Kikapúes call themselves kikaapoa, which means “the ones that go by the land”.

Kikapus were settled in Sonora since the mid-nineteenth century when they bought a common land from the government, where they live nowadays.

Their population is calculated around 92 people, who don’t speak their native language neither keep their traditions. Adjusted to the mestizos, Kikapus are in process of extinction as an Indian group.

Their origins refer to the Great Lakes, where they came down to the south of the country because of the persecution by the American army. They made peace and were assigned to the State of Oklahoma (where the majority of the group lives today). However, a dissident group abandoned the United States and moved to Mexico, buying lands to Mexican Government in the State of Coahuila, and then a small group moved to Sonora and settled in Bacerac.

The Kikapúes live in a place known as “El nacimiento de los kikapus” (The birth of kikapus), which can be found in the municipality of Melchor Muzquez, Coahuila. They have an urban zone which they inhabit, but their distribution is not homogeneous.

Firewood is their main combustible; by tradition the holy fire, symbol of the god “kitzahiata” must be conserved in every home during the whole year.

Hunting is the main activity of the Kikapu men, with it, they supply themselves with meat and skins. This activity has a ritual character and its made in groups during all the year, mainly from January to April, months of religious celebrations of new year, baptizes, grateful celebrations to their god and as a tradition of the kikapus.

The agriculture is a secondary activity; therefore they have been hunters by excellence for a very long time. At El Nacimiento, small individual plots exist; sow wheat, oat, corn, barley, bean and pumpkin.

Also the harvesting of nuts and of Chile piquin has certain commercial importance; wild trees are property of the kikapus and any member of the tribe can use them; the intermediaries arrive to the community to buy fruits.

HISTORY

In the late 1600´s the kikapus where situated at the south of Wisconsin, US. After traveling west and returning back, they split into two groups and headed south around 1730. One group went to Indiana, and the other to Illinois. A third band was formed in the 1750´s and went to Missouri.

In Missouri these three bands split again and new groups were formed. One headed to Horton Kansas where they settled; other went to Arkansas and Oklahoma, where Kikapus stayed from 1800 to 1832 until now, in places called Shawnee and McLeod.

It was until 1824 when Kikapus established contact with the Mexican Republic. They asked permission to the government to establish in Texas, and they were aloud to do it. In 1850 after the Texas Independence and integration to the US, the Kikapus, Mascogos and Seminoles asked the Mexican Republic for a place to live. The Mexican authorities accepted the establishment of the tribes in Mexican land, but with the condition that these groups would defend the Mexican inhabitants of the region of Comanche attacks. They formed a military force of about 200 men and this group had to be at the orders of the Mexican army.

In 1852 the name of the colony was changed from “La Navaja” to “El Nacimiento”.

In 1856 the alliance between the Kikapus, Seminoles and Mascogos was broken, and each group demanded its own land, tools and animals. In 1859 the Seminoles returned to US territory.

After many conflicts with the US because of obvious interests in the region, the Kikapus stood and defended Mexican territory for a few decades. To avoid confrontations with the US, the Mexican Government relocated some of the Kikapues groups.

In 1883 was officialy created the Kikapus reserve in Oklahoma, US. The US gave 80 acres to each Kikapu, but this offer was not taken by the Mexican kikapus. In 1899 the Kikapus claimed the land that had been given to them in 1850 “El Nacimiento”, and the Mexican government gave them the title of these lands.

In the first decade of 1900´s, 200 Kikapus established in “El Nacimiento”, Tamichoa, municipality of Bazerac, Sonora. Today around 130 Kikapus live there.

When the fighting in the Mexican borders diminished, the Kikapus dedicated themselves to agriculture and hunting activities. They used again their weapons during the Mexican Revolution and later in the Constitutional side. More land was given to this group. When the wars ended the Kikapus focused to their homes and stretch their ties with their culture and their groups.

The subsequent governments respected the historical agreements with the Kikapus and supported their particular demands of their tribal authorities and agrarian, through its specific institutions.

The maintenance of their Mexican territory, their religious organization, autonomy and ways of government have made out the Kikapu an indigenous group that takes its own decisions.

LANGUAGE

The Kikapu language belongs to the Algonkinian family from of the tribes that inhabit in the actual territory of the US, and it is spoken by every member of the community. This Language is exclusive for the communication between them and they consider that they have to use it because their god Kitzihaiata thought them.

Most of them also speak English and Spanish, but their Spanish is deficient because none of them have received the proper instruction.

The Mexican Kikapus, however, even when they are still in touch with the Oklahoma group, are gradually drawing away from them because they don’t speak their native language nor English.

CRAFTS

Kikapus have lost their dances, festivities, traditional medicine, crafts and food; therefore they have started a recovery program of their culture.

The current craft production consists of the elaboration of garments out of deer leather and the fabrication of special sandals (tehuas) and pants, decorated with beads. Women are in charge of the commercialization of products; they decide whether they sell them, they leave them as consignment, or they give them to an intermediary.

SOCIAL ORGANIZATION

The traditional authorities recognize a leader or captain of the tribe that is at the same time the priest. By diverse historic circumstances now there are two leaders or captains that are responsible for religious and civil life. Both direct their celebrations, they baptize and watch the fulfillment of the gifts to their god.

It is believed that these leaders have the knowledge of their religion, are the just and the wise of the community. Captains choose as counselors recognized elders as persons of honor; they are judges, organizers of collective works and supervise the exchange in agricultural work. There are other religious servants that are responsible for clans and of their own religious activities.

The agrarian authorities, subordinated to traditional authorities, are the legal heads to discuss matters related to land, hunt and the common welfare with Mexican authorities.

RELIGION

Every Kikapu should comply with what God has sent them. Kitzihaiata chose the Kikapus to populate Earth, by which they should comply with his mandates and must be prepared to face the end of the world. That will allow them go with God and hunt deer in a permanent way. Being a good Kikapu signifies to comply always with the rites of shooting, purification, New Year, sacred fires and baptisms through prayers, sacrifices and fasts.

The ritual celebrations always go with deer meat. The peak moment of their prayers consists of the consumption of the tongue of this animal, returning them thus to whom has given them, to Kitzihaiata. The deer represents the center of the Kikapu life; each deer sacrificed is reborn. By this reason deer will always be there to serve Kikapu people.

The constant fire at the center of the house helps Kikapus remember to always pray to Kitzihaiata. Over the sacred fire deer tongues and ribs are dried, in order to be consumed in religious celebrations and baptisms, as well as in New Year festivals and in winter camps returns.

Source:

Instituto Nacional Indigenista – http://www.ini.gob.mx

Links:

Etnias Sonorenses, Kikapoo –
http://www.sonora.gob.mx/historia-cultura/etnias/kikapoo.htm (Spanish)

Native Languages of the Americas: Kikapoo –
http://www.native-languages.org/kickapoo.htm (English)