Emergence of the Wyandot Wyandot people

three huron-wyandot chiefs huron reservation (lourette) called wendake in quebec canada. after defeat iroquois, many huron fled quebec french allies, reserve set aside use. others migrated across lake huron , st. clair river, settling in ohio region , midwest.



huron-plume group – spencerwood, quebec city, 1880

in late 17th century, elements of huron confederacy , petun joined , became known wyandot (or wyandotte), variation of wendat. (this name related french transliteration of mohawk term tobacco.) western wyandot re-formed in area of ohio , southern michigan in united states.

in august 1782, wyandot joined forces simon girty, british soldier, , on 15-19 aug 1782 unsuccessfully besieged bryan station drew kentucky militia lower blue licks, wyandot defeated kentucky militia led daniel boone. wyandot gained high ground , surrounded boone s forces.

also in late 1782 wyandot joined forces shawnee, seneca, , delaware indians in siege of fort henry on ohio river unsuccessful.

during northwest indian war, wyandot fought alongside british allies against united states. under leadership of tarhe, signatories treaty of greenville in 1795.

in 1807, wyandot joined 3 other tribes – odawa, potawatomi, , ojibwe people – in signing treaty of detroit, major land cession. agreement between tribes , michigan territory (represented william hull) ceded united states part of territory in today s southeastern michigan , section of ohio near maumee river. tribes allowed keep small pockets of land in territory. in 1819, methodist church established mission wyandot in ohio, first native americans.

in 1840s, of surviving wyandot people displaced kansas indian territory through federal policy of forced indian removal. using funds received lands in ohio, wyandot purchased 23,000 acres (93 km) of land $46,080 in wyandotte county, kansas delaware (lenape). lenape had been grateful hospitality wyandot had shown them in ohio. more-or-less square parcel north , west of junction of kansas river , missouri river. united states government treaty granted wyandot nation small portion of fertile land located in acute angle of missouri river , kansas river, purchased delaware in 1843. in addition, government granted 32 floating sections, located on public lands west of mississippi river.

in june 1853, big turtle, wyandot chief, wrote ohio state journal regarding current condition of tribe. wyandot had received $127,000 lands in 1845. big turtle noted that, in spring of 1850, tribal chiefs retroceded granted land government. invested $100,000 of proceeds in 5% government stock. after removal kansas, wyandot had founded libraries along 2 thriving sabbath schools. in process of organizing division of sons of temperance , maintained sizable temperance society. big turtle commented on agricultural yield, produced annual surplus market. said thrift of wyandot exceeded of tribe north of arkansas line. according account, wyandot nation contented , happy , , enjoyed better living conditions in indian territory in ohio.

by 1855 number of wyandot had diminished 600–700. on august 14 of year, wyandot nation elected chief. kansas correspondent of missouri republican reported judges of election 3 elders trusted peers. wyandot offered of floating sections of land sale on same day @ price of $800. section composed of 640 acres (2.6 km). altogether 20,480 acres (82.9 km) sold $25,600. located in kansas, nebraska, , unspecified sites. surveys not required, title becoming complete @ time of location.

the wyandot played important role in politics of kansas. on july 26, 1853, william walker, wyandot, elected provisional governor of nebraska territory (which included kansas) @ meeting @ wyandot council house in kansas city. elected wyandot, white traders, , outside interests wished preempt federal government s organization of territory , benefit settlement of kansas white settlers. walker , others promoting kansas route proposed transcontinental railroad. although federal government did not recognize walker s election, political activity prompted federal government pass kansas-nebraska act organize kansas , nebraska territories.

an october 1855 article in new york times reported wyandot free (that is, had been accepted citizens) , without restrictions placed on other tribes. leaders unanimously pro-slavery, meant 900 or 1,000 additional votes in opposition free state movement of kansas.

in 1867, after american civil war, additional members removed midwest oklahoma. today more 4,000 wyandot can found in eastern kansas , oklahoma.

the last of original wyandot of ohio margaret grey eyes solomon, known mother solomon. daughter of chief john grey eyes, born in 1816 , departed ohio in 1843. 1889 had returned ohio, when recorded spectator restoration of wyandot s old mission church , wyandot mission church @ upper sandusky. died in upper sandusky on august 17, 1890. last wyandot live in ohio bill moose (1836–1937).

some descendants of wyandot nation of anderdon live in ohio , michigan. others live in toronto , brantford, ontario, on 6 nations reserve, have intermarried cayuga , other indigenous peoples. federally recognized tribes located in oklahoma , kansas of united states.