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Native American Tribes of Missouri


Did you know the name "Missouri" is a Siouan Indian word? It comes from the tribal name Missouria, which means "big canoe people." The Missouri Indians were not the only native people of this region, however.


  
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The original inhabitants of the area that is now Missouri included:

*The Chickasaw tribe
*The Illini tribe
*The Ioway tribe
*The Missouri tribe
*The Osage tribe
*The Otoe tribe
*The Quapaw tribe

Other Indian tribes who later passed through Missouri on their forced migrations westward include:

*The Cherokee tribe
*The Delaware tribe
*The Kickapoo tribe
*The Sac and Fox tribe
*The Shawnee tribe

See also our new Chickasaw, Illini, Ioway, Missouri, Osage, Otoe, Quapaw, Cherokee, Kickapoo, and Shawnee Facts for Kids pages!

There are no federally recognized Indian tribes in Missouri today.

Most Native Americans were forced to leave Missouri during the Indian Removals of the 1800's. These tribes are not extinct, but except for the descendants of Missouri Indians who escaped from Removal, they do not live in Missouri anymore. They were moved to Indian reservations in Oklahoma instead. If you click on the link for each tribe above, you can find more information about them.

Other Indian tribes, bands and communities remaining in Missouri today include:

*Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory:
1012 Old Highway 63 N
Columbia, MO 65201
http://ncnolt1.homestead.com/

Other resources about American Indian history, culture and society in Missouri state:

*Native-American Cultural Periods in Missouri: Archaeological information about pre-Columbian Indian sites in Missouri.
*Missouri History: Native Americans: Article on Missouri's American Indian heritage.

Recommended books about Missouri Native Americans:

*Missouri Indians: Introducing Missouri's Native American history and culture to kids.
*The Encyclopedia of Missouri Indians: Immense reference book on the Native American tribes of Missouri before and after colonization.
*Indians and Archaeology of Missouri: A good introductory book on the prehistoric Indian tribes of Missouri.
*The Prehistory of Missouri: Another good archaeology book on ancient Missouri Indians.
*The Petroglyphs and Pictographs of Missouri: Interesting illustrated book on the indigenous artwork of ancient Missouri.



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