- One of three men who posed for artist James Earle Fraser for the profile which became the famous "Indian head nickel" or "buffalo nickel" minted 1913-38. The other two were Chief Two Moons (of the Cheyenne) and Chief Iron Tail (of the Lakota). The image was reused for a special commemorative $50 gold piece in 2006--the US' first 24k (pure gold) coin.
- A member of the Seneca Nation.
- According to an episode of "I've Got A Secret" (1952) he was the model for the famous James Earle Fraser sculpture "End of the Trail".
- While Big Tree claimed he posed for the "Indian head" or buffalo nickel, later sources stated that the nickel was actually a composite of three Indians including a different Big Tree, Adoeette, a Kiowa. Fraser himself disputed Big Tree's claims that he was a model for the sculpture "End of the Trail.".
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