Absentee Shawnee Tribe

Absentee Shawnee Tribe
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Name	Absentee Shawnee Tribe
Popplace	Oklahoma
Langs	Shawnee language, English
Related	Kansa people, Meskwaki, Kickapoo, Potawatomi

Absentee Shawnee Tribe is a federally recognized Native American tribe predominantly based in Oklahoma City, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, and Lincoln County, Oklahoma. Originating from the Dhegiha and Algonquian-speaking Shawnee peoples, the group experienced 19th-century migrations, interactions with the United States, and reestablishment in the Southern Plains. The tribe maintains a tribal jurisdictional area, operates tribal enterprises, and engages in cultural revitalization, legal advocacy, and intergovernmental relations with entities such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Oklahoma State University, and the Oklahoma Historical Society.

History

The community traces roots to the Shawnee who interacted with European powers like France, Spain, and Great Britain during the colonial era, participated in events such as the Pontiac's War period, and later confronted expansion during the Indian Removal era. Divisions among Shawnee bands led to offshoots including those who became Absentee Shawnees after movements related to the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, and pressures from settlers in the Old Northwest. Treaties including the Treaty of Fort Meigs (1817), the Treaty of Greensville, and later 19th-century agreements with the United States influenced land cessions and relocation to territories around the Arkansas River and eventually to Indian Territory. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, intersections with the Cherokee Nation (1794–1907), Creek Nation, and the Choctaw Nation shaped allotment policies following acts like the Dawes Act, while legal developments under the Indian Reorganization Act and court decisions such as McGirt v. Oklahoma affected jurisdictional status.

Government and Political Organization

The tribe operates a constitution and elected leadership patterned after models seen among tribes represented at the National Congress of American Indians and interacts with federal agencies including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and judicial forums such as the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. Tribal governance includes elected positions comparable to tribal chairs and councils that coordinate with organizations like the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes and regional entities including the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association. The tribe engages in lobbying and legal advocacy in contexts involving the United States Congress, the United States Department of the Interior, and state authorities exemplified by relations with the Governor of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Legislature.

Reservation and Land Holdings

The tribal jurisdictional area includes lands in and near Oklahoma City, Holdenville, Shawnee, Oklahoma, and parcels in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma and Lincoln County, Oklahoma. Historical land tenure was influenced by treaties and allotments from administrations including those of Presidents such as Andrew Jackson and Ulysses S. Grant. Contemporary land management involves coordination with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, conservation groups like the Nature Conservancy in Oklahoma contexts, and regional planning with counties including Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma and municipalities such as Shawnee, Oklahoma and Luther, Oklahoma.

Culture and Language

Cultural revitalization emphasizes the Shawnee language, kinship ties with groups like the Kispokotha Shawnee and broader Shawnee tribes including the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Shawnee Tribe (Oklahoma), and historical ties to the Ohio Country. Programs work with academic institutions such as University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and cultural bodies like the Smithsonian Institution and the Oklahoma Historical Society to document music, dance, and oral histories linked to events including traditional ceremonies and seasonal observances. Partnerships with language preservation organizations mirror efforts seen with the Endangered Languages Project and tribal language programs that draw on methodologies from scholars at the Sequoyah Research Center.

Economy and Enterprises

The tribe runs enterprises spanning retail, hospitality, and gaming that interact with regulatory frameworks like the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and organizations such as the National Indian Gaming Commission. Economic activities include tribal businesses, health services coordinated with the Indian Health Service, and collaborations with regional development agencies such as the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and local chambers of commerce in Shawnee, Oklahoma and Oklahoma City. The tribe participates in workforce and education initiatives with institutions including Rose State College, Oklahoma City Community College, and vocational programs similar to those offered by the Bureau of Indian Education-supported schools.

Demographics and Enrollment

Membership and enrollment criteria are determined by tribal law and records often maintained in coordination with federal registries such as those managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Population distributions reflect urban presence in Oklahoma City and residential communities in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, Lincoln County, Oklahoma, and adjacent counties. Demographic trends intersect with federal census activities conducted by the United States Census Bureau and health data compiled by the Indian Health Service and state health departments like the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Notable Members and Contemporary Issues

Prominent individuals connected to the tribe have engaged in law, cultural preservation, and public service, interacting with institutions such as the Oklahoma Supreme Court, United States Congress, and universities like the University of Oklahoma. Contemporary issues for the tribe involve jurisdictional questions addressed by cases such as McGirt v. Oklahoma, economic development under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, healthcare access coordinated with the Indian Health Service, and cultural preservation collaborations with entities like the Smithsonian Institution and the Oklahoma Historical Society. Intertribal relations include engagement with the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, the Shawnee Tribe (Oklahoma), and intergovernmental forums such as the National Congress of American Indians and the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes.

Category:Native American tribes in Oklahoma