In his early life, Big Red Meat was trained under the Nokoni Chief Huupi-pahati (Tall Tree), and his second-in-command, Quenah-evah (Eagle Drink). Quenah-evah later replaced Huupi-pahati, after his death, possibly due to the smallpox and cholera epidemics of 1849. Quenah-evah took the role of principal chief, presumably with Horseback (Tʉhʉyakwahipʉ) as second-ranking chief, and Big Red Meat grew up as a war leader; he was considered the best fighter among the Nokonis.
