Hensley's mother died when he was a baby and he was fostered by his grandmother for five years, until she died. Then he went through a series of foster families for two years, before going to live with his father aged seven. He ran away from home in 1888 to attend school (his father was opposed to white men's education), where he stayed until 1895.

He became a secular and spiritual leader of the Winnebago, Dakota and Ojibwa peoples, spreading the Peyote religion among them.

References

Hirschfelder, Arlene, and Molin, Paulette. Encyclopedia of Native American Religions: An Introduction. (New York: Facts on File, 1992)
Brumble, H. David, III. "Albert Hensley's Two Autobiographies and the History of American Indian Autobiography," American Quarterly, 37(1985) pp. 702-18
Encyclopedia of the Paranormal, edited by Gordon Stein. (Amherst: Prometheus Books, 1996) ("Carlos Castaneda and Don Juan", by Jay C. Fikes). Also available at: http://www.rights.org/~millenia/CC&DJ.html

Indexes

Native American and Alaskan Native, Inuit
USA
19th Century
20th Century
Native American and Alaskan Native Religions
Birth or Infancy
Unmarried Mother, Single Parent (Mother or Father) Unable to Cope
Grandparents
Customary or Traditional Adoption, Informal and Extra-Legal Care
Child in and out of Care
Adoptive or Foster Parent(s) Died
Other or Unknown Reasons for Serial Placement
Divorce or Premature Death of Adoptive Parent(s)
Parent(s) Died, Disappeared or Became Incapacitated
Always in Contact or Knew Identities