Kaw Nation
Nation / Tribe

Kaw Nation

The Kaw, or Kanza (the people for whom the state of Kansas is named), are a Dhegihan Siouan-speaking nation closely related to the Osage, Ponca, Omaha, and Quapaw. Their homeland was centered on the Kansas River valley and portions of the Missouri River in present-day northeastern Kansas. The Kaw entered into treaties with the United States that progressively reduced their territory throughout the 19th century. Today, the Kaw Nation is headquartered in Kaw City, Oklahoma, and counts among its notable members Charles Curtis, the 31st Vice President of the United States.

Portrait: George Catlin, "Káw-kaw-ne-chóo-a, a Brave," 1832. Smithsonian American Art Museum.

4 treaties 18 total items 16 mapped locations

Most Mentioned in Kaw Nation-tagged Entries

Wildlife

  1. Deer (7)
  2. Beaver (4)
  3. black bear (2)
  4. Bear (2)
  5. Pike (2)
  6. Mule Deer (2)
  7. Elk (2)
  8. Antelope (2)
  9. Carolina parakeet (1)
  10. Parrot queets (1)

Territory & Encounter Locations

Pin color = Planning (1801–1804) Westward (1804–1805) Fort Clatsop (1805–1806) Return (1806) Post (1806–1812)
Master expedition route Approximate territory

Note: the longest gap between tagged appearances is about 10 months (May 24, 1805 → Mar 11, 1806). No journal entries during that window were explicitly tagged with this nation.

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