porcupine was a chief of the northern cheyenne but never recognised as such by the u.s. government, probably because of his connection to the ghost dance. he was also a powerful medicine man; according to marquis he had more influence than the highest status medicine man in the tribe, the keeper of the sacred tepee. he was involved in four separate treaty councils with the u.s. he said that all four treaties had later been abrogated by the u.s. porcupine was most troubled by the u.s. reneging on the treaty agreement over the black hills after gold was discovered there. the dispute over the black hills was the cause of the 1876 war. porcupine was the spokesman for a cheyenne delegation to washington during the presidency of benjamin harrison (1889–1893). the purpose was to seek reparations for treaty violations.