The Otoe Tribe aka Winnebago
Summary and Definition: The Otoe tribe were originally farmers and once part of Sioux tribes of Great Lakes area, and commonly known as the Winnebago. With the introduction of the horse they traveled southwest to the regions surrounding south of the Missouri River and west of the Mississippi River in Missouri and Iowa. The were a strong, proud, war-like people finally settled near the Platte River in southeastern Nebraska. Picture of the Otoe Chief
The above picture depicts an Otoe chief. His regalia includes chocker necklaces made of beads and a striking bear claw necklace. He wears vermillion red face paint and wore a highly ornate headband with a roach headdress, that was topped with an eagle feather. He carries a lethal Gunstock club, which served as both a weapon and a status symbol. What was the lifestyle and culture of the Otoe tribe?
The name "Otoe" means, "People of this Place". The Otoe people were closely related to the Omaha, Osage, Quapah and Ponca tribes and linked to the Missouri tribe. The state of "Nebraska" derives from an Otoe word meaning "flat water." The Otoe tribe were roving buffalo hunters who fought and hunted on horseback living in tepees during the summer and earth lodges in the winter. In 1854 the Otoe were forced to accept a reservation in Gage Country, Nebraska but were eventually sent to a reservation in Oklahoma. The Otoe tribe and the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 the Lewis and Clark expedition with the Corps of Discovery made their famous journey. On 21 July, 1804 the explorers had reached the Platte River encountered an Otoe village of earth lodges. The Otoe, led by Chief Little Thief and Chief Big Horse, and the chiefs of the Missouria tribes, Chief Crow's Head and Chief Black Cat, were the first Native Indians that Lewis and Clark parleyed with in the West. Where did the Otoe tribe live?
The Otoe are people of the Great Plains Native American cultural group. The geography of the region in which they lived dictated the lifestyle and culture of the Otoe tribe. The American Great Plains region mainly extended across states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota Land: Grass covered prairies with streams and rivers Climate: The climate was hot summers and cold winters Animals: The animals included the Bison (Buffalo), deer, cougars, elk, bear, beaver, porcupine, antelope, prairie dogs, eagles and wolves Fish: Various fish including sturgeon, crayfish and mussels Crops: The crops grown in the area were corn, beans, seeds and squash
What did the Otoe tribe live in?
The Otoe tribe lived in Earthen houses, also called earth lodges, which was a permanent type of home for Native Indians who lived in harsh climates without large forests. The Otoe tribe also used tepees as a form of temporary shelter when they went on buffalo hunts during the summer months. What language did the Otoe tribe speak?
The Otoe tribe spoke in the Chiwere dialect of the Siouan language, closely related linguistically to the Iowa and Missouri tribes. What food did the Otoe tribe eat?
The mainstay of the food that the Otoe tribe ate was fish and buffalo, that was acquired on their seasonal hunting trips. The meats also included deer (venison), elk, bear and wild turkey. Their main food were supplemented with roots and wild vegetables such as spinach, prairie turnips and potatoes together with berries and fruits such as melon. When food was scarce the Otoe tribe ate dried buffalo meat, called pemmican. What weapons did the Otoe use?
The weapons used by the Otoe tribe included bows and arrows, stone ball clubs, gunstock clubs, hatchet axes, spears, lances and knives. Painted war shields were used on horseback as a means of defence. Their traditional enemies were the Sioux, Fox, Sauk and the Pawnee. Their closest allies were the Missouria, Ponca and the Omaha tribes. What clothes did the Otoe tribe wear?
The men of the tribe wore a variety of clothes including a red or blue belted breechcloth, and deerskin leggings, and sometimes a blanket robe over the upper part of the body, occasionally trimmed with fur. Buffalo hides were also worn as cloaks and moccasins were worn during the winter. The men of the Otoe tribe wore headbands and roach headdresses that were attached to a scalp-lock on their shaved heads and stood straight up from the head like a crest. Ornaments were made of beads, shells and metal. The women wore buckskin knee-length dresses or skirts, leggings and blanket wraps. Otoe History: What happened to the Otoe tribe?
The following Otoe history timeline details facts, dates and famous landmarks of the people. The Otoe timeline explains what happened to the people of their tribe. Otoe History Timeline The Otoe Tribe originated in the Great Lakes Region, it is believed that they were one tribe with the Iowa, Winnebago and Ho-Chunk people 1670's: The French establish fur trading posts in the area 1673: Jacques Marquette details the location of the Otoe on his map 1717:The Otoe settle between the Platte and Missouri Rivers in southeastern Nebraska 1780: Conflicts arise with Fox and Sauk tribes 1801: A devastating smallpox epidemic kills many people 1802: They number of Otoe people considerably declines due to sickness and inter-tribal warfare 1803: The Louisiana Purchase 1804: Lewis and Clark expedition (1804 - 1806) made contact with the Otoe tribe 1813: Manuel Lisa (1772 -1820) established Ft. Lisa, the most important trading post on the Missouri River, controlling trade with the Omaha, Pawnee, Missouria, and other neighbouring Indians from 1813 to 1822 1817: Treaty with the US government 1829: The Missouria tribe merges with the Otoes 1830: The Indian Removal Act 1832: The artist George Catlin visits the Otoe tribe 1836: They joined with other tribes in more treaties with the U.S. Government 1837: Second great Smallpox epidemic kills many Native American Indians 1837: The tribe was under the jurisdiction of the Council Bluff Agency (1837-1856) 1854: The Otoe were re-located to the Big Blue River Reservation in southeastern Nebraska 1862: The Homestead Act allowed white settlers to move on to Indian lands 1870's: The buffalos had been deliberately slaughtered by the whites to the point of extinction so ending the lifestyle of the Great Plains Native Indians 1881: The Otoe tribe were forcibly moved to Indian Territory and later moved to Red Rock, Oklahoma, where the tribe is currently located
Otoe History Timeline |
