Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
The Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma is a federally recognized Native American tribe in Oklahoma and Missouri.
tribes. They are an Eastern Woodland tribe
, who were once nomadic. They originally came from Ohio
, Virginia
, West Virginia
, Western Maryland
, Kentucky
, and Pennsylvania
. In the late 18th century, European-American encroachment crowded Shawnee lands in the East, and one band migrated to Missouri — eventually becoming the Absentee Shawnee. Three reservations were granted to the Shawnee in Ohio by the 1817 Treaty of Fort Meigs
: Wapakoneta, Lewistown, and Hog Creek. After the Indian Removal Act
of 1830 passed, another Shawnee band, who lived with Seneca
allies near Lewiston, Ohio, relocated to Indian Territory
in the July 1831. They would become the Eastern Shawnee Tribe. Another band, who would become the Shawnee Tribe, relocated to Kansas
in August 1831.
The US federal government carved out a 60000 acres (242.8 km²) reservation for the United Nation of Senecas and Shawnees from Cherokee lands in 1832. A treaty was negotiated between the US and the Seneca and Shawnee in 1867, which made portions of their land available to other tribes and split the Seneca and Shawnee into separate tribes.
The Eastern Shawnee organized as a federally recognized tribe under the 1936 Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act
.
The tribe's flag displays their tribal seal on a red field, with the name of the tribe in black letters. The seal, resembling a warrior's shield, features a Florida panther
. Besides exhibiting the qualities of ingenuity and fierceness, the panther represents Tecumseh
, whose name means "panther" in Shawnee. A spear bisects the seal and below is a swan
, which represents peace, harmony, and beauty. The four eagle
feathers represent the four directions, but originally were five feathers, representing the five original clans of the Shawnee.
and West Seneca, Oklahoma. Currently, there are 2,770 enrolled tribal members, with 777 of them living within the state of Oklahoma. Their tribal jurisdiction area includes Ottawa County, Oklahoma
. Glenna J. Wallace is the elected chief, currently serving a four-year term. The Eastern Shawnee Tribe issues its own tribal vehicle tags. They operate their own housing authority as well as the People's Bank, the Eastern Shawnee Print Shop, Longhouse Management, two casinos, a bingo hall, a gas station, and a truck stop. Their annual economic impact is estimated by the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commissions to be $150,185,000.
The tribe holds an annual powwow every September at their tribal complex.
History
The Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma is one of three federally recognized ShawneeShawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
tribes. They are an Eastern Woodland tribe
Eastern Woodlands tribes
The Eastern Woodlands was a cultural area of the indigenous people of North America. The Eastern Woodlands extended roughly from the Atlantic Ocean to the eastern Great Plains, and from the Great Lakes region to the Gulf of Mexico, which is now the eastern United States and Canada...
, who were once nomadic. They originally came from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, Western Maryland
Western Maryland
Western Maryland is the portion of the U.S. state of Maryland that consists of Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties. The region is bounded by the Mason-Dixon line to the north, Preston County, West Virginia to the west, and the Potomac River to the south. There is dispute over the...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. In the late 18th century, European-American encroachment crowded Shawnee lands in the East, and one band migrated to Missouri — eventually becoming the Absentee Shawnee. Three reservations were granted to the Shawnee in Ohio by the 1817 Treaty of Fort Meigs
Treaty of Fort Meigs
The Treaty of Fort Meigs, also called the Treaty of the Foot of the Rapids, was signed September 29, 1817 between the chiefs and warriors of the Wyandot, Seneca, Delaware, Shawnee, Potawatomi, Ottawa and Chippewa, tribes of native Americans and the United States of America, represented by Lewis...
: Wapakoneta, Lewistown, and Hog Creek. After the Indian Removal Act
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830.The Removal Act was strongly supported in the South, where states were eager to gain access to lands inhabited by the Five Civilized Tribes. In particular, Georgia, the largest state at that time, was involved in...
of 1830 passed, another Shawnee band, who lived with Seneca
Seneca nation
The Seneca are a group of indigenous people native to North America. They were the nation located farthest to the west within the Six Nations or Iroquois League in New York before the American Revolution. While exact population figures are unknown, approximately 15,000 to 25,000 Seneca live in...
allies near Lewiston, Ohio, relocated to Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
in the July 1831. They would become the Eastern Shawnee Tribe. Another band, who would become the Shawnee Tribe, relocated to Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
in August 1831.
The US federal government carved out a 60000 acres (242.8 km²) reservation for the United Nation of Senecas and Shawnees from Cherokee lands in 1832. A treaty was negotiated between the US and the Seneca and Shawnee in 1867, which made portions of their land available to other tribes and split the Seneca and Shawnee into separate tribes.
The Eastern Shawnee organized as a federally recognized tribe under the 1936 Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act
Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act
The Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act of 1936, also known as the Thomas-Rogers Act, is a United States federal law that extended the US Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. It sought to return some form of tribal government to the many tribes in former Indian Territory...
.
The tribe's flag displays their tribal seal on a red field, with the name of the tribe in black letters. The seal, resembling a warrior's shield, features a Florida panther
Florida Panther
The Florida panther is an endangered subspecies of cougar that lives in forests and swamps of southern Florida in the United States. Its current taxonomic status is unresolved, but recent genetic research alone does not alter the legal conservation status...
. Besides exhibiting the qualities of ingenuity and fierceness, the panther represents Tecumseh
Tecumseh
Tecumseh was a Native American leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy which opposed the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812...
, whose name means "panther" in Shawnee. A spear bisects the seal and below is a swan
Swan
Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae...
, which represents peace, harmony, and beauty. The four eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
feathers represent the four directions, but originally were five feathers, representing the five original clans of the Shawnee.
Today
The headquarters of the Shawnee Tribe are Seneca, MissouriSeneca, Missouri
Seneca is a city in Newton County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,336 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-2008 tornado:...
and West Seneca, Oklahoma. Currently, there are 2,770 enrolled tribal members, with 777 of them living within the state of Oklahoma. Their tribal jurisdiction area includes Ottawa County, Oklahoma
Ottawa County, Oklahoma
Ottawa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 33,194. Its county seat is Miami. It was named for the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma.Ottawa County was established in 1907.-Geography:...
. Glenna J. Wallace is the elected chief, currently serving a four-year term. The Eastern Shawnee Tribe issues its own tribal vehicle tags. They operate their own housing authority as well as the People's Bank, the Eastern Shawnee Print Shop, Longhouse Management, two casinos, a bingo hall, a gas station, and a truck stop. Their annual economic impact is estimated by the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commissions to be $150,185,000.
The tribe holds an annual powwow every September at their tribal complex.