Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes are a united group of Southern Arapaho and Southern Cheyenne people who live in western Oklahoma. They are officially recognized by the government of the United States, which means they are a formal tribe with special rights and protections. The tribe’s main office is located in a place called Concho, Oklahoma. These tribes have a long history and rich culture that continues to be important today. Their story helps us understand more about the history and traditions of Native American peoples in North America.

History

The Cheyenne and Arapaho are two different tribes with their own special histories. The Cheyenne were once farmers near the Great Lakes in what is now Minnesota. They spoke a language that is part of the Algonquian language family. In the 1700s, they started using horses and moved to the plains to hunt buffalo. A leader named Sweet Medicine helped organize their society.

The Arapaho came from areas such as Saskatchewan, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and South Dakota. They also began using horses and became skilled hunters. By 1800, they split into northern and southern groups.

In the 1700s and 1800s, the Cheyenne and Arapaho formed an alliance. Together, they were strong hunters and traders, with lands stretching from Montana to Texas.

In 1851, the Arapaho signed a treaty with the U.S., but settlers still moved onto their lands. In 1867, another treaty promised them a place in Kansas, but they preferred to join the Cheyenne in Indian Territory, now part of Oklahoma.

Later laws, such as the Dawes Act, broke up their lands. In 1937, after new laws helped tribes organize, the Cheyenne and Arapaho created a single tribal government.

Economic development

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes run three smoke shops and five casinos. These casinos are called Lucky Star Casino and are located in Clinton, Concho, Watonga, Hammon, and Canton. The tribe also makes its own vehicle tags. Their work helps bring about $32 million to the community.

Government

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes are based in Concho, Oklahoma. Out of 12,185 members, about 8,664 live in Oklahoma. Their land includes several counties such as Beckham, Blaine, and others.

The tribe has a government with four parts: the Tribal Council, Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, and Judicial Branch. The Tribal Council has all members who are 18 or older. The Executive Branch is led by a Governor and a Lieutenant Governor. The Legislative Branch has lawmakers from four Arapaho areas and four Cheyenne areas. The Judicial Branch has a Supreme Court and other courts. In 2006, the tribe approved a new constitution. In 2025, the Governor is Reggie Wassana and the Lieutenant Governor is Hershel Gorham.

Institutions

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Tribune is the tribe's newspaper. It covers topics like hand games, powwow dancing and songs, horse care, buffalo management, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho language. It also sponsors several running events.

The tribe started the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College in 2006 with help from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. The college was in Weatherford, Oklahoma, and offered programs in Tribal Administration, American Indian Studies, and General Studies. It closed in 2015 but the tribe started a new school at Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 2019.

To honor their culture and provide food, the tribe has a buffalo herd. In 2021, the herd grew to 531 bison after Denver Parks and Recreation gave them 13 more. Bison are scientifically known as Bison bison.

Notable tribal citizens

• Ross Anderson, a professional World Cup skier
• William "Hawk" Birdshead, a filmmaker, giver, and spiritual leader
• Jimmy Carl Black, drummer and singer for The Mothers of Invention
• Archie Blackowl (1911–1992), a painter known for his flat style
• Chris Eyre, a film director and producer known for Smoke Signals and Skins
• Suzan Shown Harjo, a Southern Cheyenne and Muscogee activist, policymaker, journalist, and poet
• Viola Hatch (1930–2019), an activist, policymaker, tribal elder, and former tribal leader
• Lance Henson, a poet and painter
• Yvonne Kauger, a justice on the Oklahoma Supreme Court
• Chief Little Raven (around 1810–1889), an Arapaho chief who signed the 1867 Medicine Lodge Treaty
• Merlin Little Thunder, a Southern Cheyenne artist known for his tiny paintings
• Henrietta Mann (born 1934), an academic who helped develop Native American studies programs at universities
• Gilbert Miles, a former lieutenant governor of the tribes
• Chief Niwot (1825–1864), a Southern Arapaho leader
• St. David Pendleton Oakerhater, a Southern Cheyenne (1847–1931) known for his art and service in the church
• Tommy Orange (born 1982), a Southern Cheyenne writer
• Harvey Pratt, a Cheyenne-Arapaho artist, peace chief, and forensic artist
• Henry Roman Nose (1856–1917), a Southern Cheyenne chief
• W. Richard West Sr., known as Dick West or Wahpahnahyah (1912–1996), a Southern Cheyenne painter, teacher, and art director at Bacone College
• W. Richard West Jr., a Cheyenne lawyer and the first director of the National Museum of the American Indian
• Wolf Robe (around 1840–1910), a former tribal chief