American Indians of Iowa include numerous Native American tribes and prehistoric cultures that have lived in this territory for thousands of years. There has been movement both within the territory, by prehistoric cultures that descended into historic tribes, and by other historic tribes that migrated into the territory from eastern territories. In some cases they were pushed by development pressure and warfare.
Prehistoric period
Chiwere-Siouan speaking tribes
Ho-Chunk
Ioway
Missouria
Otoes
The Chiwere-speaking tribes are descended from the prehistoric Oneota culture. At the time of contact with European explorers, their range covered most of Iowa. The Ho-Chunk ranged primarily east of the Mississippi in southern Wisconsin, the Ioway/Baxoje ranged in northern Iowa, the Otoe in central and southern Iowa, and the Missouria in far southern Iowa. All these tribes were also active during the historic period.
Dhegihan-Siouan speaking tribes
The following tribes arrived in the late prehistoric period:
Kaw
Omaha
Osage
Ponca
The Dhegiha lived near the Missouri in the very Late Prehistoric and historic periods; they appear to have migrated to the region from the south or southeast. Their origin location is debated.
Other Siouan-language-speaking tribes
The following tribes are of the late prehistoric and historic period:
Hidatsa
Mandan
These may be descendants of Late Prehistoric Mill Creek cultures, whose range extended into northwest Iowa. Their territory was wide; the Lewis and Clark expedition reported on Mandan villages on the upper Missouri River.
These may be descendants of Late Prehistoric Central Plains Tradition cultures that lived in southwest Iowa, especially around the present-day Glenwood area. The Pawnee are shown in southwest Iowa in a 1798 map, although they ranged primarily to the west.
Algonquian speakers
Tribes from the early historical period:
Illinois Confederacy
Kickapoo. A subgroup occupied the Upper Iowa River region in the late 1600s and early 1700s; they may have been called the "Mahouea".
Mascouten
Meskwaki
Sauk
The encroachment of Europeans and long-term conflict among Algonquian and Iroquoian tribes in the east pushed many eastern tribes into the Midwest. The Meskwaki have maintained a presence in Iowa, even after official removal in 1846. They established a recognized Settlement.
Iroquoian speakers
The Wyandot were Iroquoian speakers from the early historical period. Again, the encroachment of Europeans and long-term conflict between Algonquian and Iroquoian tribes in the east pushed these tribes into the Midwest.
Moved into Iowa
These tribes moved to Iowa during the historic period: