Wis-Ki-Ge-Amatyuk (Smoke That Travels/Powerful Wind) was known as a spiritual interpreter to spirits. A voice and ear in between the physical and spiritual realms (A Messanger).

A Potawatomi Holy Man and respected Potawatomi ritual leader.

For additional photo of Wis-Ki-Ge-Amatyuk, please visit Wisconsin Historical Society, documented under important Potawatomi men, 1890.

To view a descriptive letter of Wis-Ki-Ge-Amatyuk by United States Indian Agent, L.F. Pearson to Col. Henry J. Aten, written January 19, 1896, please visit the Kansas State Historical Society: Kansas Memory

Photograph documented by Jesse Nusbaum, historic anthropologist, archeologist, and important nineteenth and twentieth century photographer of American Indians and the west.

Some of the most important nineteenth and twentieth century photographers of the west represented in important historical collections are Karl Moon, Jesse Nusbaum, Adolph Bandelier, George C. Bennet, Wesley Bradfield, Nicholas Brown, W.C. Brown, W.H. Brown, Joseph Burge, John Candelario, D.B. Chase, W.H. Cobb, Edward S. Curtis, Nathaniel Frucht, Carter Harrison, F. Jay Haynes, John K. Hillers. William Henry Jackson, Charles Lindbergh, Charles Lummis, Timothy H. O'Sullivan, T. Harmon Parkhurst, H.F. Robinson, Adam Clark Vroman and Ben Wittick.

Above: Full moon over Burnett's Mound. Photo taken by kylee.sims

Wis-Ki-Ge-Amatyuk (Smoke That Travels/Powerful Wind) was known as a spiritual interpreter to spirits. A voice and ear in between the physical and spiritual realms (A Messanger). Wis-Ki-Ge-Amatyuk was known to visit Burnett's Mound frequently. Even in his very elderly age, no matter how bad the weather, to pray showing his respect for those who had past on to the spirit world, including Chief Abram Burnett. Wis-Ki-Ge-Amatyuk had been handed down relics belonging to the large chief for both religious and personal reasons. Upon his many journeys to the mound, it was always his wish to travel alone. It was believed that he had seen the true magic of the mound and could only see and feel it when alone as he had a personal relationship with all that have walked upon her. Those of the past, those who had past, and all the supernatural that have surrounded the mystical hill itself. He was known to take and leave food, water, small gifts, and sing traditional songs warding off bad spirits.

Old Indian legend handed down through traditionals tell that the region surrounding the mound was a very spiritual place, protected by powerful wind spirits that would not show themselves within the territory unless provoked by disrespect or disturbance of the magical hill.

It was always told by Chief Burnett that the mound must not be disturbed because it was a sacred place watched over by the Great Spirit and those who have past on must always be respected. The people of Kansas believed that by respecting the Chief's wishes that the mound would protect the city of Topeka from the devastating power of tornadoes.

In 1960, Chief Burnett's mound was disturbed with construction at its base for an interstate bypass. Upon Burnett's Mound itself, it was cut into at the top of its north side, perfectly visual for all Topekans to view as its desecration continued to fit a 5 million gallon steel drum reservoir water tank. In the following years, building began to slowly progress around Burnett's Mound. At 6:55PM on June 8, 1966, a tornado of immense power struck the city of Topeka, destroying all within its path. It lasted 34 minutes ending at 7:29PM. The F5 tornado was a half mile wide, as about 820 homes were destroyed and 3,000 damaged. Entire blocks were leveled to splinters in seconds. The tornado's violent winds had estimated at around 300 mph. Total cost was put at $100,000,000.00 making it at the time the costliest tornado in American history. Even to this day, with inflation factored in, the Topeka tornado still stands as one of the costliest on record. The tornado claimed 16 lives, injured over 500 people, and left over 3500 homeless.