The Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma stands as a testament to resilience, cultural adaptation, and a rich historical tapestry woven across the North American continent. Though often characterized as a typical Plains Indian culture in some aspects, the Kiowa distinguished themselves through their sophisticated military organization and reputation as one of the most formidable warrior tribes of the Great Plains. This article delves into the multifaceted history, culture, and contemporary life of the Kiowa people.
Official Tribal Information
- Official Tribal Name: Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma
- Address: 130 W Main St, Anadarko, OK 73005
- Phone: (580) 654-2300
- Official Website: www.kiowatribe.org
- Recognition Status: Federally Recognized
The Name: A Reflection of Identity and History
The Kiowa’s name carries layers of meaning, reflecting their self-perception and their interactions with other tribes. In their own language, they call themselves Gaigwu or Kǎ’-i-gwÅ (plural) or Kgoy-goo [kaw-eh-goo] or ‘koy-goo’ (singular), all translating to "the principal people." The variations in spelling (G and K) represent dialectal differences in pronunciation.
The name "Kiowa," however, has origins in the Blackfoot language. This name emerged during the Kiowa’s migration through a region they refer to as "The Mountains of the Kiowa," located on the eastern edge of Glacier National Park, Montana, near the Canadian border. The mountain pass was heavily populated by grizzly bears and Blackfoot people. The Blackfoot word for "grizzly bear" is Kgyi-yo, which also means "one who is lost." This term was anglicized into "Kiowa." Today, Kiowa, Montana, marks the very spot where the ancient Kiowa traversed the mountains during their southward migration.
Further emphasizing their identity, they also call themselves K’oigu, meaning "Principal People." Earlier names like Kwuda or T’epda, meaning "Coming-Out People," commemorate the Kiowa creation story, where they emerged from the ground.
Other tribes used a distinctive sign language to identify the Kiowa. This involved holding two straight fingers near the lower outside edge of the eye and moving them back past the ear, mirroring the ancient Kiowa hairstyle. This practical style involved cutting the hair horizontally from the outer edge of the eyes to the back of the ears, preventing tangling when releasing an arrow from a bowstring. The artist George Catlin captured this distinctive hairstyle in his paintings of Kiowa warriors. The Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma has a unique name story.
Geographic Journey: From Canada to the Southern Plains
The Kiowa’s history is marked by a significant migration across vast distances. Archaeological evidence suggests their origins lie in the Kootenay Region of British Columbia, Canada. From there, they migrated to Western Montana and continued southward, eventually inhabiting present-day Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The Kiowa oral traditions pinpoint their origin in the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana. Early written records place them in the northern basin of the Missouri River before migrating south to the Black Hills around 1650, where they coexisted with the Crow tribe.
Driven southward by the encroaching Cheyenne and Sioux, who were themselves displaced by the Ojibwa tribes in the Great Lakes region, the Kiowa moved down the Platte River basin to the Arkansas River area. This brought them into conflict with the Comanche, who already occupied the land.
Around 1790, a pivotal alliance formed between the Kiowa and Comanche. They agreed to share the territory, forging a deep bond that saw them hunting, traveling, and fighting together. The Plains Apache, also known as the Kiowa-Apache, also became affiliated with the Kiowa during this period.
A contrasting theory suggests a connection to the Puebloan peoples of New Mexico, based on linguistic similarities. The Kiowa language belongs to the Tanoan language family, also spoken by some Pueblo tribes. This theory posits that the Kiowa may be a Puebloan group that migrated north long ago and then returned to the plains.
Alliances, Treaties, and Conflicts
The Kiowa were part of a complex web of alliances and conflicts throughout their history. They initially skirmished with the Comanche before forming a confederation between 1790 and 1806. By 1840, they had also established alliances with the Lakota, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Osage.
Their enemies included the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Navajo, Ute, and occasionally the Lakota to the north and west. To the east, they fought with the Pawnee, Osage, Kickapoo, Kaw, Caddo, Wichita, and Sac and Fox. To the south, they clashed with the Lipan Apache, Mescalero Apache, and Tonkawa. The Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma was also involved in the conflicts arising from the forced relocation of tribes to Indian Territory during the Indian Removal period.
The 1865 Little Arkansas Treaty forced the Kiowa and Comanche to cede lands in Kansas and New Mexico. In 1867, they were signatories to the Medicine Lodge Treaty, which assigned them a 2.8 million-acre reservation in southwestern Oklahoma in 1868. However, they frequently ventured beyond the reservation boundaries and resumed warfare with white settlers in 1874. This conflict ended in September of the following year when several leaders were captured.
Land and Governance
On August 6, 1901, Kiowa land in Oklahoma was opened for white settlement, effectively dissolving the contiguous reservation. Each Kiowa head of household was allotted 80 acres, but the only land remaining in Kiowa tribal ownership today consists of scattered parcels of "grass land" that were leased to white settlers for grazing before the reservation was opened for settlement.
The Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma is governed by a Business Committee, consisting of three council members and executive officers: a Chairman or Lady Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, and a Secretary-Treasurer. The Kiowa speak a language called Tanoan or Kiowa-Tanoan, part of a larger family of related languages also spoken by some Pueblo tribes. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, approximately three hundred Kiowas still spoke the Kiowa language.
Social Structure and Culture
Nineteenth-century Kiowa society was structured around kinship, age, and social standing. Kinship was traced bilaterally, encompassing both maternal and paternal lines. Age played a significant role, with individuals belonging to social organizations based on their age range. As individuals aged, they would transition from one social organization to the next, with the boys’ and young men’s organizations being the most prominent.
Kiowa society recognized four classes: ondedau (rich), ondegup’a (second best), kwwn (poor), and dapom (worthless). Social mobility was possible through the accumulation of war honors.
Spiritual Beliefs and Ceremonies
Nineteenth-century Kiowa religious beliefs revolved around animistic beings representing a pervasive power force called dw′ dw′, manifested in natural phenomena and animals. This power could be transferred to humans through vision quests. The most potent source of warfare-related power came from the Sun, the life force of the universe. The sacred taime bundle remains significant, although the Sun Dance ritual it represents has not been performed in its entirety since 1887. In its place, some Kiowas practiced the Ghost Dance between 1890 and 1916.
Today, many Kiowa beliefs reflect a blend of indigenous and Christian elements. The Native American Church of Oklahoma was chartered in 1918, and several Kiowa roadmen conduct periodic tipi meetings. The Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma preserves and celebrates their spiritual traditions.
Contemporary Life
Today, the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma operates a casino, a local transportation service, a museum, and a gift shop. The tribe also receives income from various other ventures, including their participation in the Oklahoma Indian Arts and Crafts Cooperative.
Kiowa veterans and soldiers in the armed forces commemorate the warrior spirit of their ancestors in warrior society dances performed by the Kiowa Gourd Clan and Black Leggings Warrior Society.
Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma: A Legacy of Strength
The history of the Kiowa people is a story of migration, adaptation, and resilience. From their origins in the northern reaches of North America to their current home in Oklahoma, the Kiowa have navigated complex relationships with other tribes, faced the challenges of treaties and land loss, and maintained their cultural identity through language, traditions, and spiritual beliefs. The Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma continues to thrive, preserving its heritage while embracing the opportunities of the modern world.