Shawnee Tribe
Encyclopedia
The Shawnee Tribe is a federally recognized Native American tribe in Oklahoma.
tribes. They are an Eastern Woodland tribe
. They originally came from Ohio
and were the last of the Shawnee to leave their traditional homelands there. 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 relocated to Indian Territory
in the July 1831. The final band, who would become the Shawnee Tribe, relocated to Kansas
in August 1831. Their Kansas lands were drastically reduced in 1854 and broken up into individual allotments in 1858.
During the Civil War
many of the Shawnee Tribe fought for the Union, which inspired the name, "Loyal Shawnee." Instead of receiving compensation or honors for their service, they returned to their Kansas lands, only to find much of it taken over by non-Indian settlers. Settlers were granted 130000 acres (526.1 km²) of Shawnee land, while 70000 acres (283.3 km²) remained to for the tribe, of which 20000 acres (80.9 km²) were granted to the Absentee Shawnee.
In 1861 Kansas became a state, and the non-Indian people of Kansas demanded that all Indian tribes must be removed from the state. The Loyal Shawnee made an agreement with Cherokee Nation
in 1869, allowing 722 Loyal Shawnee citizenship within the Cherokee tribe and allotments of Cherokee land. They predominantly settled in what is now Craig
and Rogers County, Oklahoma
. They became known as the "Cherokee Shawnee."
They settled primarily around Bird Creek, currently known as Sperry
; Hudson Creek, now known as Fairland
, and White Oak, Oklahoma
.
In 1854 the Shawnee Reservation in Kansas was never legally dissolved and some Shawnee families still hold their allotment lands in Kansas today.
Beginning in the 1980s, the Loyal Shawnee began an effort regain their own tribal status, independent of the Cherokee Nation. Congress passed Public Law 106-568, the Shawnee Tribe Status Act of 2000, and the Shawnee Tribe was able to organize as their own autonomous, federally recognized tribe.
. Currently, there are 2,132 enrolled tribal members, with 1,030 of them living within the state of Oklahoma.
Ron Sparkman is the elected chairman, currently serving a four-year term. The Shawnee Tribe issues its own tribal vehicle tags. They operate their own housing authority as well as a tribal smoke shop, the Shawnee Trails Gift Shop and Gallery, Shawnee Development LLC, and Shawnee Heritage Government Solutions. Their annual economic impact is estimated by the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commissions to be $3 million dollars. Shawnee Development LLC is an economic development corporation established in 2001, owned by the tribe but conducting business business separately from the general government functions. The Shawnee Journal is newspaper published by the tribe and distributed at no cost to all tribal members.
Some traditional ceremonies, such as the Spring and Fall Bread Dance, the Green Corn ceremony, and stomp dances are still held. These take place in White Oak, Oklahoma. Some Shawnees are also members of the Native American Church peyote ceremonies, with most attending in the winter outside of the traditional Shawnee ceremonial cycle.
Award-winning contemporary artists Ruthe Blalock Jones
and Heidi Bigknife are both Shawnee Tribal members, as is former Prima Ballerina Yvonne Chouteau
.
History
Sometimes known as the "Loyal Shawnee," the Shawnee Tribe 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...
. 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...
and were the last of the Shawnee to leave their traditional homelands there. 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 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. The final 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. Their Kansas lands were drastically reduced in 1854 and broken up into individual allotments in 1858.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
many of the Shawnee Tribe fought for the Union, which inspired the name, "Loyal Shawnee." Instead of receiving compensation or honors for their service, they returned to their Kansas lands, only to find much of it taken over by non-Indian settlers. Settlers were granted 130000 acres (526.1 km²) of Shawnee land, while 70000 acres (283.3 km²) remained to for the tribe, of which 20000 acres (80.9 km²) were granted to the Absentee Shawnee.
In 1861 Kansas became a state, and the non-Indian people of Kansas demanded that all Indian tribes must be removed from the state. The Loyal Shawnee made an agreement with Cherokee Nation
Cherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation is the largest of three Cherokee federally recognized tribes in the United States. It was established in the 20th century, and includes people descended from members of the old Cherokee Nation who relocated voluntarily from the Southeast to Indian Territory and Cherokees who...
in 1869, allowing 722 Loyal Shawnee citizenship within the Cherokee tribe and allotments of Cherokee land. They predominantly settled in what is now Craig
Craig County, Oklahoma
Craig County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 15,029, a gain of 0.5 percent from 14,950 in 2000. Its county seat is Vinita.Craig County was organized in 1907.-History:...
and Rogers County, Oklahoma
Rogers County, Oklahoma
Rogers County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 86,905. Its county seat is Claremore. The county was originally created in 1906 and named Cooweescoowee...
. They became known as the "Cherokee Shawnee."
They settled primarily around Bird Creek, currently known as Sperry
Sperry, Oklahoma
Sperry is a town in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,206 in the 2010 U. S. census, compared to 981 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sperry is located at ....
; Hudson Creek, now known as Fairland
Fairland, Oklahoma
Fairland is a town in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,025 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fairland is located at ....
, and White Oak, Oklahoma
White Oak, Oklahoma
White Oak is an unincorporated community in Craig County, Oklahoma, United States, along State Highway 66 about one mile west of that road's eastern terminus with U.S. Route 60. The community had a post office from October 14, 1898 until October 31, 1957...
.
In 1854 the Shawnee Reservation in Kansas was never legally dissolved and some Shawnee families still hold their allotment lands in Kansas today.
Beginning in the 1980s, the Loyal Shawnee began an effort regain their own tribal status, independent of the Cherokee Nation. Congress passed Public Law 106-568, the Shawnee Tribe Status Act of 2000, and the Shawnee Tribe was able to organize as their own autonomous, federally recognized tribe.
Today
The headquarters of the Shawnee Tribe is Miami, OklahomaMiami, Oklahoma
Miami is a city in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, United States. As of 2009, the population estimate was 12,910. It is the county seat of Ottawa County. The city is named after the Miami tribe...
. Currently, there are 2,132 enrolled tribal members, with 1,030 of them living within the state of Oklahoma.
Ron Sparkman is the elected chairman, currently serving a four-year term. The Shawnee Tribe issues its own tribal vehicle tags. They operate their own housing authority as well as a tribal smoke shop, the Shawnee Trails Gift Shop and Gallery, Shawnee Development LLC, and Shawnee Heritage Government Solutions. Their annual economic impact is estimated by the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commissions to be $3 million dollars. Shawnee Development LLC is an economic development corporation established in 2001, owned by the tribe but conducting business business separately from the general government functions. The Shawnee Journal is newspaper published by the tribe and distributed at no cost to all tribal members.
Some traditional ceremonies, such as the Spring and Fall Bread Dance, the Green Corn ceremony, and stomp dances are still held. These take place in White Oak, Oklahoma. Some Shawnees are also members of the Native American Church peyote ceremonies, with most attending in the winter outside of the traditional Shawnee ceremonial cycle.
Award-winning contemporary artists Ruthe Blalock Jones
Ruthe Blalock Jones
Ruthe Blalock Jones is an award-winning Delaware-Shawnee-Peoria painter and printmaker from Oklahoma.-Background:Ruthe Blalock Jones was born on June 8, 1939 in Claremore, Oklahoma. Her parents are Joe and Lucy Parks Blalock. Her tribal name is Chulundit.She earned an associates degree from Bacone...
and Heidi Bigknife are both Shawnee Tribal members, as is former Prima Ballerina Yvonne Chouteau
Yvonne Chouteau
Myra Yvonne Chouteau is one of the "Five Moons" or Native prima ballerinas of Oklahoma. In 1962 she and her husband founded the first fully accredited university dance program in the United States, at the University of Oklahoma. A member of the Shawnee Tribe, she is also of ethnic French...
.