Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sac and Fox Tribe
of the Mississippi in Iowa

tribal flag
Total population
1,300
Regions with significant populations
United States ( Iowa)
Languages
English, Sauk, Meskwaki
Religion
Traditional tribal religion, Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Sauk people, Meskwaki, Kickapoo people

Location of the Sac and Fox Tribe in Iowa

The Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa is a group of Native American people. They are one of three tribes of Sac and Meskwaki (Fox) people that the United States government officially recognizes.

The Fox people call themselves Meskwaki, which means "People of the red earth." Because they are the main group in this tribe, it is often simply called the Meskwaki Nation. The Sac people call themselves Êshkwîha or Yochikwîka, both meaning "Northern Sauk."

These tribes are part of the Algonquian family of Native Americans. Historically, they lived in the Eastern Woodland areas. Today, their main community is in a small place called Meskwaki Settlement in Tama County, Iowa.

How the Tribe is Governed

The Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa has its main offices in Tama, Iowa. A group of seven people, called a tribal council, leads the tribe. This council makes decisions for the community.

The tribe manages over 7,000 acres (about 28 square kilometers) of land. This land is known as the Meskwaki Settlement. The Meskwaki people bought most of this land in the 1800s. In 2005, the tribe created its own court system. In 2006, they started their own police force to keep their community safe.

The tribe also publishes a newspaper called the Meskwaki Nation Times. It comes out every two months and shares news with tribal members. The tribe is a member of the Native American Journalists Association.

Tribal Businesses

The tribe owns and runs several businesses. These businesses help the community by creating jobs and bringing in money. They include:

• The Meskwaki Trading Post
• The Meskwaki Bingo Casino
• Restaurants like Prime Cut Steakhouse, Full House Cafe, Food Arcade, and the Jackpot Buffet
• The Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel, which has 400 guest rooms

All these businesses are located near Tama, Iowa.

Tribal Leaders

The current members of the tribal council are:

History of the Tribe

The Sac and Fox Tribe set up their current government in 1934. They did this under a United States law called the Indian Reorganization Act. This law helped Native American tribes create their own governments and manage their lands.