MESKWAKI SETTLEMENT — On July 13, 1857, the Meskwaki Nation, Iowa’s only resident tribe, purchased the first 80 acres of a Settlement that has grown to encompass over 8,000 acres in west central Tama County from Isaac Butler, and since 1992, the date has been commemorated as a Meskwaki national holiday, Proclamation Day.

Members of the tribe came together at the Rec Center on Monday to commemorate the historic moment in Meskwaki history and participate in a wide range of activities, from a morning walk/run to bone dice to a free lunch followed by language bingo, the moccasin game, and finally, a supper and social dancing to close out the evening.

Tribal Council Chairwoman Lucie Roberts delivered a brief speech over the lunch hour touching on the history of the holiday — which she called “the best day of the year” — and why it means so much to her people. The Tribal Council first passed a resolution making Proclamation Day a Meskwaki national holiday in 1992, and Roberts read directly from that resolution during her remarks before shifting back to the present.

“Today we are here to honor our ancestors for looking ahead, taking action and securing this land for generations to come,” she said. “Our history represents courage, sacrifice, overcoming struggle, perseverance and love. Today, let us honor our ancestors with gratitude and with a commitment to taking care of what they worked hard for so their children and grandchildren and our children and grandchildren have something to be proud of. Let’s keep their story going.”

As those congregated in the Rec Center commons area enjoyed sandwiches, chips, fruit, donuts and drinks, Roberts spoke to the T-R about why Proclamation Day remains so meaningful.

“We wouldn’t be here today if this didn’t happen 169 years ago… It’s really an important celebration for everybody to come together and show gratitude,” she said.

A treaty signed just before Iowa became a U.S. state ordered the removal of the Sauk and Meskwaki people, but about 80 percent of them stayed in the state and formed small settlements — others left for a reservation in Kansas — before they made their historic purchase in 1857.

While Proclamation Day may not be widely known around the state, Roberts was encouraged to see that Tama County government offices were shut down for the day this year, and Board Vice Chairman Mark Doland was excited to make history with the decision.

“Our county name, Tama, comes from a Meskwaki leader from many years ago. It is important for our County  to be more inclusive of the surrounding communities. It was my intent to try to cooperate in supporting the different cultures within our county. The Meskwaki Nation is the only federally recognized tribe in Iowa. Most of the enrolled members and descendants live within the borders of our county, (and) we have many who work for the Meskwaki Nation,” he said. “Additionally, we have Native Americans who observe Proclamation Day who work for the county. We believe that this is one small way to give our employees the day off and the opportunity to support the Meskwaki people who have been formally recognized in our county since 1857.”

And as Roberts looks to the tribe’s future, her goal is simple.

“Just to keep this land available for the future so we’re still here, and future generations have a place to call home,” she said.

Contact Robert Maharry at (641) 753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.