Kansas Indians
Many different tribes visited the Waconda Springs as it was a sacred, artesian pool
and social area for centrally located North American Native Americans.
and social area for centrally located North American Native Americans.
- Cheyenne – Dzitsiistas “Our People.” Language -Algonquian. Excellent horsemen, hunters and feared warriors. Late 1800’s raids in Saline, Solomon and Smoky Hill river areas.
- Arapaho – Inunaina, “Our People.” Language – Algonquian. Closely associated with Cheyenne. Held annual Sun Dances, and were leaders in the Ghost Dance religion of the 1890’s.
- Plains Apache – Athapascan, speaking people in Western Kansas. Buffalo hunters with bows and arrows. Live in skin tipis and small round lodge-type dwellings. Contact and trade with the Pueblo Indians.
- Comanche – Numa “People.” Shoshonean Language. Highly mobile, from Arkansas and Platte Rivers to Mexico’s Chihuahua. Noted as finest horsemen on the plains, hunted buffalo and raided for horses.
- Kiowa – Gai-gwu. Homeland was Montana. Moved South and formed a confederation with Comanche. Hunted buffalo. Renowned horsemen. Famous warriors Satanta, Big Bo, Lone Wolf and Satank.
- Kiowa Apache – Nadisha-dena, “Our People.” Now recognized as the Plains Apaches of Oklahoma. Had their own official location in the camp circle of the Kiowa Sun Dance. The Kiowa Apache requested leave from the Kiowa in 1865 because of the Kiowa’s hostile attitude to whites.
- Wichita – Kitikitish, probably “Principal People.” Caddoan Language. Lived in areas from Brazos River in Texas to Arkansas River in Kansas. Coronoda met the Wichita in Mcpherson and Rice counties in 1541. Semi-sedentary raising corn, squash, beans, pumpkins and tobacco. Noted for extensive tattoos. Distinctive grass houses.
- Pawnee – Chahiksichahiks, “Men of Men.” Caddoan family. Pawnee comprises several confederated tribes organized into four leading villages. Exceptionally well developed, logical, sacred ceremonies and influential tribal council maintained cohesion. Main location was Platte River Valley. Corn was sacred.
- Kansa – “Wind People,” Linquistically related to Osage and Quapaw. Dhegian-Siouan tribe. From along Missouri River, settled at Council Grove. Hosted Methodist and Quaker missionaries 1850-1873. Lived in earth lodges and semi-sedentary.
- Osage – Wazhazhe “True Osage or War People.” Dhegian-Siouan Language. Ancient times in the Ohio River valley. Eventually homeland covering most of Missouri, Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. Combined Eastern Woodland and plains culture types. Wooden framed longhouses fixed in villages, raising crops and hunting FRAG. Warred (fought) constantly with other tribes. Peaceful with the U.S. and were military scouts.
