The history of Native American Kickapoo people.

In the early 18th century part of the tribe settled near the Milwaukee River. After the destruction of the Illinois Indians about 1765, the Milwaukee River band moved south into the Illinois’ former territory near Peoria. By the 19th century, as a result of scattering in small villages to prevent attack, central tribal authority had broken down, and the chiefs of the various bands had become autonomous. One group moved as far as the Sangamon River and became known as the Prairie band, another pushed east to the Wabash and was called the Vermilion band.

In 1809 and 1819, under the pressure of advancing American settlers, the Kickapoo ceded their lands in Illinois to the United States, moving to Missouri and then to Kansas. About 1852 a large group went to Texas and from there to Mexico, where they were joined by another party in 1863. Some returned to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) in 1873 and later years. Those who stayed in Mexico were granted a reservation in eastern Chihuahua state.

After being expelled from the Republic of Texas, many Kickapoo moved south to Mexico, but the population of two villages settled in Indian Territory. One village settled within the Chickasaw Nation and the other within the Muscogee Creek Nation. These Kickapoo were granted their own reservation in 1883 and became recognized as the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma.

In the 1930s the federal and state governments encouraged tribes to reorganize their governments. This one formed the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma in 1936, under the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act.