Native American Nations in the American Midwest States

Many groups of Indigenous Peoples inhabit our great Midwestern States in America. As a nation we have a history of these groups migrating east and west for a number of reasons. One reason is the depletion of resources in one area and the search for better hunting and gathering grounds as well as agricultural soils. Another reason is inter-tribal wars that moved defeated groups out of their original homelands in search of newer pastures. A third reason is the forced march back to the West by the Indian Removal legislation that began under President Andrew Jackson. Regardless of the reasons, the peoples of the Midwest diaspora are very interesting.

Wisconsin

• Chippewa
• Dakota
• "The Fox People" [not the Fox tribe] - Original tribal information lost.
• A portion of the Oneida Nation of the Iroquois Six Nations, another portion being in New York and Hamilton, Ontario in Canada.

Minnesota

At least 14 First Nations/Native Americans have lived for a length of time in Minnesota.

Illinois & Iowa

• Chippewa - also in Indiana and Michigan.
• Delaware - passing through to new homelands. Delaware are also found on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada.
• Fox - forced farther West by US Government.
• Illinois - forced west by the Fox and Sauk.
• Iowa.

Indiana

• Chippewa, Delaware, Erie, Illinois - all pushed to the West.
• Iroquois - Others of the Six Nations drove out some of the Seneca.
• Kickapoo - passing through.
• Miami - also found in Ohio.

Missouri

• Caddo - forced back to the west.
• Dakota - forced farther west.
• Delaware
• Fox
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kickapoo - moved on to Kansas.
• Missouri

Michigan & Upper Peninsula

• Ottawa and Chippewa
• Fox
• Hurons (Wyandot)
• Kickapoo
• Menominee
• Miami- also in Ohio.
• Neutrals. Named by the French. Bands of Indians neutral in wars between Native Americans and Settlers.
• Noquet

• Adena
• Algonquian - western Ohio; United Remnant Band is still there, attempting to buy back their original lands.
• Delaware - forced West, but also located on Ontario, Canada.
• Erie ("Long Tail")
• Hopewell
• Illinois - forced West.
• Iroquois - especially Mohawk in parts of East and Southeast Ohio.
• Kickapoo - forced West.
• Miami
• Mound Builders - ancient people responsible for Serpent Mound.
• Ottawa
• Shawnee
• Wyandot
• Others

• Reverend Fred Shaw, Shawnee Storyteller - Western and Southern Ohio.
• Zane Shawnee Caverns, Shawnee tribal news, artworks and more.- United Remnant Band in Ohio - Descendants of the Shawnee who never left.
• United Remnant Band on Facebook
• Shawnee Tribe in Oklahoma
• Official Website of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
• Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN) - The Citizen Potawatomi Nation is a Native American tribe of the United States that is currently headquartered in Shawnee, OK. They originated in the Great Lakes region prior to relocation.

Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio [NAICCO]

67 East Innis Avenue

PO Box 07705

Columbus, OH 43207

Phone: (614) 443-6120

NAICCO) has served the county since 1975, founded by Selma Walker who is a Dakota of the Yankton Sioux Reservation, South Dakota.

For 18 years, Selma was Executive Directorr. Selma's. Daughter Carol Welsh was elected as a replacement in 1993. The Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio is a non-profit intertribal group.

The following services are provided:

• CULTURAL PROGRAMS: 2 large pow wows annually. Mini pow wows, lectures, dance demonstrations, storytelling, and other cultural events.
• CULTURAL ARTS: Classes are available traditional/contemporary Native arts. Beadwork, dancing, singing, language, clothing design.
• WHITE BISON CIRCLE: Native approach to recovery. Meetings on alternate Monday evenings open to anyone who wants to attend. AA Big Book (closed meeting) - Candlelight Meeting, and 12 x 12.
• TALKING CIRCLE: A Talking Circle is held on alternate Monday nights. Topic varies.
• CREATIVE CIRCLE: A Creative Circle is held on Wednesday nights.
• SUBSISTANCE NEEDS: Clothing, household items, hot lunches - Anyone in need. You don't have to be Native American.
• FOOD PANTRY: Food for each member of the family, once each month with proper ID.
• EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION: Job referrals made to local employers. Training referrals to training, GED and adult literacy programs. Tutoring through the Columbus Public Schools.
• VET REFERRAL: Referrals to the Disabled Veterans' Services.

Pow Wows

Most of the original nations of worldwide spent the much of the year in scattered bands. Once a year they gathered in the Spring to pray for good crops, or Summer to pray in thankfulness for the Harvest. Marriages were made. Problems were settled. Food was shared.

in the American Plains, High Summer saw the communal buffalo hunt and another celebration. Pow Wows were held often.