Black Bob, also known by his Shawnee names Wa-wah-che-pa-e-hai or Wa-wah-che-pa-e-kar, stands as a significant figure in the history of the Shawnee people, particularly within the Hathawekela division. He is remembered not only as a chief but as a steadfast leader who, against the tide of forced removal, strove to maintain the unity of his band and preserve their traditional way of life. His story is one of resistance, resilience, and the enduring struggle to retain ancestral lands in the face of relentless pressure from westward expansion.
A Leader of Resistance
Black Bob’s legacy is inextricably linked to his unwavering opposition to the forced relocation of Shawnee people to the Indian Territory, later known as Oklahoma. In the early 19th century, the United States government pursued a policy of Indian Removal, aimed at displacing Native American tribes from their eastern homelands to lands west of the Mississippi River. While many Shawnee bands eventually succumbed to this pressure, Black Bob remained resolute.
He dedicated himself to keeping his band together, maintaining their communal land ownership, and guiding them through a period of constant movement and uncertainty. This involved navigating the complex political landscape of the time, dealing with government officials, and protecting his people from encroaching settlers. His determination to uphold their traditional ways and resist assimilation made him a symbol of defiance for those who wished to remain on their ancestral lands.
Origins and Early Life
Born of mixed heritage, Black Bob was half Miami and half Shawnee. This dual ancestry likely provided him with a unique perspective and understanding of the challenges facing Native American communities in a rapidly changing world. He also had connections to the Blackfeather people, suggesting a network of kinship and shared identity that strengthened his position within the Shawnee community.
The Blackfeather Farm, located in present-day Overland Park, Kansas, serves as a tangible reminder of this history. The original land patent for the farm was granted to To Wah Pea and her heirs in 1885, and the land was once part of the larger tract belonging to Black Bob’s band. The association of the Blackfeather name with the land, through heirs like Joseph and Johnson Blackfeather, underscores the enduring connection between the Shawnee people and the land they once called home. The disputes that arose over the land following the Civil War highlight the challenges faced by the Shawnee in retaining their property rights in the face of increasing settler encroachment.
The Cape Girardeau Shawnee
Black Bob’s band, the Hathawekela, was also known as the Skipakákamithagî band, or the Cape Girardeau Shawnee. This name originated from their settlement in eastern Missouri, near Cape Girardeau, on land granted to them around 1793 by Baron Carondelet, who represented the Spanish government. At the time, the region was under Spanish control.
The name Skipakákamithagî, translating to "blue water Indians" in the Shawnee language, reflects their connection to the Big Blue River, a vital resource that sustained their community. This connection to the land and its resources was central to their identity and way of life.
In 1808, a pivotal moment occurred when Chief Black Bob and his band refused to join the rest of the Shawnee tribe in moving to the Indian Territory. Their resistance stemmed from a belief that government commissioners had misrepresented the terms of the 1825 treaty. They also objected to the proposed settlement of Ohio Shawnees on the western lands, highlighting internal divisions and concerns about resource competition within the broader Shawnee community.
Journey to Arkansas and Continued Resistance
As a result of their refusal to relocate to Kansas, a portion of the Shawnees under Black Bob’s leadership migrated south, settling along the White River in Arkansas. Meanwhile, other Shawnee bands, such as the Rogerstown and Fish bands, traveled directly to eastern Kansas. Despite this division, efforts were made to reunite the Shawnee people, sometimes through forceful means. However, Black Bob’s band remained steadfast in their desire to avoid moving to the Kansas River.
In 1831, General William Clark, a prominent figure in the history of westward expansion, signed a treaty at Castor Hill in St. Louis County, Missouri, with representatives of the Delaware tribe then residing in Kansas, and the Cape Girardeau Shawnee (Black Bob’s band) then residing in Arkansas. This treaty involved the relinquishment of all claims to the Cape Girardeau grant.
Black Bob’s band directly appealed to President Andrew Jackson, expressing their concerns about the proposed relocation. They emphasized their peaceful residence in Upper Louisiana (now Missouri) for the past forty years, where they had supported their families through traditional occupations. They also voiced concerns about the colder climate and unfamiliar surroundings of the Kansas lands. Despite their pleas, their petition was ultimately denied in 1833.
The Black Bob Reservation in Kansas
Eventually, Black Bob’s band was compelled to move to the area of Kansas. In an 1854 treaty with Black Bob, the United States granted them rights to land on the Shawnee Reservation in that state. The reservation, encompassing 1.6 million acres, became home to 2,183 Shawnees from various bands between 1825 and 1834.
The Black Bob Reservation, also known as the Black Bob Reserve, was situated in the southeastern part of Johnson County, Kansas, encompassing 33,000 acres in the Tomahawk Creek area. The location near the present-day intersection of 119th Street and Black Bob Road serves as a geographical marker of this historical territory.
Loss of Land and Legacy
Black Bob maintained the unity of his band until his death, which occurred in either 1862 or 1864. However, after his passing, speculators exploited the situation, inducing the Shawnee people to divide their land into individual allotments in 1867. This marked a significant shift away from the communal land ownership that had been a cornerstone of their traditional way of life.
By 1857, the number of Black Bob Indians had dwindled to 136. During the Civil War years, the Black Bob Reservation served as a refuge for Shawnees from other bands who fled the conflict.
The tribe held their lands in common until 1866. After the Civil War, the Shawnee returned to find their lands taken over by squatters. Tribal members petitioned the US Government in the 1870s to preserve their land intact, emphasizing that their community consisted largely of women and children and that the division of their land was being pushed upon them by speculators.
These petitions were unsuccessful, and the lands were sold to speculators. The Black Bob Shawnee were expelled from their land and relocated to Northeastern Oklahoma, where they joined the Absentee-Shawnee.
The Black Bob Band played a role in the formation of today’s Shawnee Tribe. During the Civil War, many Shawnee individuals fought for the Union, earning the name "Loyal Shawnee." However, upon their return to Kansas, they found much of their land occupied by non-Indian homesteaders.
One researcher posits that the "Loyal Shawnee" is a later name for the Black Bob Band. Members of the Black Bob Band joined with the Absentee Shawnees and the Cherokee.
In 1869, the Loyal Shawnee entered into an agreement with the Cherokee Nation, granting 722 individuals citizenship within the Cherokee tribe and allotments of Cherokee land. They primarily settled in what is now Craig and Rogers County, Oklahoma, becoming known as the "Cherokee Shawnee." The Shawnee Reservation in Kansas was never legally dissolved, and some Shawnee families continue to hold their allotment lands in Kansas.
Black Bob’s legacy endures as a symbol of resistance, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for Native American land rights and cultural preservation. His story serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by the Shawnee people and their unwavering determination to maintain their identity in the face of adversity.