The Cheyenne and Arapaho of Oklahoma unite two of the most famous tribes in the American west. Both nations are actually the southern branches of their respective tribes. The northern Arapaho are found on the Wind River Reservation of Wyoming. The southern band moved to the Indian Territory as a result of the Medicine Lodge Treaty of 1867 which was signed by Chief Little Raven as leader of the Southern Arapaho. As a nation the Arapaho were part of many of the conflicts between Native Americans and white settlers that could be called the "War of the Plains".

They were allies with the Comanche and Kiowa in the south and with the Northern Cheyenne and Sioux in the north. The name Arapaho is of uncertain origin. It may have come from the Pawnee word "tirapihu" which means "trader" or the term that the Kiowa used for them "Ahyato". The Arapaho, which have officially adopted that name, formerly called themselves "Inuna-ina" which means "our people". The Cheyenne, which are also discussed under their northern band in the complete work, were named by the Sioux, and the name translates into "People of a different language". The Southern Cheyenne, now officially just the Cheyenne, are survivors of one of the most disgraceful acts that occurred during the Indian Wars of the Plains -- the Sand Creek Massacre.

About 600 Southern Cheyenne, under the leadership of Black Kettle were settled at Sand Creek in south eastern Colorado. They were told to wait there for escort to their reservation in the Indian Territory. In the early hours of November 29, 1864, Colonel John Chivington led a drunken force of Colorado volunteer militiamen to Sand Creek. When spotted by the Cheyenne, Chief Black Kettle raised both a white flag of surrender and a United States flag over his teepee to show the peaceful nature of his people and their loyalty to and protection by the Government of the United States. Colonel Chivington and his men ignored the flags and attacked anyway.

Although Black Kettle and a few of his warriors were able to fight back before escaping, over one third of the Cheyenne were killed that morning. The majority were women and children. Today, the Arapaho and Cheyenne share tribal trust lands in western Oklahoma where they earn tribal income from farming and from the lease of mineral rights.

First Opened: November 13, 2000
Revised: June 2004