Bio: Gayfish, Newana (1904-?)

Transcriber: Janet

Surnames: Gayfish, Running Wolf

----Sources:  Riverside, CA 10 Nov 1922; The Herald and Presbyter, 29 Nov 1922; Evening Star, Washington D.C., 26 Oct 1922,   Sacramento Daily Union, 24 October 1922.

NEILLSVILLE, Wis., Nov. 10.— Upsetting a thousand years of Indian traditions, Princess Newana Gayfish, Winnebago Indian, introduced the red men to flapperism by bobbing her hair. Today Princess Gayfish and her breaking tradition “hair cut’’ are outcasts, barred from entering the homes of her ancestors and relatives all full blooded Winnebago Indians. Princess Gayfish brought exile upon herself when she appeared at the “wigwam’’ of her husband, Dan Gayfish, with her hair cut in accordance with the style of the ‘‘white” flapper. Chief Running Wolf, her father, and her husband, on seeing the princess shorn of her tresses, put on a war dance that made the forest sound like a boilermaker’s convention. After the storm comes the calm and the princess found herself an exile so far as her relatives were concerned. Several years ago an uncle of the princess left her $15,000 and a large tract of land so she isn’t worrying about the future. She is planning on going to Nebraska to cultivate her land. The princess is eighteen years of age (1904) and has been married three years (1919).

By the Associated Press.

HATFIELD, Wis., Oct 23.—Princess Newana Gayfish. Winnebago Indian beauty of Hatfield, Wis., upset a thousand years of tradition and her own domestic life when she bobbed her hair and introduced her fellow redmen to flapperism. Her father, Chief Running Wolf, and her husband, Dan Gayfish. put on a war dance that made the silent forests sound like a reunion of boilermakers. After the storm had cleared, Newana found herself an exile so far as her relatives were concerned. But not being easily disturbed, she accepted her misfortune with a smile and that evening she and her little son turned their backs on the old reservation. Newana isn't worrying about the future. An uncle, who lived in Nebraska, died two years ago and left her $15,900 in cash and a large tract of land. Newana is 18 years old and has been married three years.  Sacramento Daily Union, 24 October 1922.

**************** The Ho-Chunk tribe of Nebraska is one of two federally recognized tribes of the Ho-Chunk Native Americans. The other is the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin. Tribe members often refer to themselves as Hochungra-"People of the Parent Speech". Their historic language is part of the Siouan family. The Nebraska Reservation,  is located in Thurston and Dixon counties, Nebraska.