365 DC Comics Paper Cut-Out SuperHeroes - One Hero, Every Day, All Year…
November 25th - Ohiyesa ‘Pow Wow’ Smith
Ohiyesa Smith was a member of an unnamed Native American tribe who had settled in the Red Deer Valley. Ohiyesa was a highly skilled and adventurous young man who was curious about the world of the white man. As such he traveled to the nearby village of Elkhorn. While there he found himself embroiled in an adventure where he aided the local sherif. Ohiyesa’s capabilities, his marksmanship and tracking skills proved essential in solving the case and the sherif offered the young man a position as a deputy. It was all quite exciting to Ohiyesa and he agreed.
At first some of the townsfolk begrudged the idea of a Native acting as law enforcement, yet Ohiyesa efficacy as a detective, his quick wits, fast draw and general grace under pressure eventually won them over. In was not long before Ohiyesa was named the sheriff of Elkhorn. Many of the townsfolk had difficulties pronouncing Ohiyesa’s name and, as a result, he gained the nickname of ‘Pow Wow Smith.’ Not an especially respectful nom de guerre, but Ohiyesa accepted it with his typical patient stoicism.
Ohiyesa would go on to have numerous adventures. He frequently returned to the Red Deer Valley, quite often to visit his beloved Fleetfoot, daughter of Chief Thundercloud. The beautiful Fleetfoot was just as adventurous and capable as Ohiyesa and she would accompany him on many of his adventures, often proving an essential asset with her unmatched expertise at archery.
Some of Ohiyesa’s adventures ventured into the paranormal as he battled ghosts as well as encountered time displaced heroes of DC’s modern age. He became a member of The Rough Bunch and recruited into the tremendous battle during the Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Ohiyesa and Fleetfoot eventually married and settled down to raise a family in the Red Deer Valley. He retired from his duties of sherif, handing his badge over to his chief deputy, Hank Brown.
One of Ohiyesa’s descendants was also named Ohiyesa and became an acclaimed U.S. Martial, likewise earning the nickname of ‘Pow Wow Smith.’ This contemporary Pow Wow Smith aided the hero Robin in an adventure to bring in a contemporary (and villainous) version of The Trigger Twins.
The original Pow Wow Smith first appeared in the pages of Detective Comics #151 (1949); whereas the contemporary version of the character initially appeared in Robin Annual #6 (1997).
