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Osage Nation

History >> Native Americans for Kids


Osage Nation Seal
by Romaine Shackelford
The Osage are a Native American tribe that once dominated much of the central United States including portions of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. Today, many Osage people live on the Osage reservation in northern Oklahoma.

History

The Osage traditionally lived in the central United States. Throughout the 1700s and early 1800s they were the dominant power throughout much of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri.

In the late 1600s, the Osage established trade with the French. They mostly traded furs in exchange for horses. The Osage maintained a close relationship with the French for many years even after their land was purchased by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

In the late 1800s, the Osage were forced from their land by the United States to make room for white settlers. They moved to a reservation in Oklahoma.


Traditional Osage Nation Lands Map by Ducksters


What kind of homes did the Osage people live in?

The Osage lived in dome-shaped homes called wigwams or wikiups. They would build a frame made of wooden poles and then cover it with animal hides or packed sod. When they ventured onto the Great Plains to follow the bison herds they lived in teepees which were easier to move.

What language do they speak?

Most Osage today speak English, but there are a few people who still speak the traditional Osage language and are trying to keep it alive. The Osage language is a Siouan language similar to the language spoken by the Crow and the Sioux peoples.

What was their clothing like?

The Osage wore clothing made from deerskin. The women wore long dresses, leggings, and moccasins. The men wore breechcloths, leggings, and moccasins. During the winter they would keep warm with thick robes made from bison.

What type of food did they eat?

The Osage hunted a variety of animals for food including bison, deer, and elk. They also farmed vegetables such as corn, beans, and squash.

How did they get the name Osage?

The name "Osage" comes from the early French traders. It was the French version of the Osage word "Wa-zha-zhe", which means "Children of the Middle Waters."

Osage Government

Like many Native American tribes, the Osage didn't have a complex government. They lived in small bands and villages throughout the region. Each band would have two chiefs: a war chief and a peace chief. Today, the Osage reservation has a government with three branches including a judicial, executive, and legislative branch. The executive branch is led by a Chief and an Assistant Chief.

Interesting Facts about the Osage
Activities For more Native American history:

Culture and Overview
Agriculture and Food
Native American Art
American Indian homes and Dwellings
Homes: The Teepee, Longhouse, and Pueblo
Native American Clothing
Entertainment
Roles of Women and Men
Social Structure
Life as a Child
Religion
Mythology and Legends
Glossary and Terms

History and Events
Timeline of Native American History
King Philips War
French and Indian War
Battle of Little Bighorn
Trail of Tears
Wounded Knee Massacre
Indian Reservations
Civil Rights

 Tribes
Tribes and Regions
Apache Tribe
Blackfoot
Cherokee Tribe
Cheyenne Tribe
Chickasaw
Cree
Inuit
Iroquois Indians
Navajo Nation
Nez Perce
Osage Nation
Pueblo
Seminole
Sioux Nation

 People
Famous Native Americans
Crazy Horse
Geronimo
Chief Joseph
Sacagawea
Sitting Bull
Sequoyah
Squanto
Maria Tallchief
Tecumseh
Jim Thorpe
Works Cited



History >> Native Americans for Kids


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