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Omaha Indians in
Nebraska
The Omaha tribe of Indians live in the State of Nebraska about 80
miles north of the city of Omaha, on a reservation 12 miles in
length north and south, and bounded on the east by the Missouri
River and on the west by the Sioux City and Omaha Railroad. Of the
various tribes living in Nebraska when the white settlers first
entered the Territory the Omaha are the only Indians remaining
upon their ancient home lands. In the absence of any written
records it is almost impossible to fix dates, but it seems
probable that the Omaha have dwelt near their present location for
the past two centuries or more. Their traditions point to an
earlier home in the Ohio valley, whence they were driven by wars:
slowly migrating across the Mississippi River, up the Des Moines
and its tributaries to their headwaters, thence westward until the
Missouri was reached. Crossing this river, the people gradually
made their way south to their present place of residence.
The Omaha belong to the same linguistic family as the
Ponca, Osages, Kansas, Otoe, Dakotas, Mandan, Winnebago, and many other
tribes. While some of these cognate tribes can understand each other's
speech, as is the case with the Omaha, Ponca, Quapaw, and Osages, others
when they meet are unable to make themselves intelligible to one another, as
in the instance of an Omaha meeting a Dakota or Winnebago or Mandan. During
the long period which has elapsed since these tribes were united to one
another or to a parent stock, their various languages have undergone great
modifications and change, so that at the present time it requires the skill
of the linguistic student to discern the relationship between the peoples
speaking these different tongues.
The Omaha, so far as known, formerly dwelt in villages
composed of dwellings made of sod and timber.
No.
1 of the Exhibit
The illustration (No. 1 of the Exhibit)
gives the outward appearance of these
dwellings, which are built by setting
carefully selected and prepared posts
closely together in a circle and binding
them firmly with willows, then backing them
with dried grass and covering the entire
structure with closely packed sods. The roof
is made n the same manner, having an
additional support of an inner circle of
posts, with crotches to hold the cross logs
which act as beams to the dome-shaped roof.
A circular opening in the centre serves as a
chimney and also to give light to the
interior of the dwelling; as seen in the
picture, a sort of sail, is rigged and
fastened outside of this opening to guide
the smoke and prevent it from annoying the
inmates of the lodge.
The entrance passage way usually faces the
east, is from 6 to 10 feet long, and is
built in the same manner as the lodge. A
skin or blanket is hung at the outer
opening, and another at the inner entrance,
thus affording a double protection against
wind and cold. The fire is kindled in a
hollowed place in the centre of the floor,
and around the wall are arranged platforms
made of reeds, on which robes are spread for
use as seats by day and as beds by night.
These couches are often fitted with an
upright framework, on which skins or
blankets are hung to be dropped as curtains,
thus giving privacy to the occupants. Two,
three, or four families can easily live in
one of these spacious sod dwellings, and the
writer has frequently seen from 200 to 500
guests entertained therein, on the occasion
of a ceremonial.
Notes About the Book:
Source: Historical Sketch of the Omaha Tribe of Indians in Nebraska, by Alice C.
Fletcher, Washington, Judd & Detweiler, 1885
Online Publication: The manuscript was scanned and then ocr'd. Minimal editing
has been done, and readers can and should expect some errors in the textual
output.
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