Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On October 7, 1837, Ioway (Báxoje) leaders Na’je Nine (Non-chi-ning-ga) and Ñiyu Mañi (Neo-Man-Ni) presented American officials with a map asserting claims over traditional lands in Iowa. The map showcases the incredible knowledge of Iowa’s lands and rivers held by the Ioway.
Initially invited to Washington D.C. by Lewis & Clark through a letter written on the eve of the Corps of Discovery in 1804, the Ioway did not venture eastward until over 20 years later. Na’je Nine, brother of Mahaska, served as a principal leader of the Iowa during the 1820s and early 1830s. Na’je Nine advocated for adaptation to Americanization during the early 19th century.
In 1837, Na’je Nine served as a part of the delegation sent for an inter-tribal congress in Washington D.C. meant to settle boundary disputes between the Ioway, Dakota, Sauk, and Meskwaki. Na'je Nine presented a detailed map of the lands and implored the Americans: “This is the route of my forefathers. It is the lands that we have always claimed from old times. We have the history. We have always owned this land. It is what bears our name.”
The government disregarded Na'je Nine's detailed claims, instead choosing to set new boundaries for the Ioway, Dakota, Sauk, and Meskwaki. The new boundaries increased tensions between the Indigenous peoples by altering borderlands to create space for American settlement. #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar #IowaOTD
