About the Kansa Indians

A group of Indians, historically called the Kaw or Kansa, had settlements where the Kansas and Missouri Rivers meet today in northeast Kansas. They were often a hostile tribe who mainly ate buffalo and harvested plants and whose lodges were dome-shaped and covered with bark. They had very strict traditions and resisted change. When the French and Spanish first came, the Kansa were left alone and continued to live in that area. By the late 1700s, as more settlers moved into the area, they were forced off their land. In the1820s, treaties with the U.S. relocated them to a reservation in Kansas. In 1872, they sold this reserve to the United States and bought another area from the Osage Indians. They then moved west to hunt buffalo and sold the hides for $5,000 upon their return. Through the following years, the tribe barely survived, with their numbers declining from 3,000 to 600 in the 1900s. Charles Curtis, who was one-quarter Kaw Indian, served as Vice President of the U.S. with Herbert Hoover from 1929 to 1933. He was also a Congressman for 14 years and a Senator for 20 years and helped pass the Citizenship Act of 1924 that conferred citizenship on all noncitizen Indians born within the territorial limits of the United States. The Kaw now continue to live in Oklahoma.

History

Before settling in the area that is now Kansas, the Kansa lived on the Atlantic Coast. Their tribe was divided into 16 clans that were under the leadership of 7 larger units called phratries. The clans names in English included Earth-lodge-maker, Deer, Ponka, Last Lodge, Black Bear and Ghost. The tribe's chiefs were known for their wisdom and counsel, but marriage was decided by leaders of the phratries. No man could marry any woman even distantly related to him. The Kansa life was very difficult for women. Those who were unwed farmed the land, made the fires, cooked and fetched the water. When the oldest daughter married, her sisters also became lower wives of her husband. The wife controlled everyone in the lodge, including her mother. If her husband died, she followed very strict mourning customs for a year. Then she married her husband's eldest brother, who accepted her children as his own. The widow could wed anyone if her husband did not have a brother.

Features

The Kansa believed in an afterlife and spirits called wakans that ranked in power. The wakans were found in all aspects of nature and controlled everything including the sun, trees, mountains and rivers. Ceremonial societies had the responsibility of convincing the wakan to help with such things as finding buffalo, treating illness, providing crops, and protecting the tribe from enemies. Clans had specific duties in these ceremonies. When a boy reached the age of puberty, he would go on a "vision quest" with the spirits. At this time, he was isolated from the tribe and was to experience a number of different dreams to forecast his future. When someone died, there were very involved ceremonies, out of respect of the individual who died. The women painted the person's face, and then the body was placed in a shallow grave along with food, weapons, a pipe, and clothing and covered with bark and buffalo robes.

Function

The Kansa men hunted and trapped animals for food, clothing and shelter. They captured both small and larger game, such as buffalo, deer and elk. In later years, they traded these animals with the Europeans and Americans. The men were also warriors and often participated in raids against enemy tribes such as the Pawnees. The boys were trained early in warrior skills and how to protect their people from attacks. They were honored for their bravery in battles. Raiding other tribes was an accepted means for acquiring goods and achieving status. One story relates how Ne-Ca-Que-ba-na (The One Who Runs Down Men) knifed 18 Pawnees and brought back scores of horses. Most men wore blue or red breech-cloths with a girdle, in addition to leggings and deerskin moccasins. They removed the hair on their arms, face, eyebrows, and scalp, except for a narrow strip of hair on the top and back of their head. This hair was sometimes dyed or decorated with a war eagle tail feather. A chief sometimes attached a deer tail on the back of his neck. The males also hung beads or other adornment on their ears and had tattoos. Some also wore collars made of bear claws. They carried knives, lances, swords and bows and arrows.

Prevention/Solution

Several treaties were signed with the Kansa Indians. The treaty of 1846 stated that the U.S. government would provide $1,000 a year for the Kansa's education. The Methodist Episcopal Church South, built a mission and two-story school made of stone. The eight-room building was built for 50 student boarders, as well as the teachers, missionaries and farmers. The Indians only went to the school for four three years, because it was closed due to the exorbitant annual cost of $50 per student. Since the Kansa never supported the school, sending only orphan boys, the closing did not have a major impact. The tribe thought the beliefs of these white settlers corrupted the Indian way.

Time Frame

From an earlier population of several thousand, the Kansa lost their numbers from disease and starvation. They were down to 1,500 people by 1800 and less than 200 after their final move to Oklahoma. Unfortunately, they were not even safe on this land. The Kaw Allotment Act of 1902 nearly wiped out the tribe until a federal reorganization in 1959. In addition, their former reservation land was taken over in the 1960s by the building of the Kaw Reservoir. They had to move their main lodge and cemetery. In spite of this all, the Kansa or Kaw Nation has survived and now is recognized by the federal government as a self-governing unit with over 2,600 members. The tribal nation generates income with a travel plaza and casino. They also own a health clinic and wellness center, housing project, daycare center, gymnasium and multi-purpose center. The Kansa's language is once again being taught in the elementary school and in adult conversation classes. They sponsor powwows during the year.