About the Quapaw Tribe Flag
The Quapaw people, believed to have originated in the Ohio Valley, are an American Indian group now living in Arkansas. The name "Quapaw," now emblazoned on their flag in their native tongue, means "Downstream People." The flag of the Quapaw has elements that are particular to their culture, and also shares features and symbols important to other American Indian groups.
Other People Are Reading
-
Features
-
The Quapaw flag includes several elements: a vertically-divided color scheme of navy blue and red, a central, tribal seal which represents a shield bearing an American bison, four cardinal white feathers and white letters that spell the Sioux name for the Quapaw tribe, "O-Gah-Pah." "Quapaw Tribe" was once printed in English on the lower portion of the flag, beneath the seal.
History
-
The element of the Quapaw flag that can perhaps best illustrate their history is that of animal imagery. The bison depicted on the seal of the flag illustrates the integral role the animal played in Quapaw livelihood, especially as it is represented in a positive light--grazing on green grass under a blue sky. In addition, the white feathers depicted come from the eagle, respected in their culture for its ability to soar to high places and even speak with God.
-
Types
-
A previous Quapaw flag was once in existence. In addition to the English writing formerly found beneath the seal, the flag's color has altered as well--it was once entirely blue. Today, the blue half of the color scheme is on the pole side of the flag, referred to as the "hoist." The precise date of these changes, however, is unknown. What is clear, however, is that the color change occurred after 1995, when the Quapaw Tribal Headquarters confirmed that their flag was solely blue.
Function
-
The function of the Quapaw flag, as with other American Indian groups, is to symbolize important facets of the culture behind it. While certain similarities may be noted between groups, such as the use of feathers and representative animals on the flag, it is the particular selections (bison, eagle) and omissions (removal of English) that denote both the specific history and future of this group.
Significance
-
The importance of the bison to the Quapaw cannot be underestimated. Indeed, the ring surrounding the bison on the flag--dark red and white--represents the rawhide material from which a shield would have been made. Fittingly, the Quapaw were known not only to hunt bison, but to tan the hides and paint resultant robes made from the animal. Changing ideals may also be found within the flag, in terms of the removal of English from their flag, leaving only the "O-Gah-Pah" of the Dhegiha branch of the Siouan language family, which is no longer spoken.
-
Resources
- Photo Credit http://members.aol.com/Donh523/navapage/quapaw.htm
More Like This
Comments
-
They are not in Arkansas, They are in Quapaw Oklahoma. In the Quapaw Nation. They came from Arkansas and named the state. They are in fact Sioux descendants, I know this because I am 15 miles from Quapaw and married to a member of the Tribe.
