Hide Article Text (OCR)
HAMBURG, IOWA,35th Annual Tama Powwow Was Held!ting them to remain in Tama coun-we coWf*l «re*t told by , ^ and urging the Uoited statesVick S»«Kcr 1U ii JmXy h**e of *1W PiliapMstThe thirty-fifth annual powwow -«f the Maskwaki Indians was held *■ their Sauk and Fox reserva-taon near Tama on August 17, 18, 19 and 20.' This is one of thecolorful events in’ Iowa, asthese Indians relive days of a happy but bygone era. The pres* exit site of the powwow is known A* the “Old Battleground,” where, recording to Indian tradition, theMeskwaki were attacked by a band of roving Sioux warriors in 1839. T%is plot of ground, nestling in a -Wooded area on the bank of the Iowa river, was a gift set aside by Ji Poweshiek in 1937 as a powwow ground.Early History of Meskwaki The Meskwaki tribe, which is of the Algonquian or Woodland stock, formerly lived on the Atlantic coast and gradually movedgovernment to pay the annuities stipulated in the treaties. During the winter of 1856-1857, eight wickiups, housing some eighty natives, were reported along the Iowa and Cedar rivers.I«w« GtvcfBtn Became Trastec* On July 13, 1857, five Indians, representing all of those then in Iowa, secured their first eighty acres of land in Tama county for $1,000. The deed was made out to Governor James W. Grimes, and his successors in office, to be held in trust for the Indians and their heirs. Grimes had consented to serve as trustee, since the Indians desired that the property belong to rhe group rather than to individuals. Gradually additional acres have been purchased until; at the present time, the reservation consists of about 3,253 acres. In 1S96 the trusteeship over the lands was transferredwestward to Wisconsin. There, | from the governor of Iowa to the during the early fur-trading days, I secretary of the interior.a federation was formed with their kinsmen, the Sac or Sauk. The word Meskwaki means, “people of the red earth, but the early traders called them Foxes or Rey-xiards.Cedrd Iowa Land in 1842First Tama PowwowsThe Meskwaki Indians, as the Foxes prefer to be called, met annually before 3913, in Avhat they called “field days.” Their white • neighbors found these events en-i lertaining and began to attendIn 1803, when the Louisiana i in increasing numbers. Chief Purchase was made, the Sauk and j Pushetonikwa envisioned the pos-Fox lived along the Mississippi sible growth of these celebrations, river. By a treaty signed in 1S42,! appointed a committee of fifteentribal leaders to plan the get-to-these Indians agreed to surrender their rights to all the land in Iowa by October 11, 1S45. Li return, they received additional annuities and land in the present stare of Kansas.Return of Homesick Indiansgether for 1913. He also suggested that these days be given the title “powwow instead of thtrrather meaningless “field days.”^ bite Men Help Indians The Indians have been helpedOnce in Kansas, however, they in arranging the early powwowsbecame homesick for their former hunting grounds and little groups straggled back to Iowa where they received no opposition from the white settlers. The General Assembly tried to help theseby two white men. Joe Syacina, a harness shop owner in Tama, devoted almost thirty years to aiding the Meskwaki. Edgar Harlan, curator of the Historical Department of Iowa, was asked in 1919Indians by passing a law permit- to assist in the arrangements bylWhat is a ...giving talks on the history and customs of the Indians and by inviting prominent citizens of the state to appear in the programs.Colorful Programs Given The feature attractions of the powwows have varied from year to year. Lacrosse games were a favorite for many years, with a Meskwaki team playing one composed of visiting Indians. In Ufl9 the scalp dance was performed for the first time in public. Pony packing and moving, snowing how Indians traveled before the coming of the white man, was performed in 1920. A pageant in 1932 commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Black Hawk War. The 1939 event has been known as the “powwow of contrasts.” In that year a performance of “Hiawatha was featured while at the same time a portabie dance floor was sported.Versatile Entertainment In the years following World War I, the late Billy Jones, a Meskwaki who served overseas with the 88th Iowa Division, presented a special dance depicting his experiences in the service. In recent years the eagle dance as performed by Frank and Charles Pushetonequa, grandsons of the last government-recognized chief of the Meskwaki, has been a favorite. Charles Pushetonequa is considered the tribal artist and during World War II was commissioned to originate designs to be used on bombers of she Fifth Bomber Command in the South PacificThe Tama Indians Today Powwow. were not held in 2943 and 1944 due to the Avar The 1945 celebration was a small event to mark the close of World War II. Today approximately 550 Indians are living on 3,820 acres of land assessed at Sl57,522. A genuinely democratic government is in operation, a council of managers is elected, and the council has a chief. The older tribesmen” cling to the traditions of the past but the younger generation is m-teresed in keeping abreast of modern times lowans are fortunate that this last vestage of the red man still remains to link them with the colorful story of yesteryears.stlt;| SP: hit itheteigr.sectreiniicaonP^l1pilixnjnofivlat“w,edi to 3 maisenfor:$200,000 on Marketact]IshefroiFrecanuni:hadslecTnevtr.i*Selibonfleashe!am:ToldedvonableanddogandPThenossys'}horsusLstcon
Newspaper Details
Hamburg Reporter
Hamburg, Iowa, US
Thu, Aug 31, 1950
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Johnathan B.
IA, USA 26 Mar 2018
Other Publications Near Hamburg, Iowa
Fremont Democrat
Hamburg Republican
Hamburg Reporter
Fremont Democratic News
Hamburg Democrat
