Native Views: Lesson 1

Tribes of Oklahoma

any years before European colonists came to America, Native tribes lived and hunted freely in present-day Oklahoma. Each tribe had their own customs and ways of life. Eastern Oklahoma offered prime hunting and Mgathering lands for many tribes such as the Osage. As early as the 1600s, the Comanches, Kiowas and Pawnees camped along the rivers and streams of what is today known as western Oklahoma, while the tribes followed huge herds of buffalo. They were later joined by bands of Apache, Cheyenne and Arapaho.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the federal government began moving tribes to smaller reservations in preparation for the Indian Removal, also called the Trail of Tears. Between 1820 and 1837, a total of 67 tribes were removed by the federal government.

All of the tribes adapted to the new lands and created successful economies. Many maintained their rituals and ceremonies and also created new traditions as they settled in the area. Today, there are 39 tribes in Oklahoma, of which 37 are federally recognized. Of the tribes listed below, how many you can fi nd in the word search?

W A G U C G W A T C O H C T J APACHE CADDO I I S U J C P R E G A S O J E CHEROKEE C R V X S G R F I C W E V S E CHICKASAW H O B Z U E G E E X O V Y B N CHOCTAW I E E K O R E H C J I D C M W COMANCHE DELAWARE T P M P U K B G A P K H A G A WICHITA A L K A H C I E O R I H D Q P KICKAPOO S D E D J N T C L C F V D R U KIOWA I E H M R W C J K O S E O M P MIAMI MUSCOGEE A L C I D V A A H A N U Y X A OSAGE P A N U M R S P A R P I M L O OTTAWA A W A J P A A W A T T O M G T PAWNEE C A M Z W G I V J U G H O E Q PEORIA H R O S O I G M B A Q G J C S QUAPAW SAC AND FOX E E C J A E S A C A N D F O X SEMINOLE

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Buffalo

he story of the buffalo is an essential part of Native American history. Also known as bison, the animal shaped T Native culture as tribes came to rely on buffalo for food, clothing, medicine, shelter and religious worship.

Buffalo once dominated the landscape of the West, with estimates of tens to hundreds of millions roaming the prairies. Their meat and hides helped tribes across the Plains survive harsh winters, and every part of the animal was Photo: Jim Argo The Oklahoman put to use in daily life. Horns were used as cups and spoons, and even the tail was turned into a whip or a decoration for lodges.

With European explorers came horses and modern technologies like guns and ammunition. Tribes used these to increase their hunting range and effectiveness. Soon, however, U.S. government offi cials saw the removal of bison herds as a way to defeat Native American tribes who resisted land allotment when waves of settlers moved West. By 1880, only a few thousand animals remained, and their numbers continued to dwindle. Through protection efforts, buffalo numbers have grown to 150,000 to 200,000 in North America. Today, numerous Oklahoma tribes have buffalo conservation programs, including the Cheyenne-Arapaho, Comanche, Iowa, Miami, Modoc, Seneca-Cayuga and the Shawnee.

Activities:

1.) With herds of buffalos gone, many tribes had to turn to farming and ranching to survive. Name at least three differences between hunting and ranching. How do these differences relate to land?

2.) Buffalo remain a key part of Native American culture. Research an Oklahoma tribe and fi nd out how they are working to preserve buffalo. How does the buffalo fi t into tribal culture today?

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The Cherokee Outlet Land Run he Cherokee Outlet Land Run took place on September 16, 1893—the largest of the Oklahoma land runs. Over 115,000 people participated, with some estimates ranging as high as 150,000. Settlers streamed into towns along the southern border of Kansas such as Arkansas City. The town of 7,000 grew to over 100,000 overnight with individuals preparing themselves for the run. TThe Land Run involved almost 7 million acres in the eastern part of the Cherokee Outlet. Through the Treaty of New Echota between the U. S. and the Cherokee in 1835, the tribe reserved the 228 mile by 65 mile “Outlet.” The area allowed the tribe to travel securely to hunting lands in the West, and they eventually used the Outlet for cattle grazing.

The area is often incorrectly referred to as the “Cherokee Strip.” The Strip was the section stretching two miles in the Outlet’s northern portion in Kansas.

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Activity:

Indian Reservations created in the Cherokee Outlet 1. Area #3 was reserved by the __ S A __ __. 2. The __ __ W Reservation (Area # 4) borders Kansas and the Osage Reservation. 3. This most southern Reservation (#5) was sold to the P A __ __ E __. 4. Area #6 is the Reservation of the __ O N __ A. 5. Area #7 was fi rst purchased by the __ E Z __ E R __ E and in 1883 by the __ O ______W A. Missing Letters: A, A, C, C, E, E, G, K, K, N, N, N, O, P, P, T, W

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Railroads, Indian Tribes and Lands y the late 1870s, treaties and acts of Congress had severely reduced tribal reservations throughout Indian Territory. Tribal lands were restricted mostly to the boundaries of what is now the state of Oklahoma. Room for many of the tribes who had been removed Bto Kansas between the 1830 and 1850s was being carved out of the remainder of Indian Territory. The Cherokee, most of whom supported the Confederacy during the Civil War, had to provide much of this land to other tribes. The push for a railroad across the continent came with the discovery of California gold in 1849 and the need to expand the cattle and mining industries. In 1852, there were only fi ve miles of railroad track west of the Mississippi River. By 1889, there were 72,000 miles. Many speculators were illegally advertising Indian lands for settlement.

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Across Down 1. This tribe supported the Confederacy 1. This is one of the industries the railroad during the Civil War. helped to expand. 3. A formal agreement between two or 2. Speculators advertised Indian lands for more states. ______in Indian territory. 5. This is a tract of land set apart for the 4. Indian ______was set aside use of an Indian tribe. by the government as a homeland for Native Americans. 7. This precious metal spurred expansion and settlement in the West. 6. This new technology brought European

settlers into the West in the 1870s.

Down: 1. Cattle 2. Settlement 4. Territory 6. Railroad 6. Territory 4. Settlement 2. Cattle 1. Down:

Answers: Answers: Across: 1. Cherokee 3. Treaty 5. Reservation 7. Gold Gold 7. Reservation 5. Treaty 3. Cherokee 1. Across:

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