Tribal, Ottawa of Oklahoma

OTTAWA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA - The Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma is one of four federally recognized Native American tribes of Odawa people in the United States.  Its ancestors had migrated into Michigan and Ohio in the 18th century.  In the late 1830s they were removed to west of the Mississippi River, first to Iowa, then to Kansas in what was then Indian Territory.   In 1867 they sold their land to purchase territory in what became Oklahoma, then primarily settled by Native Americans.

The other three tribes are located in the state of Michigan, part of the traditional Odawa territory.  They are the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.  In addition, there are First Nations of Odawa people in Ontario, Canada, including on Manitoulin Island, their original homeland.  "Ottawa" or "Odaawaa" comes from the word Adaawe, which means "to trade".  They were known among other tribes as important traders before any European exploration.  The French quickly realized how influential they were and used them as middlemen to the tribes to the north and west of them, who supplied them with furs from the 17th well into the 18th century.

The present-day town of Ottawa, Kansas, developed around the Ottawa Reservation.  The Ottawa people remained in Kansas until 1867, after the American Civil War.  Under the leadership of Chief John Wilson, the tribe sold their lands in Kansas and purchased 14,863 acres (60 km2) of land in Indian Territory (Oklahoma) from the Eastern Shawnee.  More of the tribe died during relocation and only 200 Ottawa arrived in their new lands.

The headquarters of the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma is Miami.  Their tribal jurisdictional area is in Ottawa County.  In the early 21st century, there are 2,500 enrolled tribal members; 737 live within the state of Oklahoma.  The tribe bases membership qualifications on direct lineal descent; that is, they have no minimum blood quantum requirement.

The tribe operates a Community Health Program and the Healthy Living Center in Miami, as well as a Department of Environmental Protection.  The tribe publishes the Adawe News for its tribal members.  It offers Ottawa language classes.  The Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma's annual powwow is held every Labor Day weekend.