Wamapoke Tribe

The Wamapoke Tribe is a Native American tribe located in Pawnee, Indiana. They originally owned the land, but Reverend Luther Howell of Terre Haute planted a flag in the ground. The tribe maintains the Olde Wamapoke Tribal Shop, located in the downtown shopping district. The Wamapoke tribe was a small group of 50 - 100, known for their distinctive circular patterned basket weavings and scalpings. They were also known to use possums as currency. During the 7 day battle, their chief was shot 102 times by the cavalry.

Wallaho! from Tribal Leader Ken Hotate

If you are even bothering to read this... Wallaho mahk-a-tokeh, citizen! Roughly translated, that means "hello, honored guest" in our native Wamapoke tongue. More literally, though, it translates to "may you be blessed with a million possums." And that is what I, and all of the Wamapoke, wish upon this year's Harvest Festival. We love a good harvest festival. The Wamapoke have been celebrating our own version, Nakala-Talla, for more than 300 years. This was when we burn the scalps collected over the past year (kidding), and ate rat hearts (not kidding) as an offering to the Souls for a bountiful harvest. But, as you all like to say at town meetings and decree in official city proclamations, nothing important happened here until the town of Pawnee was founded in 1817, so I'm sure this festival will be just super and neat. Dance on our sacred ground. See if we care. Come stop by our Wamapoke History Exhibit and finally learn about us. But until then, dance on our sacred ground. See if we care. Tokeh tokeh tokeh! (Meaning: "Possum possum possum!" It's a popular cheer at Wamapoke sporting matches and all other times.)

Tribal Members

• Ken Hotate - Wamapoke Tribal Leader