Plows and Petroglyphs

Native People here on Turtle Island knew the records of their existence could disappear. Yup, they were smart. (And correct in that prediction) The petroglyphs could not be plowed. Sadly, Effigy Mounds were plowed and destroyed and looted.

First WOMAN:

VIRTUAL TOUR OF JEFFERS PETROGLYPHS:

https://www.mnhs.org/jefferspetroglyphs/activities/virtual-tour 

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There is archeological evidence and oral traditions of the Jiwere Nut’achi people in the area that is today Minnesota.  

Last week’s post was about the Jiwere Nut’achi connection to pipestone and Pipestone National Monument.  

https://www.omtribe.org/wbw/explorers-marquette-jolliet/

This week we share some information about other connections between the Jiwere Nut’achi people and Minnesota.

Petroglyphs found in Jeffers, MN representing historical events, spiritual beliefs and stories were carved into the stones of this area by Indigenous people. According to the Minnesota Historical Society, the archeological evidence of the area supports a presence of Indigenous people in the area for several thousand years. 

The southwest region of Minnesota was often periodically inhabited by several tribes including the Ioway, Otoe, Cheyenne, and the Dakota. 

Learn more about the petroglyphs in Minnesota here https://www.mnhs.org/jefferspetroglyphs/learn/people 

Also, in Minnesota and other Great Lake and Mississippi River Basin states, there are a number of effigy mounds that have been 

archeologically linked to the Jiwere Nut’achi people. 

Much of the information about why the effigy mounds were built has been lost over time, but the mounds themselves still exist.

To lean more about the effigy mounds visit https://www.nps.gov/efmo/learn/historyculture/effigy-moundbuilders.htm

* OM TRIBE

...we begin the discussion about European and Jiwere Nut’achi documented contact. There will be a number of posts exploring this topic. There will also be a number of links included for you to learn more about this contact as well as links to some of the documents themselves if available. 

Some of the earliest contact documentation by Europeans and the Jiwere &  Nut’achi people occurred in the late 17th century.  The French explorer Louis Jolliet and missionary Jacques Marquette included the Jiwere people in a 1673 map.  He placed the Jiwere near the Des Moines and upper Iowa Rivers.  View the map https://digital.lib.niu.edu/islandora/object/niu-twain:9263

According to Jolliet and Marquette they mapped a Nut’achi village at the Great Bend of the Missouri River in what is now Saline County.  The Missouri River played an important role in the lives of the Nut’achi people as they were able to control transportation/trade on the river from their village overlooking the river.

Jolliet and Marquette noted that Missouria Tribe was called the “Oumessourit” by the Illinois Tribe with whom the explorers stayed.  The Missouria called themselves Nut’achi or “People of the River Mouth” . You will also find translations that say Nut’achi means “Died in the Water”.  (Oumessourit Trail https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/natural-areas/oumessourit )

However, over the centuries, the written history about the Jiwere Nut’achi people was recorded by the French, then Spanish and finally the English who called the tribe the Missouria. There is no doubt, that the state of Missouri and the Missouri River both get their names from the Missouria Tribe, but you have to admit that the State of Nut’achi has a nice ring to it.

Marquette and Jolliet claimed the entire area drained by the Mississippi River for France.  The goal was to expand trade along the river and its’ tributaries for the French.  The Nut’achi village located on the Great Bend of the Missouri River was estimated to have had up to 5,000 inhabitants and the French needed to have the support of the formidable tribe if they wanted to expand trade. Negotiations began.

https://nativeheritageproject.com/2012/12/30/marquette-and-jolliet-1673-expedition/