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Waⁿdat Wednesday
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OUR HISTORY
The Wyandotte Nation is a federally recognized Native American tribe headquartered in Wyandotte, Okla.
About Us
Traditional Tribal Name: Waⁿdát (Wandat) | English Name: Wyandotte Nation | Language Family: Northern Iroquoian
Who are we?
The Wyandotte Nation consists of remnants of the Tionontati, Attignawantan and Wenrohronon (Wenro), all unique independent tribes, who united in 1649-50 after being defeated by the Iroquois Confederacy.
Our Symbol
- Turtle: Signifies the Tribe’s ancient belief the world was created on the back of a snapping turtle, also known as the “moss-back turtle.”
- Willow Branches: Because of its resilience after winter or famine, the Tribe’s ancestors believed the willow tree signified the perpetual renewal of life.
- War Club and Peace Pipe: Shows that the Tribe is ready for war or peace at any given moment.
- Council Fire: Many tribes of the Northeast looked upon the Tribe for leadership and advice, when they came together for council, the Tribe often hosted and presided over the councils and are considered “Keepers of the Council Fire.”
- Points of the Shield: Represent each of the Tribe’s 12 clans — Big Turtle, Little Turtle, Mud Turtle, Wolf, Bear, Beaver, Deer, Porcupine, Striped Turtle, Highland Turtle, Snake and Hawk.
A few interesting facts
- We were instrumental in the founding of Detroit, Mich., and Kansas City, Kansas. At one time Kansas City was named Wyandotte City.
- We adopted many white captives into the Nation. Many obtained high tribal status and made significant contributions to the betterment of the Tribe.
- During the French and Indian War, we sided with the French against the British. During the American Revolution, we sided with the British against the Americans.
- The Wyandot were the last tribe to leave Ohio in July of 1843.
- Twice we were terminated then reinstated as a tribe. In 1995, we were granted “self governance” by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
- There are two other bands of Wyandot people, the Wyandot of Anderdon Nation located in Michigan, and the Wyandot Nation of Kansas. We are the same people separated by fate, the passing of time and choices made by our ancestors.
What History Says
“Of all the savage allies of Great Britain in the West, the Wyandots were the most powerful. This arose not so much from the number of their warriors, as from their superior intelligence. Their long association with the French at Detroit, and, after that post fell into the possession of Great Britain, with its later occupants, had advanced them in many respects over the surrounding nations.”
— Butterfield, C. W. An Historical Account of the Expedition Against Sandusky Under Col. William Crawford In 1782. Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co, 1873. print. (164-5).
Our Journey
Prior to European contact more than a dozen tribes along the St. Lawrence River and Upper Great Lakes Region were collectively part of the Iroquoian linguist group. They were all closely related with their own distinct dialect, many cultural similarities, yet they each retained unique tribal identities and names. Four of those tribes comprised the powerful Iroquois Confederacy. Four different and equally powerful tribes were known as the Huron (Wendat) Confederacy. The founders of the Huron Confederacy were the Attignawantan and Attingueenongnahac. Another tribe, the Tionontati, lived adjacent to the Attignawantan; however, the Tionontati were never admitted into the Huron Confederacy. After a series of wars and ensuing defeat at the hands of the Iroquois Confederacy remnants of the Attignawantan, and a third Iroquoian speaking tribe the Wenrohronon, sought asylum among the Tionontati. Old enemies of the Seneca, the Tiononatati upon accepting the refugees were also attacked by the Iroquois Confederacy and henceforth defeated. Survivors from the Tionontati, Wenrohronon, and Attignawantan united as one people, set aside their unique tribal names, and collectively called themselves Wandat. The new tribal name was a unique dialectal variation of Wendat.
In 1701, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, invited the Wandat (known at the time by the French as Tionontati-Huron) to settle near his new Fort Detroit. Within a few years a portion of the tribe ventured south. They settled Upper Sandusky, Ohio, where they and those that remained around Detroit held a position of honor among other tribes of the Ohio Valley. In Ohio, after sustained contact with the British, our traditional name Wandat became corrupted and spelled as Wyandot somewhere in the 1730s-1750s. Pressure from settlers forced the Treaty of 1843 and removal to Indian Territory (Kansas) west of the Mississippi River. Upon arriving in the West, no land or provisions were available. Arrangements were made and land was purchased from the Delaware. Our new reservation was located on highly sought and fought over land in Kansas, which lead to the Treaty of 1855 and tribal termination. Our land was quickly allotted and sold to white interests.
In 1857, some Wyandot who were unwilling to accept citizenship relocated to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) and lived as guests of the Mixed Band Seneca-Shawnee. After the Civil War concluded, in 1867 approximately 200 successfully sought reinstatement as a tribe. The name Wyandotte was officially adopted after the 1867 Treaty and reflects an influence from the French language.
–Lloyd Divine, Wyandotte Nation Cultural Committee
Are the Wyandotte Huron?
Many people ask the question, “Are the Wyandotte Huron?”
History states that we are predominately of the Tionontati tribe and the Tionontati were never admitted into the Huron (Wendat) Confederacy; however, we do have connections to the Huron through the Attignawantan who were the founding tribe of the Huron.
The Wyandotte Nation consists of remnants of the Tionontati, Attignawantan and Wenrohronon (Wenro), all unique independent tribes, who united in 1649-50 after being defeated by the Iroquois Confederacy. A simple answer to a very complicated question is no, the Wyandotte Nation was not part of the Huron Confederacy proper as the Wyandotte truly didn’t exist until after the fall of the Huron Confederacy.
WYANDOTTE NATION PRINCESS & JUNIOR PRINCESS
Chloe Friend & Veyda Marlow
The Wyandotte Nation Princesses serve as Ambassadors for the Tribe. The Princesses represent the Tribe at various meetings, conferences, events, at the annual Wyandotte Nation Pow-Wow, and speak at schools, discussing the history of the Tribe and where it is headed. The Princesses also perform “The Lord’s Prayer” in sign language before important events.
Chloe Friend has been the Wyandotte Nation Princess since 2023, and Veyda Marlow Junior Princess since 2023.
HISTORY
Stories and histories about our people by our people are very valuable
‘Origin and Traditional History of the Wyandotts’ by Peter Dooyentate Clarke is a rare book as only 1,000 were privately printed in 1870 using Peter Clarke’s own money.
A transcription of the book can be found by clicking below:
Language Classes
Many language classes fill up before we can advertise them in Turtle Speaks. If you would like to be notified of future offerings when they first become available, please add your name to our mailing list and take a few minutes to tell us your learning preferences by clicking the button below – Tižamęh!
Our next offering for beginning Waⁿdat is planned to begin soon after the Gathering & Pow Wow in September so be sure to sign up above to be notified!
Remember: there is always Waⁿdat Wednesdays! This informal, stand-alone vocabulary class happens on the third Wednesday of every month and is online using ZOOM.
One session is at NOON Central Time and the other is at 8 PM CT.
To sign up, click the button below to receive the Zoom link and reminders.
Be sure to send any comments or suggestions, especially those on your language & culture wishlist, to: bwright@wyandotte-nation.org
Wyandotte Names
Being gifted a traditional name in our Wandat language connects us with our ancestors and highlights our commitment to stand up for Wyandotte Nation. Waⁿdat names are the property of the Nation and in contemporary times are bestowed by our Chief after a tribal citizen completes the application process, which has 3 parts: application form, references (3+), & attendance at a Wyandotte Basics class (offered on ZOOM, 2x a year). Following tradition, the recipient hears their name for the first time during the ceremony at the Pow-Wow Grounds in September.
While you can start/submit an application at any time of the year, new applications are reviewed from October – May.
Note: As this is an intense time-consuming process, a complete application by the May 31st deadline does not guarantee a name will be bestowed that same year. To begin the process click the button below.
If you have been gifted a traditional name in the past, please be sure to add it to our Directory so we can ensure it is not used by anyone else during your lifetime. Tižamęh!
Book Club
The Cultural Center hosts an online book club using ZOOM every quarter. We read new and classic works by indigenous authors. We encourage anyone interested to sign up and attend our sessions – whether you finished the book or not! The focus is on how the book impacts us as Wyandot(te)s & relatives so our discussions are amazing. Every selection will be available in paperback and audiobook and you are invited to choose which format works best for you.
2024 Book Selections:
- Feb 29, 2024 – Night of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty (short stories)
- May 8, 2024 – As Long As Grass Grows by Dina Gilio-Whitaker
- Aug 6, 2024 – Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
- Nov 6, 2024 – My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones
To register for Book Club (if you never have before) and receive the Zoom link, please click on the button below. If you’d like to suggest future titles, they…
- Must be written by a native author.
- Must be available in paperback.
- Must be available as an audiobook.
WYANDOTTE NATION CULTURAL CENTER & MUSEUM HOURS OF OPERATION
5 Council Fire Road
Wyandotte, OK 74370
Monday – Thursday: 8 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday: 8 AM – 3:30 PM
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Find us on Facebook! Click the link below:
WYANDOTTE NATION CULTURAL CENTER & MUSEUM CONTACTS
Kim Garcia
kgarcia@wyandotte-nation.org
918-678-6317
Sherri Clemons
sclemons@wyandotte-nation.org
918-678-6344
Chris Houk
chouk@wyandotte-nation.org
918-678-6318
Beci Wright
bwright@wyandotte-nation.org
918-678-6480
Joshua Garcia
jgarcia@wyandotte-nation.org
Teresa Wilson
twilson@wyandotte-nation.org
918-678-6385
