his warriors attacked four heavily laden supply wagons at La Grande on their way to Pendleton. They destroyed the wagons, brutally killed and mutilated their drivers and scattered the freight.