Tribal History
Brief History of the Winnebago Tribe of
Nebraska
The Winnebago people are the descendants of the Mound Builders who built
ceremonial, temple, and effigy mounds from 200 BC to 1600 AD in the states of
Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
When the Winnebagos first met the French in 1614, they numbered around 25,000
people. Due to smallpox and measles, the tribe was reduced to 150 tribespeople.
After recuperating, the Winnebago population gradually increased despite the
continuing warfare in the Great Lakes region. They fought in the Beaver Wars,
1681-1697: the Mesquakie Wars, 1703-1737; the French and Indian War, 1755-1763;
the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783; the Border Wars 1789-1794; and the War of
1812.
The Winnebago Tribe signed their first Peace Treaty in 1816. They were also
forced to sign three major cession treaties in 1829, 1932, and 1837. They were
removed from Wisconsin in 1840 to the neutral ground in northeast Iowa's where
they stayed until 1846 when they were moved to Long Prairie Reserve in
Minnesota. The Tribe was removed to the Blue Earth Reservation in 1855. In 1862
they were moved to Crow creek, South Dakota, and in 1865 to their current
location in northeast Nebraska. From 1887-1934, the tribe lost three-quarters of
their reservation due to the Allotment Act.
The Winnebago Tribe was involved in the boarding school movement from 1886-1934.
From that time on, education became the major way for a Winnebago person to
succeed in the white man's world. Sometimes education of the youth was halted,
as they continued to fight in America's wars: The Sioux War of 1863-67; the
Spanish-American War; World War I and II; Korea; Vietnam War; Desert Storm; and
Bosnia. The men and women always returned to finish their education.
Today there are 1200 Winnebago Tribal members residing on the Nebraska
reservation, with 3800 people listed on the tribal rolls. The Winnebago Tribe is
involved with economic development as well as educational endeavors and the
outlook for the future is very bright.