Wea
From NativeWiki
The Wea Indians were one of six Tribes of the Miami Nation of the Northwest Territory also known as the Old Northwest. This territory included all the land of the United States west of Pennsylvania and northwest of the Ohio River. It covered all of the modern states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, as well as the northeastern part of Minnesota covering more than 260,000 square miles. These six Tribes consisted of Atchakangouen (Atchatchakangouen, Miami Proper), Kilatika, Mengkonkia (Mengakonia), Pepikokia, Piankashaw, and Wea (Newcalenous, Ouiatenon). More of an association than confederation, each of the six bands was independent of the others with its own chief. In both language and culture, the Miami closely resembled the Illinois. The Atchatchakangouen, Kilatika, and Mengakonkia came together and formed the Miami proper, or Crane Band. The Pepicokia tribe was brought into the Wea and Piankashaw tribes.
After the Beaver Wars ended in 1701, the Miami migrated to the region occupying the southern end of Lake Michigan, which consisted of present day northern Indiana and Illinois. They mainly settled in Kekionga, which is now Fort Wayne, Indiana. The settlement on the point at the confluence of the St. Marys and St. Josephs, (Ft. Wayne), was formed by a party of brothers called Mauma Waazaukee. The whole Miami Nation did not remove there at the same time, for their villages were scattered throughout the country, among the northern nations. After they had been at Fort Wayne some time, great accessions were made to their numbers, and at one time the village contained 3000 men. Even at that time it was supposed to be but a small part of that Nation. They had a village after this on the Big Miami and another upon White river.
When the first party had left St. Josephs for the Miami they encamped at the Elk's heart. They were so numerous at St. Joseph's (River) as to make the migration of a part of the tribe necessary. Accordingly one man separated himself from them and went to the Wabash, where he settled himself at a place now called the Weeau prairie, about 20 miles below the mouth of the Tippecanoe, on the southern shore. His name was Wüyoakeetonwau, which has since been changed to Wüyautonoa, the name by which they call the Weeaus (in the plural Wüyautonoakee). He received his name because he lived near a whirlpool in the River St. Joseph's, which in the Miami is called Wüyoakeetonwee.
When the Weeau band had increased considerably, one of them separated himself from them and went to the mouth of the Vermillion River, where he settled down & made a village. This man had no holes or slits in his ears, as was customary at that day, and he was on that account called Piankeshaw- (Püyankeeshau).
Afterwards one of the Piankeshaws descended the Wabash and settled below Vincennes, at a place called by them Tshipkohkeeoangee, (literally "at the root") in consequence of a small shrub which grew there (Vincennes is now known by this name)- This tribe was called Kohkohkee, which we pronounce Kaskaskia. These are the tribes of Wüyautonoa.
The Piankeshaws, the Weeaus (in Miami Wüautonoakee) and the Kaskaskias (Mekoateeaukee) are descendants from the Miamies. The two first separated from them at St. Joseph's and the latter, (Kaskaskias) a different tribe originally and very poor, were discovered on the Wabash, made tributary to the discoverers and finally incorporated with them, but after sometime they separated again and divided. From these came the Peorias. These three nations speak the Miami language, but the latter by having been separated from the parent stock some time have changed their language so that there are now but few Miami words in their language. They term these tribes their younger brothers and they claim no other actual relatives, but they have many adopted ones, viz, their elder brothers the Chippeways, their Grand fathers the Delawares, their elders brothers, the Wyandots, the Ottawuwas their elder brothers, the Potawatamies the same and the Shawnees brothers. But this arrangement seems by their account to have been a matter of trifling importance, and in accordance with the propositions of the several nations at the different councils, which have been held among them. (Trowbridge, C. C. Meearmeear Traditions Visit with Le Gros – Wea)
The 1800s reflected only the Miami proper (Crane band), Wea, Eel River and Piankashaw remaining in Indiana. These tribes all signed treaties separately and were considered politically separate from each other.
The Wea had villages in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Their homeland in the 1700s was in Indiana. Their were three main villages one was at Ft. Ouiatenon, west of what is now Lafayette, Indiana. There clustered together on the South side of the Wabash across from the Fort were 5 Villages. Four of those were the Wea, Piankeshaw, Pepicokia, and Gros. On the Fort side there was 3 Villages and 4 more north of those including a Winnabago Village. Farther south along the Wabash were other villages including Ouiatenon, another main Village, which is now Terre Haute, Indiana and one in Vincennes that was called Chipicokia where the Piankashaw also lived.
Listed are just a few villages that were located in Indiana and Illinois.
Chicago Chicago, Ill Kenapacomaqua Logansport, IN. Ft. Ouiatenon Lafayette, IN. a marker is placed Sugar Creek Village/Reserve Sugar Creek, IN Ouiateno Terre Haute IN a marker is placed at Fairbanks Park Upper Wea Village/Town 2 miles above Terre Haute, IN. Old Wea Town between Terre Haute and Vincennes IN Wea Reserve Parke County, IN a marker is placed Wea Village Danville, Ill. Kethtippecahnunk Lafayette, IN
Below are some of the many Treaties were made with the US and the Wea.
Treaty of Greenville, Aug 3, 1795 Fort Wayne Indiana Territory, June 7, 1803 Vincennes, Indiana Territory, Aug 13, 1803 Grouseland Indiana Territory, Aug 21, 1805 Vincennes Indiana Territory, Dec 30, 1805 Fort Wayne Indiana Territory, Sept 30, 1809 Vincennes Indiana Territory, Oct 26, 1809 Fort Harrison, Indiana Territory, June 4, 1816 Vincennes Indiana Territory, Jan 3, 1818 St Mary’s Ohio Oct 2, 1818 Vincennes Indiana Aug 11, 1820 St Joseph Michigan Sept 21,1826 St Joseph Michigan Sept 24, 1828 Caster Hill Missouri, Oct 29, 1832 Washington DC May 30, 1854 Washington DC Feb 23, 1867 (1)
Treaty of St. Marys 1820 in Article 3: “As it is contemplated by the said Tribe, to remove from the Wabash, it is agreed, that the annuity secured to the Weas, by the Treaty of Saint Mary's, above mentioned, shall hereafter be paid to them at Kaskaskia, in the state of Illinois. “
Treaty of Castor Hill 1832 in Article 4: “The United States will also afford some assistance to that part of the Wea tribe now residing in the State of Indiana”,
The above treaties are referring to the Wea that are still in Indiana. These Wea remained in Indiana and the descendants are still here today.
The name 'Wea' is used today as the a shortened version of the many recorded names, it is suggested and written that waayaahtanwa, is derived
from waayaahtanonki, 'place of the whirlpool', their name where they were first recorded being seen and is where they were living at that time. The different spellings of their name is numerous with the influx of the many different settler's ethnic and educational backgrounds. One French recording of the name is Ouiatanon, another Ouiateno, these were their villages and are now known as Lafayette and Terre Haute Indiana respectively. A marker was placed by the Indiana Historical Bureau in 2004 depicting the presence of the Wea Village in Terre Haute and the living descendents.
With increased Euro-American settlement and Indian removal, many treaties were made which in the late 1800s lead to the Treaty that confederated the Kaskaskias, Peorias, and Piankeshaws into the Confederated Peoria Tribe of first Kansas and now Oklahoma. The tribes blended their cultural traditions, assimilated and intermarried with the many different ethnic cultures.
There were many of the Tribe that did not go West and remained in Indiana, they were referred to in Treaties as the Wea on the Wabash.
The descendants of this Tribe remained in Indiana after the removal period and did not removed west of the Mississippi these descendants reside today in Indiana, the United States and abroad.
Many reunions and picnics were held during the years. On March 15, 1995 The Wea Indian Tribe of Indiana was offically reformed (incorporated) by Ed Melton. Mr. Melton continue to have these reunions until his death in September of 2001. Due to state laws (coporate) there is a waiting period to continue on legally within the state. In 2004 the waiting period ended. At that time it was active legally again. Chief Terry Stuff is residing over this Tribe which is recognized and is represented on the Indiana Native American Indian Affaris Commission.
During this time frame another native american indian organization was formed in 1998 called the Wea Indian Tribe Inc., and was incorporated in 2000. They also consist of these descendants and non descendants.
