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Native American Tribes of Nebraska

Did you know the name "Nebraska" is a Siouan Indian word? It comes from the native name for Platte River, which is Nibthaska (in Omaha-Ponca) or Nibrathka (in Otoe). These words mean "flat river." The Omahas, Poncas and Otoes are not the only native people of this region, however.

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


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 *The Arapaho tribe
*The Cheyenne tribe
*The Kansa tribe
*The Lakota and Dakota Sioux tribes
*The Missouria tribe
*The Omaha tribe
*The Otoe tribe
*The Pawnee tribe
*The Ponca tribe

Other Indian tribes driven into Nebraska after Europeans arrived included:

*The Sac and Fox tribe
*The Winnebago tribe

There are four federally recognized Indian tribes in Nebraska today.

Here are the addresses of Nebraska's Indian reservations:



1 Omaha Tribe of Nebraska:
PO Box 368
Macy, NE 60839
http://www.omahatribeofnebraska.com/

2 Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska:
PO Box 687
Winnebago, NE 68071
http://www.winnebagotribe.com/
3 Ponca Tribe of Nebraska:
PO Box 288
Niobrara, NE 68760

4 Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska:
425 Frazier Ave N. Suite 2
Niobrara, NE 68760
http://www.santeedakota.org/

Teaching and learning activities about Nebraska Indians:

 Feel free to print these out for classroom use!

*Nebraska Tribes Word Search: Printable puzzle hiding the names of Nebraska's Indian tribes.
*Nebraska Language Greetings: Learn to say "hello" in several Native Nebraska languages.
*Nebraska Indian Facts for Kids: Answers to frequently asked questions about the tribes of Nebraska.
    We currently have pages for the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Kansa, Sioux, Missouria, Omaha, Otoe, Pawnee,
    Ponca, Sac and Fox, and Winnebago tribes.

Recommended books about Nebraska Native Americans:

*Nebraska Indian Dictionary: Introducing Nebraska's Native American history and culture to kids.
*An Unspeakable Sadness: Dispossession of the Nebraska Indians: Excellent history book on Nebraska Indian history in general.
*Mari Sandoz's Native Nebraska: Images and descriptions of Native American life in Nebraska, particularly the Cheyenne and Sioux.
*The Nebraska Indian Wars Reader: Essays on the military history of Nebraska's Indian tribes, especially the Sioux and Pawnee.
*Standing Bear and the Ponca Chiefs: Narrative history of the Ponca tribe.
*Susan La Flesche Picotte, MD: Biography of the dynamic Omaha leader and reformer.
*Uses of Plants by the Indians of the Missouri River Region Handbook of herbs, food crops, and plant lore among the prairie tribes.

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

*Nebraska Indian Community College:
     Nebraska intertribal school with campuses in Macy, Niobrara and South Sioux City.
*Indian Affairs Nebraska:
     Government site on the Native American tribes of Nebraska.
*Nebraska Reservations:
     Map and profiles of the Nebraska Indian tribes.



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Back to our index of Indian tribes by state
Back to our Native American Indian websites for kids



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