"Until now, the mysterious death of Kicking Bird, one of the great leaders of the Kiowas, has overshadowed other significant events of his life. In the Kiowas and the Legend of Kicking Bird, Stan Hoig fills this void in scholarship by providing a more comprehensive account of this important tribal leader and the problems the Kiowas faced during his lifetime.".

"Kicking Bird strove to save his tribe by working peacefully with Quaker Indian officials and the military. He challenged tribal mores by being the first to promote formal schooling of Kiowa children. In 1873, he managed to temporarily halt Kiowas raids against Texas settlements and attempted to negotiate peace with the whites.".

"Kicking Bird's death is still a mystery. Was he poisoned by a vindictive enemy? Did he fall victim to the curse of the medicine man Mamanti, whom he helped send to prison? Or did he die naturally from a heart attack? Regardless of the circumstances of his death, Kicking Bird's life spanned one of the most crucial and volatile eras of Kiowa history." "Hoig provides a detailed look at the life of this tribal leader against the background of Kiowa history and culture."--BOOK JACKET.