Black Kettle (Cheyenne: Mo’ohtavetoo’o) (c. 1803 – November 27, 1868) was a prominent leader of the Southern Cheyenneduring the American Indian Wars. Born to the Northern Só’taeo’o / Só’taétaneo’o band of the Northern Cheyenne in the Black Hillsof present-day South Dakota,[2] he later married into the Wotápio / Wutapai band (one mixed Cheyenne-Kiowa band with Lakota Sioux origin) of the Southern Cheyenne.
Black Kettle is often remembered as a peacemaker who accepted treaties with the U.S. government to protect his people. On November 27, 1868, while attempting to escape the Battle of Washita River with his wife, he was shot and killed by soldiers of the U.S. 7th Cavalry.