Page 9 - RAGBRAI2008

day 4 - ames to Tama/toldedo

“Recent Historical Research into
Sauk and Meskwaki Locations in
Iowa”

Other than the 1846); a Sauk Des Moines No. 2
government- and will be discussed;
sanctioned Meskwaki this was the military
settlements, the ceremonial post which oversaw
nineteenth-century area of the the Meskwaki and
locations of Sauk and 1840s and Sauk, 1843–1846.
Meskwaki sites are 1850s associated with Presenter: Bill
poorly documented prehistoric mounds Whittaker, Office of
in Iowa. Recent in what is now the State
historic research downtown Des Archaeologist
provides new Moines; and When: 3:30-4:15pm,
insights into a few historical evidence July 23, 2008
important Meskwaki for the Meskwaki Where: Main
and Sauk locations, maintaining a village Campground, Tama
including or villages along the
Quashquame’s Iowa River
Village near northwest of the
Montrose (ca. 1700– current Settlement in
1840s); the the 1840s and 1850s.
Wishecomaque If time and interest
Village Cemetery in allow, recent
Des Moines (1843– excavations at Fort

Meskwaki Settlement near Tama-Toledo
In 1856, the Meskwaki petitioned Governor James Grimes to become a
trustee for the tribe in their purchase of 80 acres along the Iowa River
bottomland in Tama County. The $1000 paid included donated annuity
payments, and the proceeds from the sale of horses, jewelry, and timber
from the newly purchased plots. Today the Meskwaki own over 7000
acres near Tama. Over 1000 people are enrolled tribal members. The
Meskwaki settlement, located four miles west of Toledo, Iowa, includes a
Tribal Center containing the program and administrative offices and the
Tribal Council Chambers; a Settlement School, an Alcohol and
Drug Abuse Center, and a Youth Center and Family Services
building. The pow-wow grounds are located next to the Iowa
River on Highway E-49, the Old Lincoln Highway, and three
miles west of Tama, Iowa. The Meskwaki Casino and Hotel
Complex and Meskwaki Trading Post are tribal-owned
businesses situated along Highway 30.