Hakadah's father was named Many Lightnings (Tawakanhdeota). He was a full-blood Sioux, and later took the name Jacob Eastman.

Since Hakadah's mother had died, the baby was raised in the tribe's homeland of Minnesota by his grandmother. When he was four, the so-called "Sioux Uprising of 1862" occurred and he became separated from his father, elder brothers and sister, whom the tribe thought had been killed by the whites. Hakadah was taken into exile into Manitoba with the remaining members of his band of Santee Sioux.

For the next eleven years he lived the original nomadic life of his people in the care of his uncle and grandmother. His uncle was a well-known hunter and warrior and gave the youth, now called Ohiyesa, the traditional training of a young hunter, warrior, and member of the tribe. Ohiyesa's knowledge of these skills and spiritual values would later be reflected in his activities and his writings.

At fifteen, Ohiyesa had just entered Indian manhood and was preparing to embark on his first war-path to avenge the reputed death of his father when his father reappeared! Jacob Eastman had adopted the religion and customs of the whites and had come to take his son back with him.

Ohiyesa was taken to a homestead in Flandreau, Dakota Territory, where his father and other "progressive" Indians had moved. The young man was sent to a mission day school, where his first impulse was to run away and return to the natural ways of his people. However, his father prevailed, and Ohiyesa cut his long hair and began to adopt the clothing and ways of white civilization.

Despite his unhappiness, Ohiyesa applied himself to his studies in school. Two years later he walked 150 miles to attend a better school at Santee, Nebraska, where he excelled. He was soon accepted to the preparatory department of Beloit College in Wisconsin. He was now known primarily as Charles Eastman.

Charles Eastman spent two years at Beloit before moving on to two other colleges and then eventually to Dartmouth College. He graduated from Dartmouth in 1887.

Charles Eastman then enrolled as a medical student at Boston University. He graduated in 1890 with his medical degree and the honor of being the orator of his class. He had spent a total of 17 years in primary, secondary, college, and professional education, much less time than is usually required for most students. And, it should be remembered, he had only started formal studies, including English, at age 15!

During his studies in the East he had made the acquaintance of many prominent people who would later help him further his career. With such help, his first position was as Government Physician for the Sioux at the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. He was there before, during, and after the "Ghost Dance" rebellion of 1890-1891, and he cared for the wounded Indians after the massacre at Wounded Knee.
In 1891 Charles Eastman married.

Eastman, Charles Alexander, (Ohiyesa) 1858-1939