I received a "News-Leader" article (Springfield Missouri) from my Mom earlier this week. The Topic of the article is Pre-European Missourians.
I am 1/8 Osage Indian. My grandmother on my mother's side was 1/2 Osage, with the other half being mostly French. She was adopted as an infant, and there are no records or other information available. The current reservation is in Pawhuska, OK. Another life-time ago, I travelled through and stopped at the reservation on a trip to visit my Mom in Missouri (she lived in Protem, MO near the AR border at the time). I know that OK was their final stop, as was so often common during the 1800's, as the Indians of various tribes were driven from their ancestral lands. What I did not realize is that I was partially going home every time I went to see my Mom in Missouri.
I have several books on the history of the Osage People. This article has inspired me to read them.
Below are some details of the article :o)
According to Larry Burt, associate professor and Native American Specialist at Missouri State University, the Osage dominated the northern Ozarks. There could have been as many as 30,000 to 35,000 Osage, in Missouri in the 1700's.
The Osage had permanent villages, but also had need to travel. They were agricultural, but they still had to range over large areas. They did a surprising amount of trading. One of the main items they would trade is bear fat. They would hunt bear during the winter, use all the meat and fur, but would trade the fat, which was transported long distances in deer-skin sacks. Bear fat was used as a base for paint and as a base for soup. Of course, the type of soup they made also included bone marrow, animal blood, wild carrots (now known as Queen Anne's lace), wild onions, acorns or a grain product - as well as the bear fat. [YUM!]
The Osage and other tribes also grew their own corn, squash and beans.
By the 1800's, the Osage were driven out by eastern tribes that had been forced west, such as the Delaware and Shawnee. Soon, those tribes were forced out as well.
8 comments:
I have a great great (?) grandmother on my mom's side that was Indian but we've not been able to find out what tribe. At the time they were in Virginia which later became West Virginia some time around the Civil War. I love history and think that it is so great you know so much about your ancestors. 'OnYa' - ma
Very interesting. Makes me want to read the books, too. When I was in grade school, I was fascinated by the various American Indian tribes, and read a lot about them. I still find it interesting, and I'd like to learn more about the Osage.
Beth
I've read a lot about Elk Hollering in the Water(amazing chick ;0, didn't hang around the house waiting for her husband, Bear Chief, to return from battles, she always fought with him), who was from a upper Missouri tribe.
~Mary
Pretty interesting. I've always been interested in our Native Americans and their history. Another case of illegal alliens taking over...
Hugs, Joyce
Very interesting. Paula
I, too, had a Native American ancestor. She
was Cherokee Indian. Although that ancestor was
several generations back, my mother had the
high cheekbones, and black hair so her lineage
was still strongly evident. I like reading about
their culture.
Everytime I read about an American Indian tribe, it makes me sad for them, the history of them losing their beautiful and well kept land to people who just ruined it.
Oh, BTW, the equinox timing was pretty amazing today.... I mean, I could really tell that it got dark much earlier tonight.... I know, but I really COULD tell.
Joann
very interesting
I did not know this
hugs,natalie
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