12. Quanah Parker (Comanche)
Quanah Parker, born around 1845 near Wichita Falls, Texas, was the last chief of the Quahadi band of the Comanche Nation. He was the son of Peta Nocona, a Comanche chief, and Cynthia Ann Parker, a white woman captured by the Comanche in 1836. Quanah became a prominent leader, known for his resistance against U.S. expansion and his efforts to adapt his people to reservation life. In 1874, he led the Quahadi in the Battle of Adobe Walls, a significant conflict during the Red River War. After the war, Quanah guided his people to the reservation at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he became a successful rancher and advocate for Comanche rights. He also played a key role in the Native American Church, promoting the use of peyote in religious ceremonies. Quanah Parker died on February 23, 1911, and is buried at Fort Sill Post Cemetery (britannica.com).
