Why do you call me Little Echo Hawk?
    The Story of My Name

  By Terry EchoHawk   Illustrations by Alison Jeffs
  ISBN 1888106409   Library of Congress 2003103308
  Hard Cover 8 x 10  36 pages   
 15 Beautiful color illustrations depict actual Smithsonian archival photos of Echo Hawk and his people.
  Click Cover for Full Image 

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 Introduction   About the Author    Excerpts    About the Echo Hawk Family 

Anyone familiar with Indian Affairs in the United States will recognize the name of Echo Hawk. The oral history of the first Echo Hawk is adapted to a story of Savannah, his great, great, great, granddaughter, as she listens to her grandfather tell her the story of her name. Savannah learns of her Pawnee ancestor – from his childhood on the plains of Nebraska, to the events that led to his earning the name of Echo Hawk.

Everyone has a name. This children’s book provides places for pictures and stories that each child can treasure and reread to remember the people and events that led to their names.

INTRODUCTION

  I have heard the oral history of Echo Hawk repeated by members of my husband’s family for many years. It is a story rich in culture, tradition, and pride. This book grew from my strong desire to ensure that each of my grandchildren, and those who follow, learn of Echo Hawk and the proud heritage which belongs to them.

Click drawing for full image.

I also felt it was important to provide a place for others to record the important stories of their names so they will never forget.

Tremendous support has come from my entire family since the day I saw my granddaughter, Savannah, running in her beaded moccasins, and the idea for this book was born. I can see the influence of each one on the pages of this book and thank them for their ideas and insights. They have been as anxious as I for this story to be preserved.

Many, many thanks to Mike Tunnell who encouraged, gave suggestions, helped with editing, and encouraged some more!

Alison Jeffs has been inspired as she worked on the drawings for this book. She has put the faces of many of our family members into her artwork. The idea to place Savannah’s hand into Echo Hawk’s was hers. She has beautifully captured the essence of my message.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Terry EchoHawk was raised in Farmington, New Mexico, educated at Brigham Young University with an Associate Degree in Nursing and BS in Community Health, and is the mother of six, grandmother of 13, and the wife of former Idaho State Attorney General Larry EchoHawk, who currently teaches at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at BYU in Provo, Utah. She works as an on-call Registered Nurse at the Missionary Training Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Provo, Utah. Her interests include reading, running, gardening, and family history.

EXCERPTS

"The little boy was Indian; a Native American like me. And you. He was my great grandfather and lived not so very long ago."

"He wore moccasins like me?" Savannah asked.

"Yes," her grandfather said. "His moccasins were made of buffalo or deer skins. But they were the only shoes he had, and he wore them everyday.

"His hair was shiny black, his skin deep golden brown. His eyes were dark as the night sky. His name was Echo Hawk, and he was from the Pawnee tribe."

Grandfather paused for a moment, his eyes taking on a faraway look. "Echo Hawk lived in the lands of the Pawnee Indians. Today, if you traveled to the places he ran and played, you would be in the state of Nebraska. The lands where he grew up were filled with many trees, wild fruits and nuts, deer and bison, wild turkeys, and fish in the streams and rivers.

"When Echo Hawk was a child he lived with his family in a lodge made from dirt and grass. His family grew corn and vegetables near their lodge. His father used a bow and arrow and rode a horse to hunt buffalo.

"In the summer, if Echo Hawk and his family, and some other members of his tribe, traveled to follow the buffalo herds, they would live in tipis (tepees) made from animal skins."

"Like camping?" Savannah asked.

"Yes," said Grandfather. "Just like camping.

"As Echo Hawk grew to be a young man he stood six feet tall. Some tell that he rode a black horse and was a brave warrior for his tribe. He used a bow and arrow with skill. People said he could shoot three arrows quickly while riding his horse by holding one arrow in his mouth, one in his bow hand, and one nocked at ready. He could also shoot a gun so well he never came back without food for his family.

"The tribal elders who tell of him say he was a kind and giving man. He raised horses and often gave them to members of his own tribe and other tribes too. He would also give food to tribal families that didn’t have enough."

Grandfather paused, looking into Savannah’s eyes, then continued. "When Echo Hawk was born he was named Big Crow by his father, but when he became a young man he received a new name from his tribe."

"Will I get a new name?" asked Savannah.

"You won’t get a new name, Savannah, but you might get a nickname. A name your parents or brothers or sisters will give you," explained Grandfather. "A name that describes you."

  Remembering the story he heard when he was a child, Grandfather told Savannah, "Pawnee Indians usually got their names from older members of their tribe who watched them and saw the things they did. To the Pawnee, a hawk is a very good hunter. It is also one of very few birds that does not sing. 

Click drawing for full image.

The Pawnee elders watched Big Crow and named him for the hawk, who is a strong warrior and never sings or talks of his own deeds. But the other members of his tribe certainly talked about the good things he did, echoing them throughout the village. He became known as the hawk whose deeds are echoed, or Echo Hawk. In the Pawnee language, they called him "Kutawakutsu Tuwaku-ah."

Savannah tried to say the Pawnee word. Her Grandfather pronounced it slowly for her: "Ku-ta-wa-kut-su Tu-wah-ku-ah."

Nearing the end of his story, Grandfather said, "The Pawnees made drawings on their horses, the walls of their lodges and tipis, and their clothes to show who they were. Echo Hawk’s relations used a drawing of a hawk as a symbol of their family."

"Show me what it looks like," said Savannah.

Grandfather reached for a pencil and drew the Echo Hawk bird. Savannah traced the lines of the hawk with her finger, then looked up at her grandfather with a smile.

He smiled in return and said, "When I see you running in your moccasins, it makes my heart happy. It is important that you learn of Echo Hawk and always remember him and the Pawnee people who are a part of you. Be proud that you are Native American."

"I will always remember," she answered. "I promise." 

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ABOUT THE ECHO HAWK FAMILY

  Echo Hawk was born around 1855. Though he passed away over a century ago, his posterity is proud to be Native American. Echo Hawk was encouraged to take the name "Price" as his surname by the federal government because it was more familiar and accepted by society. He refused, however, and insisted on keeping "Echo Hawk" as his family’s surname. 

Click drawing for full image.

Today, direct descendants have chosen to spell their names as Echo Hawk, EchoHawk, Echohawk, or Echo-Hawk, and can be found mostly in Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Maryland, and Alaska.

Although Echo Hawk’s descendants are spread across several states, they continue to maintain pride in their heritage and namesake. Several characteristics continue to define this family. There is great pride in being enrolled members of the federally-recognized Pawnee tribe. Yet there is also great pride in being American citizens who have fought to defend the freedoms and liberty of this great land which has given them pain and promise. Many members of Echo Hawk’s family served their country in the armed forces in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the conflict of Desert Storm. Many still serve today. These respected veterans are highly honored among members of their tribe.

Echo Hawk’s descendants have served in public office. Larry EchoHawk, a great grandson who is the husband of the author of this book, became the first Native American to be elected as a State Attorney General, serving in Idaho from 1990 through 1994. Currently he teaches law at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Many Echo Hawk family members carry on the tradition of service or "giving back." There are currently several Echo Hawks who serve as attorneys representing tribal interests throughout the United States. John Echohawk serves as the Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) in Boulder, Colorado. A cousin, Walter Echo-Hawk, also works as an attorney at NARF. Larry’s two sons, Paul and Mark, also attorneys, currently provide legal counsel to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe in Idaho.

These are but a few examples of the many Echo Hawks who are proud Pawnees and proud Americans today.

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