Kialegee Tribal Town
Encyclopedia
The Kialegee Tribal Town is a federally recognized Native American tribe in Oklahoma
, as well as a traditional township within the Muscogee Creek Confederacy. Tribal members pride themselves on retaining their traditions and many speak their tribal language, the Muscogee language.
The name "Kialegee" comes from the Muscogee word, eka-lache, meaning "head left."
. Of 439 enrolled tribal members, 429 live within the state of Oklahoma. Its tribal jurisdictional area falls within Hughes
, McIntosh
, Okfuskee
counties. The tribe's elected miko or chief is Tiger Hobia, who serves a two-year term. Hobia succeeds Jennie Lillard.
Enrollment in the tribe at its establishment required an individual to be at half to full blood Muscogee Creek and one-half to full blood Indian of any other tribe. Enrollment follows matrilineal
descent. Any descendant of a female Kialegee tribal member is automatically eligible for tribal membership, while spouses of Kialegee tribal members may petition for membership. In special circumstances, any full-blood Indian may petition the tribe for enrollment as an "Adopted Member."
The Kialegee Etvlwv Business Committee operates a daycare, gas station, and smoke shop. Kialegee Tribal Town also operates its own housing division. In 2008, its annual tribal economic impact was $1,017,684. They operate their own tribal courts, as well as an environmental educational program for youth, the Kialegee Tribal Town's Environmental "Kub" Program.
Town members and visitors celebrate the annual Kialegee Nettv (Day), a gathering that celebrates the town's history and culture.
. Before removal
, the Muscogee Confederacy included about 50 towns. Kialegee was based on a matrilineal system, with status through the mother's clan
. It was an agrarian community. Women and children grew crops, while men hunted for game.
On June 29, 1796 leaders from Kialegee signed a peace treaty with the United States. Townspeople joined the Red Stick Upper Creeks
in the Creek Civil War. In 1813, US troops burned the town. In 1814, 1818, 1825, and 1826, Kialegee representatives signed treaties with the United States. Finally 166 families of Kialegee were forced to relocate to Indian Territory
in 1835 under the Indian Removal Act.
The tribe settled south of what would become Henryetta, Oklahoma
. They maintained a ceremonial ground and played stick ball against the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town
. Their ground was put to sleep in 1912 when ethnologist John R. Swanton
visited the town. He recorded that Kialegee was a Red Town or community of warriors.
After the passage of the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act
in 1936, the US federal government offered each of the Muscogee Creek tribal towns the opportunity to enroll as an individual tribe . Of more than 40 towns, only three accepted: Kialegee, Thlopthlocco
, and the Alabama-Quassarte
.
The tribe ratified its constitution and by-laws on June 12, 1941. The tribe is governed by a miko or town king. Additional officers are the First Warrior, Second Warrior, Secretary, and Treasurer.
The first tribal headquarters was the home of Martin Givens.
heritage of modern Muscogee people. The bald eagle at the right is a sacred animal, featured in many tribal stories.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, as well as a traditional township within the Muscogee Creek Confederacy. Tribal members pride themselves on retaining their traditions and many speak their tribal language, the Muscogee language.
The name "Kialegee" comes from the Muscogee word, eka-lache, meaning "head left."
Today
The Kialegee Tribal Town is headquartered in Wetumka, OklahomaWetumka, Oklahoma
Wetumka is a city in Hughes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,451 at the 2000 census. It is the headquarters for two federally recognized tribes, the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town and the Kialegee Tribal Town...
. Of 439 enrolled tribal members, 429 live within the state of Oklahoma. Its tribal jurisdictional area falls within Hughes
Hughes County, Oklahoma
Hughes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 14,154. Its county seat is Holdenville.-Geography:...
, McIntosh
McIntosh County, Oklahoma
McIntosh County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 19,456. Its county seat is Eufaula.-Geography:...
, Okfuskee
Okfuskee County, Oklahoma
Okfuskee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 11,814. Its county seat is Okemah.-Geography:...
counties. The tribe's elected miko or chief is Tiger Hobia, who serves a two-year term. Hobia succeeds Jennie Lillard.
Enrollment in the tribe at its establishment required an individual to be at half to full blood Muscogee Creek and one-half to full blood Indian of any other tribe. Enrollment follows matrilineal
Matrilineality
Matrilineality is a system in which descent is traced through the mother and maternal ancestors. Matrilineality is also a societal system in which one belongs to one's matriline or mother's lineage, which can involve the inheritance of property and/or titles.A matriline is a line of descent from a...
descent. Any descendant of a female Kialegee tribal member is automatically eligible for tribal membership, while spouses of Kialegee tribal members may petition for membership. In special circumstances, any full-blood Indian may petition the tribe for enrollment as an "Adopted Member."
The Kialegee Etvlwv Business Committee operates a daycare, gas station, and smoke shop. Kialegee Tribal Town also operates its own housing division. In 2008, its annual tribal economic impact was $1,017,684. They operate their own tribal courts, as well as an environmental educational program for youth, the Kialegee Tribal Town's Environmental "Kub" Program.
Town members and visitors celebrate the annual Kialegee Nettv (Day), a gathering that celebrates the town's history and culture.
History
Kialegee emerged as an independent town from a larger Creek town, Tuckabatche, located along rivers in what is now AlabamaAlabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. Before removal
Indian Removal
Indian removal was a nineteenth century policy of the government of the United States to relocate Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to lands west of the river...
, the Muscogee Confederacy included about 50 towns. Kialegee was based on a matrilineal system, with status through the mother's clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
. It was an agrarian community. Women and children grew crops, while men hunted for game.
On June 29, 1796 leaders from Kialegee signed a peace treaty with the United States. Townspeople joined the Red Stick Upper Creeks
Red Sticks
Red Sticks is the English term for a traditionalist faction of Creek Indians who led a resistance movement which culminated in the outbreak of the Creek War in 1813....
in the Creek Civil War. In 1813, US troops burned the town. In 1814, 1818, 1825, and 1826, Kialegee representatives signed treaties with the United States. Finally 166 families of Kialegee were forced to relocate 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 1835 under the Indian Removal Act.
The tribe settled south of what would become Henryetta, Oklahoma
Henryetta, Oklahoma
Henryetta is a city in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 6,096 at the 2000 census.Henryetta is notable as the high school hometown of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman...
. They maintained a ceremonial ground and played stick ball against the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town
Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town
The Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town is both a federally recognized Native American tribe and a traditional township of Muskogean-speaking Alabama and Coushatta peoples. Their traditional languages include Alabama, Koasati, and Mvskoke...
. Their ground was put to sleep in 1912 when ethnologist John R. Swanton
John R. Swanton
John Reed Swanton was an American anthropologist and linguist who worked with Native American peoples throughout the United States. Swanton achieved recognition in the fields of ethnology and ethnohistory...
visited the town. He recorded that Kialegee was a Red Town or community of warriors.
After the passage of 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...
in 1936, the US federal government offered each of the Muscogee Creek tribal towns the opportunity to enroll as an individual tribe . Of more than 40 towns, only three accepted: Kialegee, Thlopthlocco
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town is both a federally recognized Native American tribe and a traditional township of Muscogee Creek Indians, based in Oklahoma. The tribe's native language is Mvskoke, also called Creek.-History:...
, and the Alabama-Quassarte
Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town
The Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town is both a federally recognized Native American tribe and a traditional township of Muskogean-speaking Alabama and Coushatta peoples. Their traditional languages include Alabama, Koasati, and Mvskoke...
.
The tribe ratified its constitution and by-laws on June 12, 1941. The tribe is governed by a miko or town king. Additional officers are the First Warrior, Second Warrior, Secretary, and Treasurer.
The first tribal headquarters was the home of Martin Givens.
Tribal flag
The flag of the tribe contains a sky blue circle, featuring a pair of stickball sticks, used in the traditional game still played at ceremonial grounds today. The black cross at the top represents the Christian religion. To the left is a hollowed log and beater, which women used to grind corn meal, central to Muscogee diets. At the bottom is a ceremonial lodge with a rounded bark roof, sitting on a mound. This lodge was the center of the tribal town for religious and civic gatherings and also a shelter for the needy. The mound reflects the Mississippian cultureMississippian culture
The Mississippian culture was a mound-building Native American culture that flourished in what is now the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States from approximately 800 CE to 1500 CE, varying regionally....
heritage of modern Muscogee people. The bald eagle at the right is a sacred animal, featured in many tribal stories.
External links
- Kialegee Tribal Town, official website
- Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma Historical Society article
- Constitution and By-Laws of the Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma