by Murrel Bland
The Wyandotte Indian Tribe of Oklahoma has various economic development efforts which help provide medical, educational and social benefits for its members.
That was the message that Billy Friend, the chief of the Wyandottes, gave to about 50 persons who attended a quarterly meeting of the Wyandotte County Historical Society Sunday, Nov. 20, at the George Meyn Community Center, Wyandotte County Park, Bonner Springs.
Friend said that the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma is one of 567 federally recognized Indian tribes in the United States. He said he has dual citizenship—in the United States and in the Wyandotte Nation. Indian tribes are recognized as sovereign nations.
The Wyandottes can trace their history back to about the year 1600 when there were an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 members in Canada. Today there are 6,126 descendants spread across the United States.
The headquarters for the tribe is in the city of Wyandotte in Ottawa County, Okla. The tribe moved to Wyandotte County in 1843 from Upper Sandusky, Ohio. The tribe moved in 1867 to Oklahoma.
The Wyandotte Tribe cooperates with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department in providing law enforcement countywide. This includes providing a drug prevention program for schools.
The tribe administers a free lunch program for the elderly, serving 135 persons daily. The tribe has a health and wellness center and operates a child care and after-school programs.
Friend said the tribe has been aggressive in reaching out to tribal members in various areas across the United States. Recent target areas have been the West Coast including the states of Washington and California.
The tribe operates two casinos—one in Wyandotte, Okla., and the 7th Street Casino in downtown Kansas City, Kan. Friend said that about 65 percent of the tribe’s economic development revenue comes from the casinos. Other business efforts include convenience stores and providing telecom and information technology services.
Friend said the tribe has a museum and a community center.
Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Wyandotte County Historical Society.
