Kut-a´wi-kutz

Also known as: Comanche Chief · Family: Pawnee · Role: young man · First appears: Comanche Chief · Part 1

Kut-a´wi-kutz stole two spotted horses from the Comanche camp, where he saw a girl whose image stayed with him. He traded away all his horses over the following year for gifts, then asked his friend, Comanche Chief, to join him on the warpath. On returning to the camp, he entered the girl’s lodge at night and lay beside her. The next morning, the Comanches demanded the Pawnee, but their chiefs and braves protected Kut-a´wi-kutz.

The girl’s grandfather decided she and Kut-a´wi-kutz should marry, hoping the two tribes would become friends. Believing Kut-a´wi-kutz had been killed in the commotion, Comanche Chief took his own life; the next morning, Kut-a´wi-kutz found his friend dead at the foot of a tree. As the grandfather’s son-in-law, Kut-a´wi-kutz gained influence and became a Comanche chief. After returning from the Pawnee village, the grandfather died; Kut-a´wi-kutz’s wife later fell ill and died when Comanche doctors could not help her and he was prevented from taking her north.

Kut-a´wi-kutz left the Comanches and returned to live with the Pawnees, known there as Comanche Chief, the Peace-Maker. After the two tribes camped together, the Pawnees and Comanches made peace.