Chief John Big Tree
Chief John Big Tree was a member of the Seneca Nation and an actor who appeared in 59 films between 1915 and 1950. He was born in Buffalo, New York, and died in Onondaga Indian Reservation, New York. His interment was also there.
Big Tree claimed to be one of three Native Americans in [the United States|Native American] chiefs whose profiles were composited to make the portrait featured on the obverse of the United States' Indian Head nickel, designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser. The other two chiefs were Iron Tail and Two Moons. Though Big Tree claimed that his profile was used to create that portion of the portrait from the top of the forehead to the upper lip, the sculptor himself stated in 1938 that it was another Big Tree, who was the third.
Big Tree also claimed to be the sole model for Fraser's most recognized work, the doleful sculpture, End of the Trail. Both of these claims are broadly disputed, and Fraser identified other models.
He also appeared on the March 1964 cover of Esquire magazine, in a pose commemorating the Indian Head nickel.
As actor
John Big Tree was a longtime Hollywood actor, who appeared in 65 pictures between 1915 and 1950.
Often uncredited, he had a noted speaking role in his second to last picture, the middle of John Ford's celebrated "Cavalry Trilogy", She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. As Chief Pony That Walks he has an extended dialogue with his old friend, Cavalry captain Nelson Brittles, who seeks the aged chief's help in quelling a rebellion among his people spurred by the Sioux victory over General George Armstrong Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Partial filmography
The Spirit of '76 as GowahA Fight for Love as Swift DeerThe Avenging Arrow as MadooThe Primitive Lover as Chief Johnny BluebottleThe Huntress as OtebayaThe Iron Horse as Cheyenne Chief The Red Rider as Indian ChiefRanson's Folly as Chief Standing BearThe Frontier Trail as Chief Gray WolfMantrap as Indian The Desert's Toll as Red EagleThe Outlaw Breaker as Indian Winners of the Wilderness as Chief PontiacThe Frontiersman as Grey EaglePainted Ponies Spoilers of the West as Chief Red CloudWyoming as An IndianThe Overland Telegraph as Medicine ManSioux Blood as Crazy WolfThe Big Trail as Indian Red Fork Range as Chief Barking FoxFighting Caravans as Indian Chief in Opening Credits The Last of the Mohicans as Huron Warrior The Golden West as Indian The Telegraph Trail as Indian Chief King of the Arena as Circus Indian Massacre as Indian Judge Wheels of Destiny as Chief War EagleThe Cat's-Paw as Chinese Guards Wake Up and Dream as 1st Indian The Miracle Rider as Old Indian The Farmer Takes a Wife as Indian The Singing Vagabond as Chief White Eagle Custer's Last Stand as Medicine Man The Adventures of Frank Merriwell as Indian John Daniel Boone as Wyandotte Warrior The Bold Caballero as Tavern Indian Maid of Salem as Indian Lost Horizon as Porter Hills of Old Wyoming as Chief Big TreeThe Painted Stallion as Commanche Chief Prairie Thunder as Indian The Girl of the Golden West as Indian Chief in Prologue Flaming Frontiers as Arapaho Chief Hawk of the Wilderness as Medicine Man Stagecoach as Apache Scout Susannah of the Mounties as Chief The Oregon Trail as Spotted Elk Drums Along the Mohawk as Blue BackDestry Rides Again as Indian in Saloon Heroes of the Saddle as Rodeo Indian Pioneers of the West as Indian Chief Brigham Young as Big ElkToo Many Girls as Chief North West Mounted Police as Blue Owl Hudson's Bay as ChiefWestern Union as Chief Spotted HorseLas Vegas Nights as Indian Unconquered as Indian She Wore a Yellow Ribbon as Chief Pony That WalksDevil's Doorway as Thundercloud