Wazhazhe: "Little Ones of the Middle Waters." By: Monica Rose

French translation: “ The Soldier of the Oak” In a desperate fight he would shelter himself behind a large oak, thus he successfully de fended himself against several enemies High reputation

Location: The Osage Indians lived along the Osage and Missouri rivers in what is now western Missouri when French explorers first heard of them in Lifestyle: The Osage represented a blending of Indian cultures having traits of Plains and Woodland Indians. Have been observed to be tall, robust, and broad shouldered people. Most of them reached six feet tall. Clans: The Sky People The Earth People The most important rituals for the Osage was preparing for war and mourning the dead.

Gender Roles Men Women Most men shaved their heads, leaving only a scalp lock extending from the forehead to the back of the neck. The pattern of a man's scalp lock indicated the clan he belonged to. The men hunted bison, deer, elk, bear, and smaller game. Women kept their hair long and wore deerskin dresses, woven belts, leggings, and moccasins. Earrings, pendants, and bracelets were worn, and women decorated their bodies with tattoos The women butchered the animals and dried or smoked the meat and prepared the hides. Gathered wild plant foods and at the summer villages tended gardens of corn, beans, squash, and pumpkins.

Relationship with Americans: The tribe began a period of treaty-making with the United States in This period lasted until 1870 and resulted in the minimization of the Osage homeland. The Osage gave up over 100 million acres of land during this period. They moved to the new reservation in 1872 and settled in three main areas that corresponded to the ancient divisions of the tribe. The main settlement areas were at Pawhuska, Hominy and Gray Horse. The capitol of the nation was established at Pawhuska and remains there today They were "certainly the most gigantic men we have ever seen," Jefferson wrote to Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin on 12 July At the time of Lewis and Clark, the Osage were the most powerful tribe in the lower Midwest Osage’s helped fought during the civil war, tribes in different area’s would side with opposing forces, tearing the tribe apart.

Today  People of the Osage reside in reservations  High on education and confidence in self.  Be proud  Be proud