The Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska, a federally recognized tribe, maintains its tribal government headquarters in Reserve, Kansas. This article delves into the history, culture, and contemporary status of this unique Native American nation. We will explore their origins, migrations, treaties, and the vibrant traditions that continue to shape their identity today. The keywords used are: Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska
Official Information and Contact
For those seeking to connect with the tribal government, the following information is available:
- Official Tribal Name: Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska
- Address: 305 N Main, Reserve, KS 66434
- Phone: 785-742-7471
- Fax: 785-742-3785
- Email: djune@sacandfoxcasino.com
- Official Website: www.sacandfoxks.com/
Traditional Names and Meanings
Understanding the nuances of names provides insight into a tribe’s history and self-perception. The Fox people refer to themselves as Osakiwug or Asakiwaki, translating to "people of the outlet." This name is linked to their ancestral homeland on Michigan’s Saginaw Bay, with "Saginaw" itself meaning "place of the Sauk." The term is sometimes misinterpreted as "people of the yellow earth."
The Sauk, on the other hand, call themselves Meshkwakihug, Thakiwaki, or Sa ki wa ki, all signifying "red earth people." Another interpretation, though perhaps less accurate, suggests "people coming forth from the water."
The name "Fox" as applied to the entire tribe originated with the French, derived from the Wagosh clan, meaning "Red Fox."
Alternate Names and Spellings
Throughout history, the Sac and Fox have been known by various names, reflecting interactions with different cultures and shifts in tribal organization. These include:
- Sac & Fox Tribe of Oklahoma
- Meskwaki (used to refer to the Fox), particularly the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa.
- Sa ki wa ki – Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma
- Ne ma ha ha ki – A historical name for the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska.
Variations in spelling also exist, particularly for the Fox: Mesquakie (Meshkwahkihaki, Meskwaki, Meskwakihuk, Meskwakihugi).
Names in Other Languages
The Sac and Fox have been identified by various names in different languages, providing a glimpse into how other tribes and European powers perceived them.
Fox:
- Renard (French for Fox)
- Asakiwaki (Sauk)
- Outagamie or Odugameeg (Ojibwe, "people of the other shore")
- Beshdeke (Dakota)
- Skenchioe (Iroquois)
- Skaxshurunu (Wyandot)
- Skenchiohronon (Huron)
- Mshkwa’kitha (Shawnee)
- Squawkies (British)
- Tochewahcoo (Arikara)
- Wacereke (Winnebago)
- Wakusheg (Potawatomi)
Sauk:
- Hotinestakon (Onondaga)
- Osaugee (Ojibwe)
- Quatokeronon (Huron)
- Satoeronnon (Huron)
- Zake (Dakota)
- Zagi (Winnebago)
Geographical Context
Historically rooted in the Northeast, the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska today primarily resides in Kansas and Nebraska.
Their traditional territory encompassed a vast area including parts of Canada, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. The original homeland of the Sacs and Fox was in the Great Lakes region, where the Sacs inhabited the upper Michigan peninsula and the Foxes, the south shore of Lake Superior. Oral traditions suggest an even earlier migration from the Atlantic coast via the St. Lawrence River.
By the late 17th century, pressure from the Iroquois and French on the Sacs, and from the Chippewa on the Foxes, had pushed both groups towards Green Bay, Wisconsin. Attacks by the French in the 18th century led to a stronger alliance and eventual confederation of the two tribes. Forced southward, they clashed with and displaced the Illinois Tribe along the Mississippi River in present-day Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
Those who remained near the Mississippi became known as the "Sac and Fox of the Mississippi," distinguishing them from the "Sac and Fox of the Missouri," who settled further south along the Missouri River. The Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska are apart of the Sac & Fox Confederacy.
Treaties and Land
Significant treaties have shaped the history and land ownership of the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska:
- 1804: The Treaty of 1804 ceded Sac and Fox land to the United States.
- 1815: The Treaty of 1815 officially recognized the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri as a distinct tribe, leading to their relocation from Iowa and Illinois to northeast Missouri.
- 1837: The Treaty of 1837 resulted in the removal of the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri into Kansas, across the Missouri River to the Great Nemaha reservation in Doniphan and Brown counties. This treaty formally established the group as the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska.
Today, the tribe has land in the Sac and Fox Nation Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (KS-NE), as well as a joint use area on the Kickapoo Reservation (KS-NE).
Population History
The Sac and Fox population has fluctuated significantly throughout history. Initial French estimates in 1666 placed the Fox at 5,000 and the Sauk at 6,500, but these numbers likely reflect declines due to war, relocation, and epidemics. By 1712, the Fox population had dropped to 3,500, with further losses in the First and Second Fox Wars. Relations with the French improved for the Sauk, who numbered close to 4,000 by 1734.
Later estimates sometimes merged the two tribes. Zebulon Pike in 1806 listed the Fox at 1,750 and the Sauk at 2,850. Government records in 1829 reported 5,000 Sauk, 1,600 Fox, and 500 Sauk in Missouri.
Removal from Iowa in 1846 led to a drastic population decline, with only 700 Fox and 1,900 Sauk arriving in Kansas out of the 1,300 Fox and 2,500 Sauk who left Iowa. The Missouri Band numbered less than 200 at this time. A subsequent smallpox epidemic further reduced the population, leaving only 300 Fox and 1,300 Sauk on the Kansas reserve in 1852.
Following the Civil War, 600 Sauk and 100 Fox relocated to Oklahoma, with only the Missouri Band remaining in Kansas. The 1910 census listed 343 Fox in Iowa, 630 Sauk and Fox in Oklahoma, and 90 Sauk in Kansas.
As of January 2013, the tribal enrollment was 469 enrolled members.
Enrollment Requirements
Tribal enrollment is determined by specific criteria outlined in the tribal constitution:
- (a) All persons of Indian blood whose names appear on the official annuity roll of the tribe as of November 23, 1935, with a provision for corrections within one year of the constitution’s adoption, subject to Tribal Council and Secretary of the Interior approval.
- (b) All children born to any member of the Sac and Fox Tribe who is a resident of the Sac and Fox, Kickapoo, Potawatomi, or Iowa Reservations in Kansas and Nebraska at the time of the birth of said children, provided that any such member married to a non-member chooses to enroll such children in the tribe.
Government and Leadership
The Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska is governed by a Tribal Council comprised of five members. The executive officers include a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and one Council Member.
Language and Culture
The Sac and Fox tribes have always been closely allied, speaking very similar Algonquian languages, sometimes considered dialects of the same language. The Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska has been making efforts to revitalize their language. Descent was traced through patrilineal clans: Bear, Beaver, Deer, Fish, Fox, Ocean, Potato, Snow, Thunder, and Wolf.
Allies and Enemies
Historically, the Sac and Fox have faced conflicts with various tribes, including the Sioux, Omahas, and Menominees.
Modern Life
Today, the Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska celebrates its annual Pow-Wow the last weekend in August at the Sac and Fox Casino.
Historically, the Sac and Fox lived in bark houses in small villages during warm weather and oval flag-reed lodges in large villages during the winter. They were semi-sedentary farmers, cultivating maize, beans, squash, and tobacco, while also relying on fishing, hunting, and wild rice harvesting. Travel was by dugout and birch-bark canoe.
The tribe operates a trading post in Reserve, Kansas, a truck stop on Highway 75, and the Sac and Fox Casino on Highway 75 near Powhattan, Kansas. They also own approximately 1,446 acres of land primarily used for farming.
The social and religious organization was complex, with the Grand Medicine Society playing a significant role. The Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska continues to uphold many of these traditions.
Notable Figures
The Sac and Fox Nation has produced numerous influential leaders and figures, including:
- Chief Poweshiek
- Cakewalk
- Moses
- Kaokuk
- Black Hawk
- Mokohoko
- Black Sparrow Hawk
- Wapello
- Jim Thorpe (Sauk/Pottawatomi), a renowned athlete who won gold medals at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics.
Tribe History
The Sac and Fox have a rich and complex history marked by treaties, conflicts, and relocations. In 1804, some chiefs were persuaded to sign a treaty ceding lands east of the Mississippi River, which caused significant resentment among the tribes. Government efforts to enforce this treaty led to a split within the confederation, with some following the conciliatory chief Kaokuk, while others supported the warrior Black Hawk, who opposed the treaty and led a revolt known as Black Hawk’s War.
Following Black Hawk’s defeat, the Sac and Fox were removed to Iowa in 1833, then to the Osage River Reservation in Kansas for 23 years. Despite their efforts to defend their lands, the westward movement of white settlers resulted in another removal to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in 1869. Some Foxes, led by Chief Poweshiek, returned to Iowa in 1850 to join those who had refused to leave.
The Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska stands as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of its people. Despite facing numerous challenges throughout history, they have persevered and continue to preserve their cultural heritage and sovereignty.