Big Elk (Osage, Opahtunkah)

The name Big Elk translates to Osage, Opahtunkah. It stands for strength, courage and leadership.
Big Elk himself demonstrated these traits. He was born in 1852 and went on to become the chief of the Claremore band of the Osage tribe, which was part of the upland forest people who settled near Hominy, Oklahoma.Big Elk was present in a delegation to Washington D.C. in March of 1897, and he was involved in numerous significant events concerning the welfare of the Osage people.

 

Big Elk passed away in 1902. His son, Charles Big Elk (Sr.), was born in 1874 and passed away in 1918. Charles Big Elk had six children—Charles (Charlie), Don, Belle, Grace, Effie and Mary. Charles (Charlie) Big Elk had his first child on January 8, 1932—his daughter, Cora Jean (Big Elk) Jech. And she is the mother of Alma Hager and the grandmother of Geoffrey Hager, who is the owner of Big Elk Energy Systems, LLC.

 

The Big Elk descendants still own the original allotment in Hominy, where the Big Elk family cemetery is located. We strive to uphold the proud traditions of the Big Elk family and pay respect to the significance of the Big Elk name.