Ququnok Patke Prophesies - Timeline Event
Time Period
1809
Description
Born in the late 18th century in what is now Montana, Ququnok Patke ("One-Standing-Lodge-Pole-Woman") left her Kootenai tribe in 1808 to marry a Canadian trader who had arrived in her village. She returned alone a year later and declared that she was now a man and had been given the gift of prophecy.
For 30 years, Ququnok (who also is known by other names) was accepted by natives as a berdache ("two-spirit" person), and traveled throughout the Pacific Northwest as a man, serving as a prophet, guide, and peace mediator. She is best known for a series of doomsday prophecies, beginning in 1809, that historians credit as astonishingly accurate -- foretelling small pox epidemics and white men killing Indians.
According to accounts, Ququnok deceived the Blackfeet during wars with the Flathead in 1837, allowing the Flathead time to escape to safety, and was killed by the Blackfeet for her actions.
For 30 years, Ququnok (who also is known by other names) was accepted by natives as a berdache ("two-spirit" person), and traveled throughout the Pacific Northwest as a man, serving as a prophet, guide, and peace mediator. She is best known for a series of doomsday prophecies, beginning in 1809, that historians credit as astonishingly accurate -- foretelling small pox epidemics and white men killing Indians.
According to accounts, Ququnok deceived the Blackfeet during wars with the Flathead in 1837, allowing the Flathead time to escape to safety, and was killed by the Blackfeet for her actions.
Interactive Timeline(s)
Browse Related Timeline Entries
Photographs
Kutenai woman- Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-99612
Web Source(s)
http://www.oregonpioneers.com/bios/MadameBoisvert.pdf"Ko-come-ne Pe-ca, Kootenai Bundosh Warrior, a.k.a. (Madame Boisverde)"
http://www.foresthiker.com/?p=2788
"Two Spirit Woman: the Kootenai Doomsday Prophetess"
Web Page Contributor
Sandi DolbeeAffliated with: Former Religion and Ethics Editor, The San Diego Union-Tribune
