Blacksnake

A revered leader of the Seneca Nation, Blacksnake (also known as Chainbreaker or Governor Blacksnake) supported the British during the American Revolution. In 1797, he joined the large contingent of Seneca and other Six Nations members who negotiated with the United States to secure reservations for their tribes in western New York. Blacksnake sided with the U.S. against Great Britain during the War of 1812 and fought in the decisive Battle of Fort George on the Niagara frontier. Later, as the principal chief of the Seneca, he encouraged tribal education that embraced Euro-American practices while preserving Native American traditions.