IOWA - The name "Iowa" comes from the Ioway people, one of the many Siouan-speaking nations that inhabited the tallgrass prairies between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. In their own language, the Ioway refer to themselves as the Bah-Kho-Je, which translates to "Grey Snow," a name likely inspired by the way the smoke from their winter fires settled on the snow-covered prairies.
Before it was known as the "Hawkeye State," the land was a fertile mosaic of river valleys and rolling hills, stewarded by the Ioway (Bah-Kho-Je), the Meskwaki (Fox), the Sauk, and later by groups of Potawatomi and Ho-Chunk.
A Fertile Heartland of Nations
Iowa's geography is bounded by two of the continent's greatest rivers, creating a natural sanctuary for agricultural and hunting societies:
- The Bah-Kho-Je (Ioway): The State namesake, the Ioway were masters of the prairie landscape. They were known for their sophisticated agricultural practices and their role as key traders in the Midwest.
- The Meskwaki (People of the Red Earth): Often referred to as the "Fox" by Europeans, the Meskwaki have a unique history in Iowa. Unlike many tribes that were removed, the Meskwaki famously purchased back their own land in Tama County in 1857, establishing the Meskwaki Settlement.
- The Sauk (People of the Yellow Earth): Closely allied with the Meskwaki, the Sauk lived primarily along the Mississippi River. Their most famous leader, Black Hawk (Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak), led a desperate resistance to remain in their ancestral homelands.
Regional and Cultural Designations
Indigenous groups identified the Iowa landscape by the rivers that acted as both highways and lifelines:
- The Mississippi River: To the Sauk and Meskwaki, this was the "Great River," a spiritual and physical boundary.
- The Des Moines River: The name "Des Moines" is a corruption of the Illinois word Moingona, referring to the mounds found along the river. To the Ioway, this river was a primary artery for travel and trade.
- The Spirit Lake Region: Located in northwest Iowa, this area was known to the Dakota as Mni Wakan (Sacred Water) and was a site of deep spiritual significance for many tribes.
Significant Indigenous Place Names
The linguistic legacy of Iowa's original inhabitants is found in nearly every county and city. Des Moines, the state capital, honors the ancient mound-building cultures of the region. The city of Ottumwa is believed to be named "place of perseverance" or "rippling water."
Keokuk is named after a Sauk leader, while the city of Decorah honors the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) leader Waukon Decorah. Waukee and Waukon also draw their names from Ho-Chunk history. In the east, Maquoketa is a Meskwaki word meaning "there are bears," and Muscatine is derived from a Mascouten word for "burning island" or "prairie." Even the Raccoon River was known to the Ioway as the Watanye, a name tied to the wildlife of the prairie-forest border.
A Living Sovereign Presence
Today, the Meskwaki Nation (Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa) remains the only federally recognized tribe with a land base in the state. The Meskwaki Settlement is a vibrant community that maintains its own school system, government, and language programs, serving as a testament to the tribe's enduring connection to the "Red Earth."
By recognizing the origin of Bah-Kho-Je and the resilience of the Meskwaki, we acknowledge that Iowa's identity is rooted in a history of perseverance and a deep, agricultural bond with the land that began long before the first plow broke the prairie sod.
