Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska facts for kids
Tribal Flag
|
|
Martha Gradolf, enrolled tribal member and weaver
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 4,192 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( Nebraska)( Iowa) |
|
| Languages | |
| English, Ho-Chunk | |
| Religion | |
| traditional tribal religion, Native American Church | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Ho-Chunk people, Otoe, Iowa, and Missouria people |
The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska is one of two federally recognized tribes of Ho-Chunk Native Americans. The other is the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin. Tribe members often refer to themselves as Hochungra – "People of the Parent Speech". Their language is part of the Siouan family.
Reservation
The Winnebago Reservation was established by a treaty on March 8, 1865. It is located in Thurston and Dixon counties, Nebraska, and Woodbury County, Iowa. The reservation is 176.55 square miles (112,990 acres; 457.3 km2), of which 27,637 acres (43.183 sq mi; 111.84 km2) is tribal trust land. In 1990, 1,151 tribal members lived on the reservation.
Government
The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska is headquartered in Winnebago, Nebraska. The tribe is governed by a democratically elected general council.
The current administration is as follows:
- Chairwoman: Victoria Kitcheyan
- Vice-Chairman: Brian Chamberlain
- Treasurer: Rona Stealer
- Secretary: Lorelei DeCora
- Council Member: Louis Larose
- Council Member: Isaac Smith
- Council Member: Kenny Mallory
- Council Member: Coly Brown
- Council Member: Aric Armell
Language
The Winnebago Tribe speaks English and Ho-Chunk (Hocąk), which is a Chiwere-Winnebago language, part of the Siouan-Catawban language family.
Economic development
Ho-Chunk, Inc. is the tribe's corporation; it provides construction services, professional services, and business and consumer products. The Winnebago Tribe also owns and operates the WinnaVegas Casino Resort, hotel, and Flowers Island Restaurant and Buffet, all located in Sloan, Iowa.
Notable tribal members
- Joba Chamberlain (b. 1985), Major League Baseball pitcher
- Angel De Cora (1871–1919), artist, educator, and Indian rights activist
- Terri Crawford Hansen (b. 1953), journalist
- Henry Roe Cloud (1884–1950), educator, college administrator, US federal government official, Presbyterian minister; first full-blood Native American to attend Yale College
- Lillian St. Cyr, known as Red Wing (1884–1974), an actress of the silent film era
- Frank LaMere (b. about 1950 – June 16, 2019), activist, advocate, politician
- Renya K. Ramirez (b. 1959), anthropologist, author, and Native feminist
- John Raymond Rice (April 25, 1914 – September 6, 1950), U.S. Army in service of UN Forces in Korean War
- Lexie Wakan LaMere (May 16, 1992 – January 3, 2014), first native to graduate from Senate Page school; youngest delegate in the Nebraska Democratic Party
