Bear's Heart
Bear's Heart (Nock-ko-ist, Cheyenne, c. 1851–1882) was a Cheyenne ledger book artist who was one of 72 Native Americans to be imprisoned in 1875 at Fort Marion, in St. Augustine, Florida. While imprisoned, he created a series of drawings on ledger book pages using ink and colored pencils. In November 1876 he created a set of drawings known as the Bear's Heart Ledger Book. Early life Bear's Heart was born in about 1851 into the Cheyenne tribe. After his father died he joined a group of 20 other young men to fight the Utes in Colorado. In 1874 he rode with the war leader, Medicine Water. In November of that year, he camped with Grey Beard's encampment. In December he was taken prisoner and transferred in chains to Fort Sill. He and over seventy other prisoners were taken to a railroad station 165 miles away where they were then chained to eight army wagons. Ledger book drawings During his imprisonment, he made many drawings on ledger book pages using colored pencil and ink. In November 1876 he made a group of drawings known as the Bear's Heart Ledger Book. He was given his own drawing book, which was unusual at