Takatoka (Degadoga,Tatoka;c. 1755 – 1824) was the secondPrincipal Chief of theCherokee Nation—West (1813–1817) established in the oldArkansas Territory.
Takatoka[1][2] was an earlyCherokee Old Settler who emigrated to theArkansas area of theMissouri Territory in 1810. He eventually settled inLovely's Purchase.
He rose to the office of principal chief after the departure of his predecessor,The Bowl (orDi'wali). The Bowl had been a pastChickamauga leader who had led Takatoka and several hundred followers into 'the west' to escape the influence and constant frontier encroachment of the rapidly expandingUnited States. He was replaced as principal chief byTahlonteeskee in 1817. Takatoka served aswar chief of the western Cherokee during the hostilities between the Cherokee settlers and the Osage that lasted from 1813 to 1823.[2][3]
In summer 1822, Chief Takatoka merged his forces with the Cherokee outlaw,William Dutch, and joined him in raiding theOsage. In order to end the warfare, the US government createdFort Gibson among the Osage, andFort Towson at theRed River settlement of Tahchee's base camp.[4]
Later that same summer, Takatoka proposed a plan to Shawnee headman,John Lewis, to create a Native American confederacy of tribes in Arkansas and the southernMissouri Territory area. The confederacy would include theShawnee,Cherokee,Lenape,Senecas and other eastern tribes, and would defend against whitesquatters as well asOsages, who were in frequent conflict with the constant stream of Cherokee immigrants. He enlisted support for his plan from Lewis, who brought the idea to Indian AgentsWilliam Clark andPierre Menard. Secretary of War,John C. Calhoun was also a supporter of the coalition.[3]
While travelling en route toWashington D.C. during an 1823 diplomatic mission in support of his proposed confederacy, he became ill inKaskaskia, Illinois, and quickly died in the home of Indian Agent Menard, one of the richest men in Illinois at the time.[2]
| Preceded by | Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation West 1813–1817 | Succeeded by |