Native Ioway History Week 2008 - Ioway Gifts

We recently received the following details from Ioway Tribal Elder Mae Murray Sine (seen on the far left--click on photos to view larger images) regarding gifts presented by the Ioway to the people of Iowa last year following the premiere of Lost Nation: The Ioway in Des Moines.  The story of these gifts remains unknown to most Iowans.  No media representatives were present and no story has ever appeared in any Iowa newspaper.  We continue to encourage media outlets to make this important historical moment known to their readers/viewers/listeners.

S'AGE BAH-KHO-JE
It has been said by our OLD PEOPLE (S'AGE) we came from the sacred land of Red Earth, beyond the great water where the sun rises reddening the land.  This part of our history is so ancient there is no recorded recollection.  Archaeological studies believe the Ioway are descendants of the Oneota who were an agricultural people and of the Woodland culture.  We are called IOWA from the name AYAVOIS which the French traders called us, and after which the state of Iowa is named.

The closest affinity of the Ioway is with the Otoe and Missouria tribes.  The oral history relates when the Otoe saw our village in the winter it was covered with gray snow from the fire-smoked snow, and in the Ioway language they called us BAH-KHO-JE (SNOW GRAY).

The Ioways lived for the majority of their recorded history in the state of Iowa.  In 1838 they ceded millions [of acres] of original homeland to the United States Government.  During this period, the Ioway were assigned to a small reservation in Nebraska and Kansas.  Later, part of the Ioway Tribe moved to Indian Territory in Oklahoma.  The Iowa of Oklahoma reservation was established by Executive Order dated August 15, 1883.

A hundred and seventy years after the Ioways were removed from their homeland, the state of Iowa Governor Chester J. Culver issued a PROCLAMATION dated August 20, 2007 proclaiming October 7-13, 2007 as Native Ioway History Week.  A contingent of Ioway of Oklahoma tribal members made the journey to Des Moines, Iowa, arriving on October 11, 2007 to attend the premiere of the historical film documentary entitled LOST NATION: THE IOWAY.

On October 12, 2007 the Ioway's were invited to take a tour of the Iowa state capitol and were welcomed to the Office of the Governor by his representative.  There was great anticipation in returning to the ancestral homeland.  A sadness was felt for the ancient ones, the OLD PEOPLE, who once roamed the land freely, and now lie at rest beneath the beautiful land of their ancestral home.  The Ioway's of Oklahoma presented three gifts to the state of Iowa.  The first was a red woolen broadcloth honoring our "S'AGE BAH-KHO-JE" (OLD PEOPLE) of the IOWA NATION.  It is adorned with Ioway traditional ribbonwork, the handprint design, small bells on the bottom edge, and the Ioway tribal flag seal in the center.  The red woolen broadcloth, ribbonwork cloth and small bells symbolize the trade with European and French traders in the seventeenth century.  The ribbonwork pattern is the Woodland culture of floral and leaf design.  The handprint and colors of red, white, yellow and black were used by the ancient Ioway Warrior Societies.

The gift of the portrait of No Heart of Fear (1797-1862) is a replica lithograph after an 1837 Charles Bird King painting.  No Heart was a distinguished and highly regarded Chief of the Ioway.  He gained his name by his feats of bravery.  As one of the Chiefs faced with the language barrier, he possessed innate perception, intelligence and wisdom to negotiate the treaties for millions of acres of aboriginal title to land the Ioway occupied.  One of his most historical achievements is the 1837 hand-drawn map of rivers and Ioway Indian villages.  When a delegation of Ioway Chiefs went to Washington in 1837, he presented this extraordinary map to the U.S. Government in his plea for compensation from the government for ancestral lands.

The gift of the present Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma flag bears the seal adopted in 1978.  Inside the circle signifying the circle of life is the bonnet of an Ioway warrior adorned with sacred eagle feathers.  Only those men who were considered brave enough to face the enemy were allowed to participate in a war party.  Also with the circle is the Sacred Pipe. Each clan of the Ioway Tribe had its own Sacred Pipe.  In early historic times the Oneota ancestors of the Ioway and Otoe were the first to quarry the sacred pipestone (Catlinite) in southwestern Minnesota.  These pipes were used in rituals and ceremonies, particularly for peace and alliance.  The plow represents the agricultural tradition of the Ioway.  However, it did not become a part of Ioway life until the removal from our homeland.

The fringe hanging from either side of the circle represents the quiver which was traditionally fashioned from buffalo hide and was used to carry the bow and arrows which were essential tools of early everyday Ioway life.  The four eagle feathers at the bottom of the circle signify the four winds and the four seasons.  The Ioway have great respect for the eagle.  It is a belief this magnificent bird is a messenger and carries the prayers to the Creator in Heaven.

Comments

[Turtle Heart]

The Iowa are a ceremonial migration of the Ahnishinabeg Aneeg. Sacred Pipe from the Minnesota quarry was first quarried for use in the sacred life by the central core of the Ahnishinabek in Minnesota. Otherwise the information here is interesting and eloquent.

[Lance Foster]

The idea of the Ioway ever being part of the Anishabe is an interesting idea, and complimentary, but incorrect according to our ancient Ioway origin traditions, as well as those traditions of the Dakota, Hochunk, Illiniwek, Otoe, Missouria, Omaha, Osage, Ponca, Kansa, Potawatomi, etc. However, we are always interested in learning the stories that are out there.

In trying to learn of your tribal condition and status as a traditional Anishnabeg (Ojibwa-- Ioways called them "Chipu"), it seems you are actually from Italy and are not Indian at all, and your group is running shamanism and sweatlodges for significant dollar amounts down in Arizona, according to the following information:
http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:fGHL0EPIkMwJ:shameons.bravepages.com/SolsticeSweatLodges2007.doc+Ahnishinabeg+Aneeg&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us&client=safari

[Jan Pitcher]

Excellent information. I feel bad that this wasn't covered in the news, and would recommend that these important gifts presented by the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma be exhibited at the State Capitol in Des Moines for the public to see.

[Jeff Miller]

History is fascinating, especially the hidden aspects that folks like the Rundles so carefully and sometimes painstakingly explore. Unfortunately, all too often these precious accounts can get marginalized, forgotten or even lost in the shuffle of the daily unawakened grind. I hope that the Governor and the people of Iowa will not allow this to happen in this case. A simple but important display of the Ioway cultural artifacts that were donated to the People of Iowa could go a very long way in illuminating the confusion of a dark past and lead us to new and brighter vistas for our future. All the best to the Ioway People and to the People of Iowa!

[Tom Harvey]

There is room in the State Historical Building for a permanent display of the Ioway gifts. I urge Gov. Culver and his staff to make it possible for ALL Iowa people to view and contemplate their signifcance. We are all related..Europeans, Asians, Africans or whatever mix and should be able to honor the people who originally allowed us to enter their homeland.