The Kickapoo Nation
The Kickapoo Nation is from what is currently known as the American Midwest. Known by European and American settlers for their lack of willingness or desire to interact with outsiders, the Kickapoo had rocky relationships with settlers from the early French and English. At times working together during wars and trade, the Kickapoo only interacted with whites as a means of survival, but never wanted to give in to their demands or ways of life.1
From the beginning of the 1800s, as settlers from the east began to move into the Illinois territory and encroach on Kickapoo land, the nation felt a need to defend itself. During the War of 1812, the Kickapoo sided with the British as a means of stopping the American onslaught into their lands. After enduring losses in the war, peace treaties were established between the tribe and the United States, and new lands were established as “home” for the nation.2 Three years after the War of 1812, many of the Kickapoo returned back to their newly designated homelands, only to face further issues from settlers. After Illinois acquired statehood in 1818, and as settlers began encroaching on government-designated Kickapoo land, the Kickapoo once again decided to defend what was theirs. Through camp raids, the Kickapoo made life difficult for the settlers. To help protect citizens and assets, the U.S. government began protecting the borders of these settlements with military aid. The Kickapoo, realizing they were out-powered and with little help from other Native nations, decided it was time to negotiate for peace. In 1819, both the Treaty of Fort Harrison and the Treaty of Edwardsville were signed between the Kickapoo nation and the United States. Officially, the Kickapoo were meant to abandon all of the land that they called home in Illinois and Indiana, in exchange for new land in Missouri along with one-to-two thousand dollars of goods. The United States promised freedom from settlers encroaching on this land.3 Around 2,000 Kickapoo members made the guided trip from their homes towards Missouri, but many members broke off from this trip out of fear that they were being brought to their own execution in St. Louis. In some cases, groups broke off into smaller bands during their forced migration. The Kickapoo did not only officially settle in Missouri, but also in what is present day Texas, Kansas, and even as far south as Mexico.4
1822 Illinois Map
Ratified Indian Treaty 108- Kickapoo of the Vermilion - Fort Harrison, Indiana, August 30, 1819
1819 was not the last time that Illinois saw the Kickapoo. Two separate bands of the Kickapoo nation refused to leave their homes and continued to live in Illinois. This was an issue for the American government, since the whole point of the previous treaties was to clear “Indian Land” in order to allow for the safe movement of white settlers into the area. Settlers even began writing to government officials requesting the removal of these bands with government aid. One such plea read “We the inhabitants of the county of Fulton in the military district for the state of Illinois respectfully petition that the inhabitants of this county have for a long time been oppressed by the various tribes of Indians living on the military lands and its vicinity...that we think it incumbent upon us both for the safety of ourselves and families and protection and welfare of our property to petition the general government through you as a public agent for a removal of said Indians from our vicinity, particularly from the military lands.”5 Not until 1834 would the two Kickapoo bands also be convinced to leave behind their homeland in order to move west of the Mississippi river. The state of Illinois was now able to be settled by members of the new expanding United States.
Illinois Central Railroad Company, Farm Lands for Sale
The Kickapoo Nation exists until this day with official tribes in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Mexico.6
By Michal Pavlik
1 “Beginning in the Great Lakes,” History of the Mexico Kickapoo, Milwaukee Public Museum, 2021, https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-1.html.
2 Ibid.
3 Arrell Gibson, The Kickapoo, Lords of the Middle Path (Norman,University of Oklahoma, 1963) 81.
4 “Migration,” History of the Mexico Kickapoo, Milwaukee Public Museum, 2021, https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-1.html.
5 Gibson, The Kickapoo, 84.
6 “Homeland/Migration Routes,” History and Language Resources, Kansas Kickapoo Tribe, 2021, https://www.ktik-nsn.gov/history/.
1822 Map: Carey, H.C., Lea, I., Map of Illinois, 1822, paper map, 42x52 cm, Philadelphia, https://www.wcihs.org/history/1822-illinois-state-map/.
Ratified Indian Treaty 108: U.S. Government, Ratified Indian Treaty 108: Kickapoo of the Vermilion - Fort Harrison, Indiana, August 30, 1819, August 30, 1819, Paper, National Archives, Washington D.C. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/167222384.
Land Sale Image: Illinois Central Railroad Company, Farm lands for sale. The Illinois central railroad company is now prepared to sell over two millions of acres of prairie farm lands, in tracts of 40 acres or upward, on long credit and at low rates of interest! ... Chicago Democratic Press Print, 1855, Paper, 43x26 cm, Chicago, https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.01703300/?sp=1.