Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma

History Briefs

The Iroquoian languages all bear a great deal of similarity to one another. Indeed, it was not long ago that you could find many people who could speak 3, 4 or more of these languages with great fluency, due, in large part, to how similar they are to one another. Mohawk speakers, for instance, often report having little trouble understanding people speaking Oneida, and vice-versa (this is one reason why some might want to consider Mohawk and Oneida as dialects of the same language). The same often holds true for speakers of Mingo, Cayuga, Seneca and Wyandot. Among the Northern Iroquoian languages (that is, all of them except Cherokee), the main differences lie in matters of pronunciation, and less so in vocabulary or grammatical structure, so that if someone knows how to speak one of those languages, they can acquire a working knowledge of one of the others with comparatively little effort. On the other hand, Cherokee has more substantial differences which set it apart from the Northern languages, and while its Iroquoian nature clearly shows through under close inspection, the similarities are much less obvious.

Feb. 25 – Dr. Frank A. Northrup, grandson of Hiram and Margaret Northrup, is buried at the Huron Indian Cemetery – the last burial.

September – Wyandotte Tribal Council in Oklahoma unanimously adopts a resolution calling for the cemetery to be preserved and designated as an historic site. Kansas Urban Renewal Agency initiates the Center City Urban Renewal Project and a second major renovation of the cemetery property is part of the project.

Administration Building constructed at Wyandotte, OK

May 16 – Work is completed on the Huron Indian Cemetery. At the ceremony, it is announced that President Carter had restored the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma's status as a Federally recognized supervised tribe on the previous day – May 15. Many tribal Wyandots and Citizen Class descendants are present to hear the news, united in their concern for their common history.

Marius Barbeau, anthropologist, meets Mary McKee.

August – Marius Barbeau records Mary's songs and stories, and she is photographed by him at her home in Essex County, Ontario. Mary, at age 73, sells Barbeau all her Wyandot artifacts for $60.

Silas Armstrong elected Principal Chief. (second man with that name).

Feb. 13 – Kansas Senator Charles Curtis is successful in getting the sale authorization of the Huron Indian Cemetery repealed. The Conleys' struggle reaches its end.

Great Britain rules most of the world's population.

WWI

Jan. 23 – Joel Cotter dies in Wyandotte – Became ill, got to feeling better – went to town, got a haircut, came home and died. Leaves his wife with 9 children – Claude, Clarence, Homer, Dee, Leonard, Maude, Mabel, Mary, Josie.

Sept. 11 – Leaford and Leland Bearskin (twins) are born.

Allen Johnson is Principal Chief.

Leonard Cotter is Principal Chief in Oklahoma

Nation in Oklahoma becomes known as the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma.

Dec. 7 – US enters WWII

June 6 – D-Day

Sam Long Principal Chief in Oklahoma

Marshall Plan helps European nations recover from WWII.

Lawrence Zane Principal Chief in Oklahoma

US involved in Vietnam War

August 1 – Congress terminates the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma's status as a Federally recognized and supervised tribe and again authorized the sale or transfer of the cemetery (to be concluded by Aug. 1, 1959). The sale is rejected by the Oklahoma Wyandots because the appraised value is too low.

Soviets launch Sputnik

Sept. 26 – a plaque is dedicated and placed on the Wyandot Mission Church in Upper Sandusky declaring it a National Shrine by the Methodist General Conference.

Berlin Wall is constructed

Leonard Cotter is Principal Chief

Feb. 25 – Dr. Frank A. Northrup, grandson of Hiram and Margaret Northrup, is buried at the Huron Indian Cemetery – the last burial.

First human's walk on the Moon – Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin

September 3 – the Huron Indian Cemetery is entered on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mont Cotter elected Principal Chief in Oklahoma

Administration Building constructed at Wyandotte, OK

Phillip Peacock is Principal Chief in Oklahoma

Space Shuttle Columbia makes its first flight

Leaford Bearskin elected Principal Chief in Oklahoma

Title 6 (Artie Nesvold Building) constructed in Oklahoma

Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma reinstates its annual Pow Wow

Historical Committee's first project is presented to the tribe – a listing of all the chiefs, entitled "Our Great Chiefs" – prepared with the assistance of C. Aubrey Buser and Mrs. Thelma Marsh.

A large rock monument to Leatherlips is dedicated in Dublin, Ohio. A delegation from Oklahoma goes to participate as well as Wyandots from Kansas and Michigan and many friends and Wyandot scholars.

A full remarking program at the Huron Indian Cemetery, funded by local tax monies, was carried out by the Kansas City Kansas Parks Department.

Marker placed on Matthew Mudeater - Chief of the Wyandotte Nation's grave (1813 – 1878) in Bland Cemetery Wyandotte, Oklahoma

Education Building is constructed in Oklahoma

Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma acquires "Self-Governance" status in the area of Indian Health Service.

Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma acquires "Self-Governance" status from the B.I.A.

Bearskin Clinic and Wellness Center is constructed in Oklahoma.

Members of all four nations gather together – in June 4-6 for a reconciliation time; on August 27-29 for a Gathering and the forming of a new confederacy. A reburial of our ancestors bones held by the Royal Ontario Museum was also accomplished.

First Cultural Week is held in Wyandotte, Oklahoma, with members coming together from all four nations and all corners of the USA and Canada.