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The Women of Oklahoma

The sixth section of the World Longest Native American Painting was created in 2014 .

 

This painting depicts 20 of the 39 federally recognized tribes of Oklahoma. The Indigenous tribes relocation is responsible for this concentration of many different tribal groups. These tribal nations learned how to live together, share their resources and build strong tribal communities.

 

Depiction of the tribes from Left to Right :

 

* Cherokee Nation : In 1987, Wilma Mankiller, famous activist, was the first Woman elected Chief of the largest Indigenous Nation of  the US : the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.

 

* Potawatomi :  The Citizen Potawatomi Nation woman is wearing a dress of typical Potawatomi pattern.

 

* Cheyenne : The Southern Cheyenne Tribe is located in Concho, western Oklahoma.

 

* Chickasaw : Located in South Central Oklahoma, they are known as traditional basket makers.

 

* Caddo : The Confederacy of Caddo people originated in the woodlands of Eastern Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

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* Quapaw : They are located in Northeastern Oklahoma and related to the Omaha, Ponca, Osage  and Kaw Nations.

 

* Creek : The Muscogee Creek Nation  is part of the 5 civilized Tribes.

 

* Seminole : They are connected to the Creek people and they are also part of the 5 civilized Tribes.

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* Shawnee :  The Loyal Shawnee is one of the 3 bands of Shawnees that have their origins in the Ohio Valley.

 

* Eastern Shawnee : The Eastern Shawnees originated from the eastern regions of the Missisippi river.

 

* Absentee Shawnee :  At the time the Kansas Reservation was created to concentrate the relocated Shawnee People, a group of them was reported Absent from the agreement. They became known as the Absentee Shawnees who dwelled along the Canadian River in Oklahoma among the Choctaw and Creek people.

 

* Otoe: The Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma originated in the Great Lakes Regions and migrated on the agricultural lands of the north central plains of the country.

 

* Ponca : The Ponca Community is known for its role in the development of  powwow culture in the southern plains.

 

* Kaw : Kaws are formerly known as the Kanza People and originated from the Lower Ohio valley. They settled in the lower Kansas valley on a 20 million acres land that they lost during the treaties. Then, they were removed into the Kay County of OK.

 

* Kialagee : The Kialagee Tribal Town finds its roots in Alabama and Georgia. They are fully connected to the Creek Confederacy and all of them were removed to Oklahoma during the Trail of Tears.”

 

* Kickapoo : The Kickapoo Tribe is a Woodland tribe related to the Sac and Fox People that originated in Southwest Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.

 

* Comanche : Located in southwestern Oklahoma they are related to the Shoshones of Wyoming and Idaho. They migrated south and were known as the “buffalo eaters” (Kotsotekas), “root eaters” (Yamparikas), “honey eaters”  (Penatekas) and “antelope eaters” (Kwahada) 4 divisions of the Comanches who settled in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Daniel painted a family of 3 generations emphasizing the power of matriarchy in Native Culture.

 

* Keetoowah Cherokee : The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians is located in Tahlequah, OK. They consider themselves the guardians of traditional Cherokee Ways. They voluntarily migrated from the southeastern woodlands to Arkansas and then into Oklahoma.

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* Arapaho : The Southern Arapahos range between the North and South Platte rivers of Oklahoma.

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