Wi-jún-jon

Who was Wi-jún-jon?

Wi-jún-jon, also called Pigeon's Egg Head or The Light was a Native American chief of the Assiniboine tribe. Best known for appearing the painting by George Catlin, depicting what happened after he was assimilated into white culture following a trip to Washington, D.C., in 1832.

Caitlin wrote that Wi-jún-jon "exchanged his beautifully garnished and classic costume" for

a suit of "broadcloth, of finest blue, trimmed with lace of gold; on his shoulders were mounted two immense epaulets; his neck was strangled with a shining black stock and his feet were pinioned in a pair of water-proof boots, with high heels which made him 'step like a yoked hog'."

A print based on the painting, showing Wi-jún-jon wearing Assiniboine dress and a Western suit, titled Wi-jún-jon, Pigeon's Egg Head, Going to Washington, returning to his house, became quite popular, appearing in a German magazine, Die Gartenlaube in 1853.

Wi-jún-jon was later murdered by members of tribe for bragging and lying about the white culture.