Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
The Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma is one of three federally recognized Kickapoo tribes in the United States. There are also Kickapoo tribes in Kansas
, Texas
, and Mexico
. The Kickapoo are a Woodland tribe
, who speak an Algonquian
language.
. By the 1750s, the Kickapoo divided into two communities, the Vermillion Band and the Prairie Band. The Vermillion Kickapoo settled on the east bank of the Wabash River
in Indiana
, while the Prairie Kickapoo lived along the Sangamon River
in Illinois
.
Initially allied with the French, the Kickapoo fought with the British in the American Revolution
. Afterward, they followed the teachings of Tenskwatawa
and Tecumseh
. During the Black Hawk War
of 1832, the Kickapoo fought along side the Sauk and Fox against the United States.
To resist acculturation, the Prairie Band moved west in the early 19th century, first into Missouri
, then Texas
, which was still under Spanish control. Spanish officials granted the Kickapoo lands in Texas. After being part of Mexico in 1821 and gaining independence in 1836, the Republic of Texas
forced the Kickapoo off their lands in 1839. Many Kickapoo moved south to Mexico
. The Mexican government granted them land in Nacimiento province.
Other Kickapoo moved north into Indian Territory
, where they founded two villages, one within the Chickasaw Nation
and the other within the Muscogee Creek Nation. They gained their own reservation in 1883, and were joined by some of the Mexican Kickapoo. On Sepember 8, 1891, the tribe signed an agreement with the Cherokee Commission
for individual allotments. Congress ratified the agreement in 1893, and their tribal lands were broken up from communal lands to individual households by allotment
.
In 1936, the tribe organized as the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, under the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act
.
, and their tribal jurisdictional area is in Oklahoma
, Pottawatomie
, and
Lincoln Counties
. Of the 2,719 enrolled tribal members, 1,779 live within the state of Oklahoma. The tribe's Chairman is Gilbert Salazar, who replaces Marilyn Winsea. The tribe operates its own housing authority and issues tribal vehicle tags. They own a gas station and a casino. The estimated annual economic impact of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma is $16 million. Kickapoo Casino is located in McLoud.
About 400 tribal members speak the Kickapoo language. It is one of the few Oklahoma tribal languages spoken by children today.
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...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The Kickapoo are a 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 speak an Algonquian
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
language.
Early history
At the time of contact in the mid-17th century, Kickapoo people lived in southwestern WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. By the 1750s, the Kickapoo divided into two communities, the Vermillion Band and the Prairie Band. The Vermillion Kickapoo settled on the east bank of the Wabash River
Wabash River
The Wabash River is a river in the Midwestern United States that flows southwest from northwest Ohio near Fort Recovery across northern Indiana to southern Illinois, where it forms the Illinois-Indiana border before draining into the Ohio River, of which it is the largest northern tributary...
in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, while the Prairie Kickapoo lived along the Sangamon River
Sangamon River
The Sangamon River is a principal tributary of the Illinois River, approximately long, in central Illinois in the United States. It drains a mostly rural agricultural area between Peoria and Springfield...
in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
Initially allied with the French, the Kickapoo fought with the British in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Afterward, they followed the teachings of Tenskwatawa
Tenskwatawa
Tenskwatawa, was a Native American religious and political leader of the Shawnee tribe, known as The Prophet or the Shawnee Prophet. He was the brother of Tecumseh, leader of the Shawnee...
and 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...
. During the Black Hawk War
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
of 1832, the Kickapoo fought along side the Sauk and Fox against the United States.
To resist acculturation, the Prairie Band moved west in the early 19th century, first into Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, then Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, which was still under Spanish control. Spanish officials granted the Kickapoo lands in Texas. After being part of Mexico in 1821 and gaining independence in 1836, the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
forced the Kickapoo off their lands in 1839. Many Kickapoo moved south to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The Mexican government granted them land in Nacimiento province.
Other Kickapoo moved north into 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...
, where they founded two villages, one within the Chickasaw Nation
Chickasaw Nation
The Chickasaw Nation is a federally recognized Native American nation, located in Oklahoma. They are one of the members of the Five Civilized Tribes. The Five Civilized Tribes were differentiated from other Indian reservations in that they had semi-autonomous constitutional governments and...
and the other within the Muscogee Creek Nation. They gained their own reservation in 1883, and were joined by some of the Mexican Kickapoo. On Sepember 8, 1891, the tribe signed an agreement with the Cherokee Commission
Cherokee Commission
The Cherokee Commission, was a three-person bi-partisan body created by President Benjamin Harrison to operate under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, as empowered by Section 14 of the Indian Appropriations Act of March 2, 1889. Section 15 of the same Act empowered the President to...
for individual allotments. Congress ratified the agreement in 1893, and their tribal lands were broken up from communal lands to individual households by allotment
Sortition
In politics, sortition is the selection of decision makers by lottery. The decision-makers are chosen as a random sample from a larger pool of candidates....
.
In 1936, the tribe organized as the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, under the 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...
.
Today
The Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma is headquartered in McLoud, OklahomaMcLoud, Oklahoma
McLoud is a town in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, United States, and is part of the Oklahoma City Consolidated Metropolitan Area. The population was 4,044 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, and their tribal jurisdictional area is in Oklahoma
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Oklahoma County is a county located in the central partof the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 718,633 at the 2010 census. The county seat and principal city is Oklahoma City...
, Pottawatomie
Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma
Pottawatomie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 65,521 as of the 2000 census. Its county seat is Shawnee...
, and
Lincoln Counties
Lincoln County, Oklahoma
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population as of 2010 was 34,273. It is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area.Its county seat is Chandler....
. Of the 2,719 enrolled tribal members, 1,779 live within the state of Oklahoma. The tribe's Chairman is Gilbert Salazar, who replaces Marilyn Winsea. The tribe operates its own housing authority and issues tribal vehicle tags. They own a gas station and a casino. The estimated annual economic impact of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma is $16 million. Kickapoo Casino is located in McLoud.
About 400 tribal members speak the Kickapoo language. It is one of the few Oklahoma tribal languages spoken by children today.