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The Poweshiek Skipper Project | |
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Lake Hawthorne ©Rayford Ratcliff
Introduction Information about the butterfly
O.
poweshiek, Legacy butterfly Legacy
of Chief Poweshiek
H.W. Parker's writings Von Blixum's Heroic Experiment
Iowa's
biological diversity
The Poweshiek Skipper Project Goals
of the project
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Chief Poweshiek Poweshiek was a leader of the Meskwaki tribe of Native Americans at the time just before the settlement of Iowa. Mr. Parker's description of him: "a friendly chief of territorial times" seems to agree with most of the historical accounts I have seen that were written from the white settler's perspectives. He was known as a tough and fearsome negotiator, but someone who would treat the early settlers well. Poweshiek signed the treaty called the "Blackhawk Purchase of 1842", which "sold" the western part of what is now Iowa for $0.12 per acre to the federal government. There was almost certainly coercion in the agreement. In fact the federal government had a policy of making similar treaties with all of the tribes in this area, with the intention of relocating them in other, less desirable areas. This agreement opened the way for the widespread settlement of Iowa by immigrants from the eastern part of the United States and Europe. To understand Poweshiek we must understand a little more about his people. "Meskwaki" means "People of the red earth". They were originally from Wisconsin in about the 1600s. The French had a name for them, which was "Reynards" or foxes. Another group, called the Sac (or Sauk) had a similar language that was understandable by both tribes, and now both are considered (at least by the federal government) Meskwaki. The French also had a specific written policy of extermination of the "Renards". Today we would call it genocide. The United States federal government had the kinder, gentler policy of forced relocation The Meskwaki ended up in Iowa in the mid 1800s after a series of wars and incidents with the various settlers of European heritage and other Native American groups. The "Black Hawk War" was a conflict over a treaty that was designed to remove the Sac (who were loosely affiliated with the Meskwaki because of their common language) from the eastern side of the Mississippi River. Many innocents, especially among the Sac, were killed as a part of this war. The Treaty of 1842 forced a relocation of the Meskwaki to an area in Kansas. A small group of the Meskwaki--mostly of Chief Poweshiek's group--decided that they wanted to live back in Iowa and they purchased land near the town currently called Tama so that they could live there. Poweshiek died before the deal was finalized. The Meskwaki had a settlement (not a reservation) in Iowa. They did not receive annuities (payments) from the federal government for a time, although they were entitled to them. As a result, they were able to keep more of their cultural identity than they would have otherwise. Some say the town of Tama was named after Taomah, who was the wife of Chief Poweshiek. Poweshiek and the Meskwaki are a part of Iowa's heritage. We almost lost the Meskwaki from Iowa. Iowa would be a lesser place if we had. P.S.: If you are interested in the topic, the gift shop at the Meskwaki Casino has an excellent CD on Meskwaki History.
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