Betsy Thunder
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Betsy Thunder (c. 1850s – 1913)[1] was a medicine woman of the Ho-Chunk tribe, also known as the Winnebago Sky Clan. Thunder is believed to have been born in the 1850s on native Ho-Chunk land near Black River Falls in Wisconsin.[2] Her exact birth year is not known due to the loss of spoken history. Thunder was part of the respected Decorah bloodline.[2] Betsy Thunder married William Thunder, a medicine man to whom she became an apprentice for many years.[1][2] William Thunder trained her to become a medicine woman with the hope of passing on the skills and practices of medicine men and women to future generations.[2] Betsy Thunder had four sons to whom she passed down these skills to, one of which, John, also became a medicine man.[1] Despite knowing little to no English Betsy Thunder is known for treating both Ho-Chunk and white patients alike.[2] Thunder was paid for her healing services in common goods such as food, clothing, blankets and other essential goods.[1][2]
The practice of medicine men/women in the Ho-Chunk tribe before European contact, like in many other tribes at the time, consisted of the use of traditional dances and cultural rituals to heal the patient's soul.[3] However, Betsy Thunder is said to have used herbs and other natural remedies to heal her patients.[1] She first learned the practice of medicine by working as a nurse for her husband William Thunder.[1][2] Betsy Thunder achieved her late husband's wishes of passing on the tradition and practices of medicine to her children and grandchildren. Both her son John Thunder and grandson Frank C. Thunder went on to become medicine men.[1][4]
Greatest accomplishment
Betsy Thunder was known for treating both Ho-Chunk and white patients alike.[5] One of her greatest accomplishments was healing John Mills, the son of a white businessman, Hugh B. Mills, after all other white medical practices failed to improve John's health.[1][2] Hugh B. Mills had Betsy Thunder brought to his house as a last effort to save his son's life. After several days of Thunder's remedies, using herbs and roots, the child recovered.[1] Hugh Mills was extremely thankful for Thunder's work and in turn gave her enough lumber for a small cabin.[2] The Mills family continued to show their gratitude for Betsy Thunder's work, so much so that when John Mills grew up to be a successful banker, he built a room in his house for Betsy Thunder to use when she visited the city and he went on to invite her to special family events such as dinners and weddings.[1][6] An oil painting honoring Betsy Thunder was added to the Black River Memorial Hospital art collection in recognition of her respected position as medicine woman.[1]
