Also known as the Ioway, Bah-Kho-Je, or Báxoje, the Iowa are an American Indian Siouan people who, along with the Missouri and Otoe tribes, were once part of the Ho-Chunk.
Many of them left their ancestral homelands in Southern Wisconsin and the Red Pipestone Quarry region of Minnesota, for Eastern Iowa, a state that bears their name. In 1837, the Iowa were removed from Iowa to reservations in Brown County, Kansas, and Richardson County, Nebraska. Bands of Iowa moved to Indian Territory in the late 19th century, settling south of Perkins, Oklahoma.
Inhabiting an area at the transition point between that of the Northeast Indians and the Plains Indians, the Iowa's economy and lifestyle combined hunting with agriculture. They were semi-sedentary, living in villages, raising crops, and gathering food, although the men would often be away on hunting trips. Iowa village homes were domed structures covered with earth or bark, although tipis were used while hunting or traveling. After contact with Europeans, they trade pelts for European goods. They also produced alum pipes, which were traded to the French for other goods.
Like the Osage, Iowa warriors traditionally shaved their heads and covered them with deer hide. Iowa warriors credited three grades of battle exploits: participating in a victorious skirmish, killing an enemy, and decapitating an enemy.
Between 1820 and 1840, the Iowa were forced to cede their Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri lands to the U.S. government By 1837, most of them were relocated to a reservation along the Kansas-Nebraska border, where they settled in a strip of land in Kansas, south of the Big Nemaha River, along with the Sauk and Fox tribes, who had been longtime allies.
In 1883, a group of Iowa moved to a new reservation in Lincoln, Logan, and Payne counties in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).
Today, the Iowa have two federally recognized tribes: the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska.
The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma is headquartered in Perkins, Oklahoma. The tribe's jurisdictional area includes Lincoln, Logan, and Payne counties. With approximately 800 enrolled tribal members, close to 500 reside in Oklahoma. The tribe issues its own vehicle tags, operates the Bah-kho-je Housing Authority, the Tah-Je-Do-Weh Che Child Development and Head Start program, and its own police department. The tribe also owns a truck stop, gas station, smoke shop, bingo hall, off-track wagering facility, a casino, and BKH Solutions.
The Bah-Kho-Je Journal is published by the tribe for enrolled members, and the Bah-Kho-Je Gallery represents local artists.
The Bah Kho-Je Xla Chi (Grey Snow Eagle House) is an eagle aviary and rehabilitation program located on the tribe's buffalo preserve. The program works with golden eagles and bald eagles.
The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska is a federally recognized tribe in Richardson County in southeastern Nebraska, and Brown and Doniphan counties in northeastern Kansas. The reservation comprises about 1,500 non-contiguous acres. The tribal headquarters is in White Cloud, Kansas. The tribe owns a dairy farm, fuel station, and grain processing facility, as well as a casino and restaurant.
According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, in 1995, there were 533 Iowa people living on Iowa reservation land, 24 in Nebraska, and 857 in Oklahoma. However, not all tribal members reside on the reservations, and the number of individuals identifying as Iowa would be much larger.
The focus of this portion of our guide is on the American Indians known as the Iowa. Online resources representing either of the two Iowa tribes, as well as any other associations or organizations of Iowa people, as well as Iowa industries, businesses, schools, medical facilities, museums, events, and any other entities or programs associated with the tribes or individual Iowa people, are appropriate for this category.
Recommended Resources
Hosted on NativeWeb, a non-profit educational organization that uses the Internet and computer technology to disseminate information from and about indigenous people around the world. Its section on the Ioway (Iowa) or Baxole people includes various student resources, genealogy, language, history, and culture related to the tribe, along with links to books (including book reviews), lists, links offering additional resources on the subject, and contacts.
https://ioway.nativeweb.org/
The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma's Grey Snow Eagle House opened in 2006, with funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma. The facility conducts four distinct programs: rehabilitation of injured eagles, the long-term care of eagles, education, and research. It also allows for naturally molted feathers to be distributed to tribal members. Its programs are highlighted, applications and forms can be downloaded, and a gallery of photographs is included.
https://eagles.iowanation.org/
Grey Snow Management Solutions
Named for the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, which self-describes as Baxoje – Ba meaning “snow” and Xoje describing “ashes or ash-colored,” the tribe's economic development enterprise was created to manage, build, support, and enhance tribal sovereignty, and provide services for government and commercial clients. With offices in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, and Oregon, its locations, contacts, and companies are listed, with additional information on each. Contacts are included.
https://greysnow.com/
Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska
Located on a 1,500-acre reservation in southeastern Nebraska and northeastern Kansas, the federally recognized tribe is headquartered in White Cloud, Kansas. Tribal enrollment requirements and a downloadable application are provided. Tribal government contacts are noted, and tribal events are highlighted, with schedules, photographs, and other details. Its programs, services, enterprises, and businesses are also featured, and a private tribal member area is included.
https://iowatribeofkansasandnebraska.com/
Headquartered in Perkins, Oklahoma, the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma is one of two federally recognized Iowa tribes in the United States. Since 1985, the tribe has held an annual powwow, operating several businesses and industries, including a newspaper. Its administrative and departmental offices are featured, with hours, contacts, and other information. Its services and enterprises are introduced, and schedules of events, and digital collections illustrating the Ioway language are included.
https://iowanation.org/
Opened in 2014, the travel plaza serves travelers, truckers, and local residents, featuring standard and diesel fuel, a convenience store, and a selection of amenities. The Plaza also features thirty-nine slot machines. Located in Tryon, Oklahoma, the address, directions, service station, grill, and slot machine hours are published on the site, along with contacts. A menu can be downloaded from the site, a list of amenities is posted, and employment opportunities are published on the site.
https://iowaytravelplaza.com/
Established by the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, the 444-acre park is entirely located within the Iowa reservation, next to the Missouri River southeast of Rulo, on the border between Kansas and Nebraska. An overview of the park's founding is provided on the site. Several photographs and highlights of some of the park's features are included on the site, including the Iowa and Sac & Fox Mission historic site and museum. An online shopping area is included.
https://iowaytribalnationalpark.org/
