Word of the Day
Oto (also Otoe) (OH-toh)
A Native American people
Common clues: Oklahoma Indian; Platte River Indians; Plains indian
Crossword puzzle frequency: 10 times a year
Oto
delegation of five wearing claw necklaces and fur turbans.
Photographed by John K. Hillers, January 1881.
Information on the Oto
Indians
Recorded by Members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
1804
The following excerpts from the journals of Lewis and Clark and their men present a picture of the Oto people as the Anglo-Americans saw them. The modern reader must be careful to understand that what these white men saw and recorded was not necessarily correct from the Indian perspective. The Oto were from a culture similar to that of the Iowa and Missouri tribes. The Oto were dwindling rapidly during the early 19th century as a result of disease. By 1821 the Oto had merged with the Missouri, together numbering less than 800 individuals. Both tribes moved to the Platte River in Nebraska where they were protected by the more numerous Pawnee, and in 1829 they formally united. Contrary to the popular depiction of the Indians of the plains, the Oto lived most of the year in earthen lodges, not tipis.
The following passages have been freely adapted and excerpted from the original texts, and the spelling has been corrected to make them easier to read. For students wishing to quote these passages, the Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary Moulton and published by the University of Nebraska Press, is the recommended source. For those who wish more in-depth information about Lewis and Clark's relations with various Indian tribes, including background from the Indian perspective, the best book is James P. Ronda's Lewis and Clark among the Indians. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1984. The very best way to obtain accurate information from the tribal perspective is to contact tribal councils for individual tribes - in other words, to consult the people themselves.
Contact
Information:
www.okla-iha.com/otoemissouria.htm
Chairperson,
Otoe-Missouria Tribal Council
P.O. Box 68
Red Rock, Oklahoma
74651
*****
Journal Excerpts:
[Clark]
13th June Wednesday,
1804
We set out early. Passed a round bend to the S.S. and two
Creeks called the round bend Creeks. Between those two Creeks and
behind a Small willow island in the bend is a Prairie in which the
Missouri Indians once lived, and the spot where 300 of them fell a
sacrifice to the fury of the Sauk. This nation (Missouri), once
the most numerous nation in this part of the Continent, is now
reduced to about 80 families and that few under the protection of
the Otteaus [Otos] on the River Platte, who themselves are
declining.
[Clark]
15 June Friday
1804
The Missouri Nation resided under the protection of the
Osage, after their nation was reduced by the Saukees below. They
built their Village in the same low Prairie and lived there many
years. The war was So hot & both nations become So reduced
that the Little Osage & a few of the Missouris moved &
built a village 5 miles nearer the Grand Osage, the rest of the
Missouris went and took protection under the Otteaus [Otos] on
Platte river.
July 21, 1804 19 miles traveled
today.
Camped in.
[Lewis - writing above the
mouth of Papillion Creek near Bellevue, a suburb of Omaha,
Nebraska]
July 21, 1804
From this evening's encampment a man
may walk to the [Pawnee] Village on the S. (East) bank of the
Platte River in two days, and to the Otos in one day. All those
Indians are Situated on the South bank of the Platte River. As
those Indians are now out in the prairies following & hunting
the buffalo, I fear we will not see them.
[Clark]
July 21st Saturday
1804
The Indians pass this river in Skin Boats which are flat
and will not turn over. The Otos, a Small nation, reside on the
South Side 10 Leagues up, the Pawnees on the Same Side 5 Leagues
higher up.
[Floyd]
Saturday July 21st
1804
Up the Platte about one mile the Hills of Prairie Land -
about 2 days and half up the Platte 2 nations of Indians Lives
viz.: The Souttoes, the Pawnee.
[Gass]
Saturday 21st. Up
this river live three nations of Indians, the Otos, Panis, and
Loos, or Wolf Indians. [Oto, Pawnee, and the Skiri or Loup (Wolf)
Pawnee].
[Clark]
July 22nd, Sunday
1804
This being a good Situation and much nearer the Otos town
than the Mouth of the Platte, we concluded to delay at this place
a few days and Send for Some of the Chiefs of that nation to let
them Know of the Change of Government, The wishes of our
Government to Cultivate friendship with them, the Objects of our
journey and to Present them with a flag and Some Small presents.
[Clark]
Camp 10 Miles above
the River Platte
Monday July the 23rd
At 11 o'clock sent
George Drewyer & Pierre Cruzatte, 1/2 Indian, to the Otos
Village, about 18 miles west of our Camp, to invite the Chiefs &
principal men of that nation to come & talk with us &. &.,
also the Pawnees if they Should meet with any of that nation (also
on the S. Side of the Platte, 30 miles higher up). At this Season
of the year all the Indians in this quarter are in the Plains
hunting the Buffalo. From Some signs Seen by our hunter and the
Prairies being on fire in the direction of the Village, induce a
belief that the Nation have returned to get green Corn.
[Gass]
Monday 23rd. Six men
were sent out to make oars; and two [Drouillard and Pierre
Cruzatte] to a nation of Indians up the Platte River to inform
them of the change of government in this country, and that we were
here ready to treat with them. We hoisted a flag, and sent them
another. [They traveled to the Oto village east of Yutan, Saunders
County, Nebraska].
[Clark]
Wednesday, White
Catfish Camp 25th of July
At 2 o'clock the two men Sent to the
Otos Village returned and informed
they Saw Some fresh Sign
near that place which they pursued, but could not find them, they
having seen that no Indians were at the Town, they took
precautions to Conceal the rout which they went out from the
Village. The Indians of the Missouri being at war with one &
the other or other Indians, move in large bodies and Sometimes the
whole nation Continue to Camp together on their hunting trips.
Those men inform that they passed through an open Plain all the
way to the Town, a few Trees excepted on the water courses.
[Clark]
July 28th
Saturday
The party on Shore brought in a Missouri Indian who
resides with the Otos, this Indian & 2 others were Hunting in
the Prairie; their Camp is about 4 miles off. This Indian informs
that his nation is in the Plains hunting the Buffalo. The party
with which he is encamped is about 20, family, Hunting the Elk.
[Clark]
July the 28th,
Saturday 1804
We camped on the S.S. below the point of an
Island. George Drewyer brought in a Missouri Indian which he met
with hunting in the Prairie. This Indian is one of the few
remaining of that nation, & lives with the Otos, his Camp
about 4 miles from the river. He informs that the "great
gang" of the nation were hunting the Buffalo in the Plains.
His party was Small, Consisting only of about 20 Lodges. [blank]
miles further another Camp, where there was a Frenchman, who lived
in the nation. This Indian appeared sprightly, and appeared to
make use of the Same pronunciation of Chief - Inca.
[Ordway]
Saturday July 28th
1804
G. Drewyer found three of the Oto Indians Dressing an Elk.
They were friendly and gave him a part of it and one of them came
with him in order to find the Boat. Drewyer killed one Deer &
joined us, brought the Indian with him [to] where we was Camped on
the north Side of the River in Timbered land below an island &
prairie.
[Clark]
July 29th Sunday
We
Sent one Frenchman La Liberty & the Indian to the Camp to
invite the party to meet us at the next bend of High Land on the
L.S.
[Clark]
July the 30th
Monday
We came to in a grove of timber and formed a Camp.
Raised a flagpole, and determined to wait for the Oto Indians.
[Whitehouse]
Monday July
30th
We set out at an early hour, in order to find a place in
order to form our encampment; and to wait for the Frenchman,
(Liberty) and the Oto Indian who we had sent to the Oto nation
returning.
[Ordway - writing at the
Council Bluff site, Fort Atkinson, Nebraska].]
Tuesday July
31st 1804
We expected the Oto nation of Indians today & the
man which went for them but they did not come. The reason is as we
expect that they were So much scattered hunting that it takes some
time for them to get ready, but we wait for them.
[Floyd]
Wednesday August 1st
1804
Lay by all this day expecting the Indians every hour. Sent
one man down the River to where we ate Dinner on the 28th of July
to See if any Indians Had been there. He Returned and Saw no Sign
of them.
[Clark]
August 2nd 1804
At
Sunset 6 chiefs and their warriors of the Otos and Missouris, with
a Frenchman by the name of Farfonge [arrived in the camp]. We
(Spoke), Shook hands and gave them Some Tobacco & Provisions.
They Sent us watermelons.
[Clark]
August 2nd Thursday
1804
At Sunset Mr. Fairfong and a part of the Oto &
Missouri Nation Came to Camp. Among those Indians were the
principal Chiefs. Capt. Lewis & myself met those Indians &
informed them we were glad to see them, and would speak to them
tomorrow. Sent them some roasted meat, Pork, flour & meal. In
return they sent us Watermelons. [every?] man on his Guard &
ready for anything.
[Floyd]
Thursday August
2d
The Indians came where we had expected; they fired many Guns
when they came in Sight of us and we answered them with the
Cannon. They Came in about 2 hundred yards of us. Capt. Lewis and
Clark met them at Shaking Hands; we fired another Cannon. There
was (Six) 6 Chiefs and 7 men and one Frenchman with them who has
lived with them for some years and has a family with them.
[Ordway]
Thursday 2nd
About
14 of the Oto Indians arrived here at Dusk. 2 Guns fired from our
Bow piece. We gave them Some provisions. They appear to be
friendly, &c.
[Gass]
Thursday 2nd. The
Indians we expected came at dark; but our Frenchman was not with
them. We supposed he had been lost.
[Whitehouse]
Thursday 2nd
12
of the Oto Indians Arrived at Our Camp Called the Council Bluffs,
or the Brarareham prairie at the Hour of P.M. 7 o'clock. No
business was done. The commanding officer ordered them plenty of
provisions.
[Whitehouse]
Thursday August
2nd
At 7 o'clock A.M. the Oto Indians arrived at our Camp,
which the Captains had altered the name of, to that of Council
Bluffs, or the Brarcoham Prairie. No business with the Indians
commenced this day. The number of Oto Indians that arrived were
12, the remainder of the Warriors, Chiefs, and hunters of that
nation having not returned from hunting Buffalo in the Prairies.
The commanding officers ordered them plenty of Provisions. They
are a handsome, stout, well made set of Indians & have good
open Countenances, and are of a light brown color, and have long
black hair, which they do wear without cutting; and they all use
paint in order to complete their dress.
[Clark]
August 3rd
Friday
Prepare a Small present for those Indians and hold a
Council. Delivered a Speech & made 6 chiefs. [hole] Gave a few
presents and a Smoke, a Dram, Some Powder & Ball-[hole] The
man [La Liberty] we (left) not yet come up. Those people express
great Satisfaction at the Speech Delivered; they are no Orators.
Big, open Countenances, Otos large, Missouris Small. . . After
Delivering a Speech informing those Children of ours of the Change
which had taken place, the wishes of our government to Cultivate
friendship & good understanding, the method of have good
advice & Some Directions, we made [a] Great Chief to the [one]
who was not present, to whom we addressed the Speech & Sent
Some presents or Medals & flag. We made 2 Second Chiefs, one
for the Missouris & another for the Otos (those two tribes are
nearly equal) and 4 principal men, to those principal men we gave
a Small commission. To each man to whom we gave authority, a
present of a breech clout, Garter, Paint & a medal or Small
Commission was delivered for the whole. Each Chief & principal
man delivered a Speech acknowledging their approbation to what
they had heard and promised to pursue the good advice and Caution.
They were happy with Their new fathers who gave good advice &
to be Depended on. All Concluded by asking [for] a little Powder &
a Drop of Milk [whiskey].
I answered those Speeches, gave them
50 balls [and] one Canister of Powder & a Dram. After Capt.
Lewis Shot his air gun a few times, which astonished the natives,
we Set Sail. Received from those people watermelons &c.
The
Chiefs & Principal men of the Otos & Missouris made by M.
L. & W. C. the 3rd August 1804:
Viz. Indian Names Tribe
English Signification
1. We-ar-ruge-nor Oto Little Thief
2.
Shingo-ton go Oto Big horse
3. We tha a Missouri Hospitality
4.
Wau-pe-ur Missouri
5. Au-ho-ning ga m
6. Ba Za con ja Oto
7.
Au-ho-ne-ga Miss.
[Clark]
Aug. 3d 1804
Made
up a Small present for those people in proportion to their
Consequence. Also a package with a medal to accompany a Speech for
the Grand Chief (which we intend to send to him). After Breakfast
we Collected those Indians under an awning of our Main Sail, in
presence of our Party paraded & Delivered a long Speech to
them expressive of our journey, the works of our Government, Some
advice to them and Directions how They were to Conduct themselves.
(Made one) the principal Chief for the nation (to whom) being
absent we sent him the Speech, flag, Medal, & Some Clothes.
After hearing what they had to say Delivered a medal of Second
Grade to one for the Otos & and one for the Missouri (part of
the nation) present and 4 medals of a third Grade to the inferior
Chiefs, two for each tribe. Those two parts of nations, Otos &
Missouris now (forming one of) residing together (about 250 men)
are (nearly equal in number).
Those (people) Chiefs all
Delivered a Speech acknowledging Their approbation to the Speech
and promising to pursue the advice & Directions given them;
that they were happy to find that they had Fathers which might be
depended on &c.
We gave them a Canister of Powder and a
Bottle of whiskey and delivered a few presents to the whole after
giving a Breech cloth, Some Paint, gartering & a Medal to
those we made Chief. After Capt. Lewis's Shooting the air gun a
few Shots (which astonished those natives) we Set out and
proceeded on five miles on a Direct line. [This council is
discussed in Ronda, Lewis and Clark Among the Indians, pp. 17-23.
At this time, Europeans outside the Spanish Empire had only a
vague idea of the geographical location of Santa Fe, a city nearly
two hundred years old, and knew little of the geography of the
Southwest. The Spanish government preferred that this ignorance
continue.
[Floyd]
Friday August
3rd
The Council was held and all parties was agreed; the
Captains Give them money, presents. These is the Oto and the
Missouris. The Missouris is a very Small nation, the Ottos is a
very Large nation So they Live in one village on the Platte River.
[Ordway]
Friday 3rd
This
morning the two Captains held a Council With the (13) Oto Indians
& made 6 Chiefs under the American government. They all
received their medal & other presents With Great kindness &
thankfulness. They all appeared to be Glad that they had Got freed
from all other powers &c. They made some very sensible
speeches, smoked and drank with us, shook hands and parted.
[Gass]
Friday 3rd. Captain
Lewis and Captain Clark held a council with the Indians, who
appeared well pleased with the change of government, and what had
been done for them. Six of them were made chiefs, three Otos and
three Missouris.
[Whitehouse]
Friday 3rd
The
Indians Behaved well while Encamped Near our party. Capt. Lewis
brought them to a treaty after the hour of 9 o'clock. There was
six of the Oto Chiefs & six of the Missouris; he gave 3 of the
head chiefs a Medal, 1 each; and the other three Commissions in
the Name of the President of the U. S. They was well content with
what they received. The Officer Commanding Gave Each of the
privates Some Small presents which made them all on an Equal
Satisfactory Atonement for their Visit. They was well content in
the presence of their two fathers, which was M. Lewis & Wm.
Clark. When the Articles was Opened Out they Said as long as the
French had traded with [them] they Never Gave them as much as a
Knife for Nothing.
[Clark]
18th August (Friday)
Saturday 1804
In the after part of the Day the Party with the
Indians arrived. We met them under a Shade near the Boat and after
a Short talk we gave them Provisions to eat, & proceeded to
the trial of Reed. The three principal Chiefs petitioned for
Pardon for this man. After we explained the injury such men could
do them by false representation, & explanation [of] the
Customs of our Country they were all Satisfied with the propriety
of the Sentence & was witness to the punishment. After which
we had Some talk with the Chiefs about the origin of the war
between them & the Mahars &c. &c. It commenced in this
way, i.e. two of the Missouri Tribe residing with the Otos went to
the Mahars to Steal horses, they Killed them both which was a
cause of revenge on the part of the Missouris & Otos. They
also brought war on themselves Nearly in the Same way with the
Pawnee Loups [Skiri Pawnees] and they are greatly in fear of a
just revenge from the Pawnees for taking their Corn from the Pania
Towns in their absence hunting this Summer. The evening was Closed
with an extra Gill of Whiskey & a Dance until 11 o'clock [as
it was Capt. Lewis' thirtieth birthday].
[Floyd]
Saturday Aug.
18th
Our men Returned and Brought with them the man and Brought
with them the Grand Chief of the Ottoes and 2 Lower ones and 6
others of their nation.
[Ordway]
Saturday
18th
Pleasant, G. Drewyer & the other 2 men Returned,
brought with them Reed the deserter, likewise the Big chief of the
Otos called the Big Horse, and another chief called Petevaliar, of
Missouri, & a Frenchman & 7 of the warriors came for the
purpose of treating with the Mahars &c. Reed tried &
punished towards evening; the Chiefs very Sorry &c. and
Liberty (had been at the village) has not returned with Drewyer.
[Actually, Big Horse was a Missouri Indian, and Little Thief
("petevaliar" from the French petit voleur, "little
thief"), an Oto].
[Clark]
19th of August
Sunday 1804
I prepared a present from the Chiefs &
Warriors. The main Chief breakfasted with us naked; & begged
for a Sunglass. At 10 o'clock we assembled the Chiefs &
Warriors under an awning and delivered a Speech, explanatory of
the One Sent to this Nation from the Council Bluff, &c.:
"Children: When we Sent
the 4 men to your towns, we expected to See & Speak with the
Mahars by the time you would arrive and to lay the foundation of a
peace between you and them."
The Speech of Petit Villeu
Little Thief: "If you think right and Can wait until all our
Warriors Come from the Buffalo hunt, we Can then tell you who is
our men of Consequence. My fathers always lived with the father of
the B together & we always live with the Big house. All the
men here are the Sons of Chief and will be glad to get Something
from the hands of their fathers. My father always directed me to
be friendly with the white people, I have always done So and went
often to the French. Give my party pieces of Paper [commissions] &
we will be glad."
The Speech of the Big Horse: "I
went to hunt Buffalo. I heard your word and I returned. I and all
my men with me will attend to your words. You want to make peace
with all, I want to make peace also. The young men, when they want
to go to war, where is the goods you give me to Keep them at home?
If you give me Some Whisky to give a Drop to my men at home. I
came here naked and must return home naked. If I have Something to
give the young men I can prevent their going to war. You want to
make peace with all. It is good. We want Something to give my men
at home. I am a poor man, and can't quiet without means. A
Spoonful of your milk [whiskey] will quiet all."
2nd
Speech of the Little Thief: "I want Mr. Faufon & Mr.
Labiche to make a peace with the Panies Loups [Skiri Pawnees]. I
want William to go & make a piece with the Loups, he can Speak
English & will do well to go."
[Ed: Clark now returns to his
narrative]
Those people were not well Satisfied with the
Presents given them. They were much Surprised at the air gun and
Several curiosities which were Shown them, none more than the
magnet. Those people became extremely troublesome to us, begging
Whisky & little articles.
Names:
The Little Thief Grd.
Chief I have mentioned before
The Big Horse
Crow's Head (or)
Kar Ka paha - Missouri
Black Cat (or) Ne ma Sa wa -
Missouri
Iron Eyes (or) Sar na no no - Oto
Big ax (or) Nee
Swar Unja - Oto
Big Blue Eyes - S.targeaHunja - Oto
Brave
Man (or) War Sar Sha co
One of those Indians, after receiving his Certificate, delivered it again to me. The Big Blue Eyes the Chief petitioned for the Certificate again, we would not give the Certificate, but rebuked them very roughly for having in object goods and not peace with their neighbors. This language they did not like at first, but at length all petitioned for us to give back the Certificate to the Big Blue Eyes. He came forward and made a plausible excuse, I then gave the Certificate to the Great Chief to bestow it to the most Worthy. They gave it to him, we then gave them a Dram & broke up the Council. The Chiefs requested we would not leave them this evening. We determined to Set out early in the morning. We Showed them many Curiosities and the air gun, which they were much astonished at. Those people begged much for whiskey.
[Ordway]
Aug. Sunday
19th
The Indians got up their horses to water them, all the
Indians appear to be friendly. At about the hour of 9 o'clock
Capt. Lewis & Capt. Clark read a Speech to the Indians &
counseled with them. Gave one a medal & the rest they gave
commissions & made them all chiefs &c. They appeared to be
willing to make peace with the Mahars & all other Nations. The
Captains gave them Some Small articles of Goods &c. & gave
them provisions while they remained with us. The most of this day
taken up in giving the Indians Good counsel &c. Capt. M. Lewis
invited the above Petevaliar the Big Chief to go to see the
president &c. &c.
[Whitehouse]
Sunday 19th
The
Indians all appear to be friendly. At 9 o'clock the Captains read
a long Speech to them & Counseled with them, & Gave one a
medal & the others they Gave commissions, & Some Small
presents &c. We Gave them provisions while they Remained with
us.
[Source: http://www.nps.gov/jeff/LewisClark2/TheJourney/NativeAmericans/Oto.htm]
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