Black Shawl or Tasina Sapewin () was the wife of

Crazy Horse Crazy Horse ( , ; – September 5, 1877) was a Lakota people, Lakota war leader of the Oglala band. He took up arms against the United States federal government to fight against encroachment by White Americans, White American settlers on Nativ ...

, whom she married in 1871. She was Crazy Horse's second wife. She was a member of the

Oglala Lakota The Oglala (pronounced , meaning 'to scatter one's own' in Lakota language, Lakota) are one of the seven subtribes of the Lakota people who, along with the Dakota people, Dakota, make up the Sioux, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Seven Council Fires). A ...

and relative of

Spotted Tail Spotted Tail (Siŋté Glešká pronounced ''gleh-shka''; birth name T'at'aŋka Napsíca "Jumping Buffalo" ; born c. 1823 – died August 5, 1881) was a Sichangu Lakota tribal chief. Famed as a great warrior since his youth, warring on Ute, Pa ...

. She was the sister of Red Feather. The elders sent Black Shawl to heal Crazy Horse after his altercation with No Water."The William Garnett Interview", in ''The Surrender and Death of Crazy Horse: A Source Book'', Ed. Richard G Hardoff, 1998. p. 43 She was known at the time as having skill in treating bullet wounds. Black Shawl was presented to Crazy Horse as a potential bride when she was twenty-four, which was considered late for a betrothal. Crazy Horse was twenty-eight when marriage was discussed between the two families. She had a daughter in 1871, named They Are Afraid of Her. They Are Afraid of Her died at age three, likely of

cholera Cholera () is an infection of the small intestine by some Strain (biology), strains of the Bacteria, bacterium ''Vibrio cholerae''. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea last ...

. Black Shawl also developed the same disease, and was treated by Dr.

Valentine McGillycuddy Valentine Trant McGillycuddy (February 14, 1849 – June 6, 1939) was a surgeon who served with Exploration, expeditions and United States military forces in the West. He was considered controversial for his efforts to build a sustainable rela ...

. Crazy Horse's relationship with Black Shawl lasted longer than the other two romantic relationships that he had in his life. They were known to be "sociable in the tipi", indicating a contented home life, and she supported his life as a warrior. Black Shawl died during a seasonal

influenza Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by influenza viruses. Symptoms range from mild to severe and often include fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pain, headache, coughing, and fatigue. These sympto ...

outbreak in 1927.

Movies

Suzan Ball Suzan Ball (born Susan Ball;Hopper, Hedda (November 24, 1951)"Buffalo-Born Girl Starting Movie Career" ''Buffalo Courier-Express''. p. 6. Retrieved November 26, 2023.

played Black Shawl in the 1955 film '' Chief Crazy Horse''.

References

19th-century births 1927 deaths 19th-century Native American women 19th-century Native American people 20th-century Native American women 20th-century Native American people Deaths from influenza in the United States Oglala people Year of birth unknown Crazy Horse {{NorthAm-native-bio-stub