This is our fourth and final post about Erie Street Cemetery. Today we take a look at Chief Thunderwater (Oghema Niagara) who is buried in here. Chief Tunderwater, part of the Algonquin nation, was born in 1865 and died in Cleveland in 1950. He headed up the Supreme Council of Indian Tribes in the US and Canada. He went around the country lecturing in support of Indian rights. He even called for the various tribes to ban together and form their own independent nation. This was known as the Thunderwater Movement. He was also friends with Buffalo Bill and performed with his act.
He led the fight to save Erie Street Cemetery from being moved to make way for new construction. He warned if Joc-O-Sot’s body was ever moved a terrible disaster would befall Cleveland. Today he is buried beside Joc-O-Sot in Erie Street Cemetery. His tombstone refers to him as the Supreme Chief of Peace.
