Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes

Last updated

Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes
Total population
12,185 [1]
Regions with significant populations
Oklahoma, United States
Languages
English, Arapaho language, Cheyenne language
Religion
Christianity, Native American Church, Sun Dance, traditional tribal religions
Related ethnic groups
Arapaho, Cheyenne,
Gros Ventre, Blackfeet, and Suhtai

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes are a united, federally recognized tribe of Southern Arapaho and Southern Cheyenne people in western Oklahoma.

Contents

History

Arapaho camp, 1868 ArapahoCamp 1868.jpg
Arapaho camp, 1868

The Cheyennes and Arapahos are two distinct tribes with distinct histories. The Cheyenne (Tsitsistas/ The People) were once agrarian, or agricultural, people located near the Great Lakes in present-day Minnesota. Grinnell notes the Cheyenne language is a unique branch of the Algonquian language family and, The Nation itself, is descended from two related tribes, the Tsitsistas and the Suh' Tai. The latter is believed to have joined the Tsitsistas in the early 18th century (1: 1–2). The Tsitsistas and the Suh' Tai are characterized, and represented by two cultural heroes who received divine articles which shaped the time-honored belief systems of the Southern and Northern families of the Cheyenne Nation. The Suh' Tai, represented by a man named Erect Horns, were blessed with the care of a sacred Buffalo Hat, which is kept among the Northern family. The Tsitsistas, represented by a man named Sweet Medicine, were bestowed with the care of a bundle of sacred Arrows, kept among the Southern Family. Inspired by Erect Horn's vision, they adopted the horse culture in the 18th century and moved westward onto the plains to follow the buffalo. The prophet Sweet Medicine organized the structure of Cheyenne society, including the Council of Forty-four peace chiefs and the warrior societies led by prominent warriors. [2] [3]

The Arapaho, also Algonquian speaking, came from Saskatchewan, Montana, Wyoming, eastern Colorado, and western South Dakota in the 18th century. They adopted horse culture and became successful nomadic hunters. In 1800, the tribe began coalescing into northern and southern groups. Although the Arapaho had assisted the Cheyenne and Lakota in driving the Kiowa south from the Northern Plains, in 1840 they made peace with the tribe. They became prosperous traders, until the expansion of American settlers onto their lands after the Civil War. [4]

The Cheyenne and Arapaho formed an alliance in the 18th and 19th centuries. Together they were a formidable military force, successful hunters, and active traders with other tribes. At the height of their alliance, their combined hunting territories spanned from Montana to Texas. [2]

Signing the Ft. Laramie Treaty, 1868 Photograph of General William T. Sherman and Commissioners in Council with Indian Chiefs at Fort Laramie, Wyoming, ca. 1 - NARA - 531079.jpg
Signing the Ft. Laramie Treaty, 1868

The Arapaho signed the Fort Laramie Treaty with the U.S. in 1851. It recognized and guaranteed their rights to traditional lands in portions of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. The U.S. could not enforce the treaty, however, and European-American trespassers overran Indian lands. There were repeated conflicts between settlers and members of the tribes.

The U.S. government brought the tribes to council again in 1867 to achieve peace under the Medicine Lodge Treaty. It promised the Arapaho a reservation in Kansas, but they disliked the location. They accepted a reservation with the Cheyenne in Indian Territory, so both tribes were forced to remove south near Fort Reno at the Darlington Agency in present-day Oklahoma. [2]

The Dawes Act broke up the Cheyenne-Arapaho land base. All land not allotted to individual Indians was opened to settlement in the Land Run of 1892. The Curtis Act of 1898 dismantled the tribal governments in an attempt to have the tribal members assimilate to United States conventions and culture.

After the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act passed in 1936, the Cheyenne and Arapaho organized a single tribal government in 1937. [4] The Indian Self-Determination Act of 1975 further enhanced tribal development.

Historic Southern Cheyenne bands

The Southern Cheyenne are known as the Heévâhetaneo'o, or "Roped People." They are named after the most populous band, also commonly known as Sówoniá or "the Southern People." [5]

Lesser southern bands (not represented in the Council of Forty-Four):

The ten principal bands that had the right to send four chief delegates representing them in the Council of Forty-Four were the

  1. Heviksnipahis (Iviststsinihpah, also known as the Tsétsêhéstâhese / Tsitsistas proper)
  2. Heévâhetaneo'o (Hevhaitaneo)
  3. Masikota (in Lakotiyapi: Sheo)
  4. Omísis (Ôhmésêheseo'o, the Notameohmésêhese proper)
  5. Só'taeo'o / Só'taétaneo'o (Suhtai or Sutaio, Northern and Southern)
  6. Wotápio (Wutapai)
  7. Oévemanaho (Oivimána or Oévemana, Northern and Southern)
  8. Hesé'omeétaneo'o (Hisiometaneo or Issiometaniu)
  9. Oo'kóhta'oná (Ohktounna or Oqtóguna)
  10. Hónowa (Háovȯhnóvȧhese or Nėstamenóoheo'o)

After the Masikota and Oo'kóhta'oná bands had been almost wiped out through a cholera epidemic in 1849, the remaining Masikota joined the Dog Soldiers warrior society (Hotamétaneo'o). They effectively became a separate band and in 1850 took over the position in the camp circle formerly occupied by the Masikota. The members often opposed policies of peace chiefs such as Black Kettle. Over time, the Dog Soldiers took a prominent leadership role in the wars against the whites. In 1867, most of the band were killed by United States Army forces in the Battle of Summit Springs.

Due to an increasing division between the Dog Soldiers and the council chiefs with respect to policy towards the whites, the Dog Soldiers separated from the other Cheyenne bands. They effectively became a third division of the Cheyenne people, between the Northern Cheyenne, who ranged north of the Platte River, and the Southern Cheyenne, who occupied the area north of the Arkansas River.

Economic development

The tribe operates three tribal smoke shops and five casinos: [1] the Lucky Star Casino in Clinton, the Lucky Star Casino in Concho, the Lucky Star Casino in Watonga, the Lucky Star Casino in Hammon, and the Lucky Star Casino in Canton. [7] They also issue their own tribal vehicle tags. Their economic impact is estimated at $32 million. [1]

Government

Cheyenne-Arapaho tribal member, peace chief, and artist, Harvey Pratt Harvey Pratt.JPG
Cheyenne-Arapaho tribal member, peace chief, and artist, Harvey Pratt

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes are headquartered in Concho, Oklahoma. Of 12,185 enrolled tribal members, 8,664 live within the state of Oklahoma. The tribal jurisdictional area includes Beckham, Blaine, Canadian, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Kingfisher, Roger Mills, and Washita Counties. [1]

The tribal government consists of the Tribal Council, Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, and Judicial Branch. The Tribal Council includes all tribal members over the age of 18. [8] The Executive Branch is led by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. The Legislative Branch is made up of legislators from the four Arapaho districts and four Cheyenne districts. The Judicial Branch includes a Supreme Court, including one Chief Justice and four Associate Justices; a Trial Court, composed of one Chief Judge and at least one Associate Judge; and any lower courts deemed necessary by the Legislature. [9] In 2006 the tribes voted and ratified the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Constitution which replaced the 1975 constitution. [10]

Institutions

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Tribune is the tribe's newspaper. [7] ''CATV channel 47'' is the tribe's low power FCC licensed television station. CATV's call letters are K35MV-D. The Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma Culture and Heritage Program teaches hand games, powwow dancing and songs, horse care and riding, buffalo management, and Cheyenne and Arapaho language, and sponsored several running events. [11]

College

In partnership with Southwestern Oklahoma State University, the tribe founded the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College on August 25, 2006. Henrietta Mann, enrolled tribal member, was president in 2009. The campus was in Weatherford, Oklahoma and the school offered programs in Tribal Administration, American Indian Studies, and General Studies. [12] The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College Board of Regents voted to dissolve the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College at the end of the 2015 spring semester. [13] However, in September of 2019 the tribe developed a replacement by chartering Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma as its school. [14]

Buffalo program

For cultural and food sovereignty purposes, a buffalo herd has been established. The herd expanded to 530 bison in 2021 when Denver Parks and Recreation donated 13 animals which will improve the herd's genetic diversity. [15] Bison is the correct taxonomic term for Bison bison, but buffalo is the common vernacular term.

Notable tribal members

Suzan Shown Harjo, Cheyenne-Muscogee activist, author, poet, and policy maker Suzan shown harjo 09.jpg
Suzan Shown Harjo, Cheyenne-Muscogee activist, author, poet, and policy maker

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 2011 Oklahoma Indian Nations Pocket Pictorial Directory. Archived April 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission. 2011: 7. Retrieved 2 Jan 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Moore, John H. Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. (retrieved 7 Feb 2009)
  3. ↑ "The Cheyenne Way of Peace: Sweet Medicine". Archived from the original on May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Fowler, Loretta. Arapaho, Southern. Archived September 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine , Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture, retrieved 7 Feb 2009
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Mooney, James (1964). The Cheyenne Indians. New York: Kraus Reprint. pp. 402–408. ISBN   9780527005054 . Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  6. ↑ William Young Chalfant: Cheyennes at Dark Water Creek: The Last Fight of the Red River War, University of Oklahoma Press, 1997, ISBN   978-0806128757, page 7
  7. 1 2 Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. Archived 2011-06-14 at the Wayback Machine 2007 (retrieved 7 Feb 2009)
  8. ↑ Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Constitution, Article V, Section 1
  9. ↑ Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma Constitution and Bylaws. 1975 (retrieved 7 Feb 2009)
  10. ↑ "Constitution | Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes". Archived from the original on September 23, 2010. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
  11. ↑ Culture. Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. 2007 (retrieved 7 Feb 2009)
  12. ↑ General Information. Archived October 29, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College. (retrieved 2 Nov 2009)
  13. ↑ "SWOS univ". Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Agree to Charter Bacone College as a Tribal College". Bacone College, February 12, 2020. February 12, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  15. ↑ Sirianni, Anna (April 14, 2021). "Denver Returns 14 Bison To Tribal Land In Reparations, Conservation Effort". NPR News. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  16. ↑ "iola Hatch of Canton, Oklahoma, 1930 – 2019, Obituary". Pierce Funeral Home. Canton, Oklahoma: Batesville, Inc. April 22, 2019. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Henson, Lance David 2004," Archived 2013-03-29 at the Wayback Machine University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Accessed June 29, 2015.
  18. ↑ Schontzler, Gail (January 27, 2001). "Henrietta Mann Blazes a Trail for N.A.'s". Bozeman Daily Chronicle . Bozeman, Montana. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  19. ↑ Orange, Tommy (June 5, 2018). There There. Knopf Doubleday Publishing. ISBN   9780525520382. OCLC   1039481247 . Retrieved February 17, 2022.

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References

Further reading

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