Native American Tribal Information
Native American Information
Quapaw Tribe of Indians Oklahoma
Quapaw Tribe of Indians Oklahoma
The Quapaw people are a tribe of Native Americans who historically resided on the west side of the Mississippi River in what is now the state of Arkansas. Today they live in Ottawa County, Oklahoma. Their language is of the Dhegiha branch of the Siouan language family. Although it is no longer spoken, it is documented in fieldnotes from 19th-century linguist James Owen Dorsey, and, in the 1970's, by linguist Robert Rankin.
The Quapaw tribe (known as Ugahxpa in their own language) were speculated to have emigrated from the Ohio River valley to the area where the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers connect. The namesake of the state of Arkansas was named after the Quapaw, for they were called "Akansea" or "Akansa," meaning "land of the downriver people" by other native tribes and eventually by the French explorers Marquette and Joliet. Like with most other native tribes, the French had an amicable relationship with the Quapaw. Many Quapaw and French intermarried and birthed children together. In fact, Pine Bluff, Arkansas was founded by a half-Quapaw, half-Frenchman. The emergence of the French is apparent in the history of South Arkansas; Ecore Fabre (French for Fabre's Bluff), one of the first settlements in South Central Arkansas, later became the areas of Camden and Frenchport, Arkansas. Chemin Couvert (French for "covered way or road") was later mispronounced "Smackover" by the English, and this name stuck throughout history. Le Petit Rocher became Little Rock over time. As far as tribal names, there seems to be some discrepancies over the name "Ouachita;" some sites list it as a Choctaw word, whereas others list it as a Quapaw word. Either way, the word has French characteristics incorporated into its spelling.
Even more about Quapaw Tribe of Indians Oklahoma
Quapaw Tribe of Indians Oklahoma
Welcome to the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma Website! On behalf of our tribal members, I hope you'll take this opportunity to explore this site and become better aquainted with the ...
Quapaw Tribe
If you identify on your application that you are a member of the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma or another federally recognized Indian Tribe, you will be required to furnish a ...
