Homelands of Some of the Many Tribes That Settled in the State. the Historical Development and Establishment of Indian Settlements Within the State Are Outlined
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DOCUMENT RESUME ED 028 864 RC 003 359 Indians of Oklahoma. Bureau of Indian Affairs (Dept. of Interior), Washington, D.C. Pub Date 68 Note-19p. Available from-Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 (0-287-162, $0.15). EMS Price MF-S0.25 HC Not Available from EDRS. Descriptors-*AmericanIndians,CollectiveSettlements,*CulturalBackground,FederalAid,*Federal Legislation, Federal Programs, Historical Reviews, History, Land Use, *Migration Patterns, *United States History Identifiers-Apaches, Cherokees, Cheyennes, Chippewas, Choctaws, Comanches, Creeks, *Oklahoma, Osage& Shawnees Oklahoma's present-day Indian culture and civilization, it is noted, are very much pronounced, with more than 68 tribes still proudly embracing their identities. Oklahoma is shown to be the melting pot of Indian America on a map indicating the original homelands of some of the many tribes that settled in the State. The historical development and establishment of Indian settlements within the State are outlined. A listing of Indian tribes represented in Oklahoma, a discussion of Oklahoma Indians today and Federal programs for Indians, and a list of places of interest are also included. (SW) , Ira. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION& WELFARE OFFICE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRODUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE 'PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGINATING IT.POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION .POSITION OR POLICY. " Owe t4 MOVEMENT OF INDIAN TRIBES INTO OKLAHOMA orAWA ,...._ / / vroktiodt i . Ic' 1._ ARAMHO A 2/ 1 ) t 1 CHEYENNE t FOX , 0 1 SAC s I r POTAWA71II, t PAWNei.... KASKASKIA , I ..... - t , ,i__,......70,...,. I PEORIA ., w % I SHAVISIS t! \ I i PIANKASHAW , t KA,,, i --.va 1 1 WEA t CHICK,W ,.$ % 0 ,.., % WICHITA % .......--'" 1 i.-_____ ` .-, --- ..... \ / 0 , I QUAPAW - i OSAGE 4% APACHE I TAWAKONI ------- .J CHOCTAW TONKAWA CADDO WACO HAINAI OKLAHOMA has been the melting pot of LIPAN KICHAI Indian America.The map indicates the ANADARKO original homelands of some of the many KICKAPOO sousal tribes that were resettled there. MAP: Courtesy of the Division of Indian Health, U.S. Public Health Service 1- ci 0111110111Its very name stirs memories ofa long-ago Indian civilization."Red People" were tilling Oklahoma's riverbanks and harvest- ing buffalo on her plains for centuries before 1492.The area of the present State became home andsanctuary during the 1800's for most Indian tribes displaced from their Eastern lands.And today, the State's Indian culture and civilization aremore pronounced than ever before, with more than 68 tribes still proudly --.mbracing their identities. Today in Oklahoma there are many Indian communities, where citizens engage in up-to-date farming or work in a myriad of occupations the same as any other Americans.At the same time, a very real link with the past is still in evidence.To the Indian citizen of Oklahoma, his heritage is too rich to be forgotten. MAHON In the language of the Choctaw Indians the word "Okla"was given to the western part of the region when it was means people, while the word for red is "homma" ororganized as a separate Territory in 1890.Seventeen years "humma." The name of the forty-sixth State to enter thelater, it became the name of the State. Union aptly reflects its place in history as the home of the Although the Choctaws named Oklahoma,at least 67 other red manan Indian Territory into which eastern tribes weretribes have been associated insome way with area history. nudged by the pressure of white settlement in the early 1800's and a sanctuary for other displaced and homeless Indians from various parts of the growing country. The name was first used in 1866 by Allen Wright, principal chief of the Choctaw Nation.In a treaty of that year, plans were presented for the organization under one government of all the Indian nations, tribes and bands within the area of the present State.These plans for an Indian State never materialized, but the name "Oklahoma" became popular.It Choctaw boys played a rough.and-tumble game of Lacrosse. This game engaged the attention of artist George Catlin not long after the Choctaws were resettled in Oklahoma. PHOTO: Smithsonian Institution. 2 Ancient peoples flourished in the region long before the tribesof Missouri and Arkansas Territory) became popularly that were discovered there by the gold-seeking Spanish inknown as the Indian Territory.To many, including Presi- 1541.Today, more Indian tribes have retained their tribaldent Jefferson, this seemed a remote and isolated part of the identities and characteristics in Oklahoma than in any of thecountry where Indians could live in freedom, out of the path other so-called "Indian" States.In the 1960 Census theof advancing white settlement. Indian population of about 65,000 ranked second only to that Accordingly, a Congressional Act of March 26, 1804,au- of Arizona, which had over 83,000. thorized the President to negotiate with the eastern tribes to As an Indian melting pot Oklahoma is unequalled.Yetcede their land to the United States in exchange for new tribal once, only the nomadic Plains tribes roamed and hunted onlands in the Indian Territory. its western lands, while the Osages of Kansas and Missouri, the Through treaties with the indigenous Osages and Quapaws Wichitas, and a few other small bands visited the northeasternin the early 1800's the Government secured lands in the Terri- section of the present State from time to time.According totory for resettlement. some authorities, no more than a half-dozen of Oklahoma's The northeastern woodlands Indians were the first to agree tribes are indigenous.The influx of other Indian peoplesto removal.Many of them had already been pushed by the was largely due to the policies and pressures applied by whitecolonists from ancient homelands in coastal areas to new lands men. near the Great Lakes.By 1809 the Delaware, Piankashaw, Wea, Sac, Fox, Potawatomi and Kaskaskia tribes ceded lands in the area that now includes Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana Reseulement of Eastern Tribes and moved south and west to Indian Territory.They were The first step in establishing permanent Indian settlementsthe vanguard of the many other tribes that followed. within present Oklahoma boundaries was taken in 1802 Under the administration of President Andrew Jackson when French traders persuaded a large band of Osages toremoval became Federal policy.The Indian Removal Act of move from Missouri to northeastern Oklahoma. 1830 established procedures for voluntary exchange of east- After the Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803, theern Indian lands for new western acreage that was to be held newly acquired land was held in public domain until theby the tribes under perpetual guaranty from the Federal 1830's.The western part of the Purchase (west of the StateGovernment. 3 4. While many Indian tribes were moved into Oklahoma, the The removal treaties guaranteed title to the new western largest groupabout 60,000 peoplewas that of the Fiveacreage assigned to each tribe, the land being held in com- Civilized Tribes, resettled between 1828 and 1846 from theirmon ownership by all tribal members.All of the Indian lands in the southeastern United States. Territory that lay within the present State boundaries of The Civilized Tribesthe Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choc-Oklahoma was assigned to the Five Tribes, with the exception taws, Creeks, and Seminoleswere so named because oftheirof the northeastern corner.This was occupied by a mixed high degree of cultural development.Long at peace with thegroup of Senecas, Shawnees, Quapaws and various eastern white men, they had established schools, courts to administertribes. their tribal laws, and governments based upon the Federal The northern part of the Territory was assigned to the pattern, with executive, judicial, and legislative branches.Cherokees, the central part to the Creeks and the southern There were farmers, storekeepers, and millwrights amongpart to the Choctaws.The Chickasaws later purchased the them, as well as prosperous estate owners. right of settlement among the Choctaws, and the Seminoles Although removed to the new lands under treaties, the In-moved from Florida to live among the Creeks. dians resisted resettlement and suffered severely as the Guaranteed title made it possible for the industrious In- Federal Government forced their westward migration.Even dians to hold their land long enough to reestablish tribal those who went willingly faced hunger, illness and cold as ainstitutions, and soon each tribe had organized as a separate result of inadequate preparation by the Federal agents whonation under the protection of the United States.Five tribal guided them.The Cherokee story of death and hardshipcapitals, where Indian legislators met in parliamentary as- along the "Trail of Tears" is retold each summer in an out-sembly, were established at Tahlequah, by the Cherokees; door dramatic presentation that is attended by thousands ofTishomingo, the Chickasaws; Tuskahoma, the Choctaws; visitors to the reservation of the Eastern Cherokees in NorthOkm Agee, the Creeks; and Wewoka, by the Seminoles. Carolina.The drama "Unto These Hills" depicts the historyChunhes, schools, farms and businesses began to flourish of that portion of the Cherokee Tribe which resisted theonce more and, by the beginning of the Civil War, the Civil- forced removal and escaped to seek refuge in the Smokyized Tribes had regained much of the prosperity they had Mountains.