Onaga, Kansas, is located in the beautiful grassy Flinthills
of eastern Kansas. Not so long ago, this area was wild and untamed,
containing only buffalo herds, Native Americans and tall prairie
grasses. This was Kansas for a thousand years before the arrival
of the Europeans.
Unfortunately, the buffalo are gone, killed off by the thousands
in the late 1800's for their hides and many times destroyed just
for the fun of it. "Buffalo Bill" Cody had a hand in
this, along with many others, who discovered a lucrative business
by selling buffalo hides to easterners. Many buffalo were also
killed to feed the men who were building the trans-continental
railroad.
Native Americans from eastern states, in addition to those who
were already here, were moved to what was later called the Kansas Territory,
and occupied new lands the government had provided for them in
the 1820's and 1830's. These lands, at that time, were considered
the far outback of the United States and was considered to be
a good place to move the tribes, as there were few whites on
the plains then. Christian Missions were established to assist
the Indians. Three of the missions were to become institutions
of higher learning - Highland Community College, Otawa University,
and St. Mary's College, now closed, which served as both a liberal
arts college and Jesuit seminary.
Among those moved here were the Shawnee, Delaware, Wyandot,
Ottawa, Potawatomi, Kickapoo, Chippewa, Peioria, Kaskaskia, Wea,
Piankashaw, Quapaw, Iowa, Sac, Foxe, and indians from the state
of New York. The New York Indians included remnants of the Iroquois,
Munsee and Stockbridge and had already been moved once. The tribes
were assured by the federal government that they would not be
moved again and could live in peace indefinately, west of the
Missouri River. Those promises all disappeared during the next
30 years.
Shortly before the Kansas territory was opened for settlement
and during the first two years of the territory's existance,
lands held by the indians were reduced significantly. How this
was done was very complex, but hundreds of thousands of acres
were taken from the tribes by the government. In some cases it
was purchased from the indians and other tribal lands were held
in trust until they were sold. Some lands were undoubtedly taken
or purchased for a very small price.
A great number of settlers from Europe, and other parts of the
United States, arrived in Kansas after the civil war and the
Indian removal was expedited. By the 1870's nearly all of the
Indians were gone from Eastern Kansas. Some Kickapoo, Sac, and
Foxe of the Missouri, and members of the Prairie band of the
Potawatomi stayed in Kansas and have retained a small amount
of their original reserves. In recent years they have made an
effort to revitalize and preserve their native culture.
Much
of the Flint Hills has remained nearly as it was hundreds of
years ago, mainly because it was not feasable to farm. The hills
generally have very thin topsoil and are not suitable to plow
in most cases. Although most of the native grasses have been
replaced by other grasses used to graze cattle, the hills remain
very beautiful. One can look out to the horizon and see nothing
but waving grass and blue sky and, just for a moment, feel as
though time has turned back and over the next hill there might
be buffalo herds or Native Americans riding their horses out
of camp for a hunt.
Kansas recently acquired its first national park which is located
in these wonderful hills. This park is one of the few places
where the native grasses still exist.
The Santa Fe and Oregon Trails both pass through Eastern Kansas
-- the latter passing near Onaga -- with historic stops along
the way. Please stop by and visit.
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