Peoria people

Peoria Tribe of Indians

Ruthe Blalock Jones, Peoria-Shawnee-Delaware artist
Total population
2,925[1]
Regions with significant populations
United States ( Oklahoma)
Languages
English, formerly Miami-Illinois
Religion
Christianity (Roman Catholicism), traditional tribal religions
Related ethnic groups
Kaskaskia, Piankeshaw, and Wea

The Peoria (or Peouaroua) are a Native American people. They are in the federally recognized Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma. Historically, they were part of the Illinois Confederation.

Traditionally, the Peoria spoke a dialect of the Miami-Illinois language. The name "Peoria" comes from their autonym (name for themselves) in the Illinois language, peewaareewa (modern pronunciation peewaalia). It first meant "Comes carrying a pack on his back."^[2] No speakers of the Peoria language are alive;^[3] However, the Peoria Language (got people again who could speak some of the language, or) was revitalized in August 2022 by a 10-week online course that was made available by the tribe.^[4][5]

1. ↑ 2011 Oklahoma Indian Nations Pocket Pictorial Directory. Archived 2012-05-12 at the Wayback Machine Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission. 2011: 26. Retrieved 24 Jan 2012.
2. ↑ Peoria Indian Tribal History. Access Genealogy: Indian Tribal Records. 2009 (retrieved 8 Feb 2009)
3. ↑ Anderton, Alice, PhD. "Status of Indian Languages in Oklahoma", Intertribal Wordpath Society. 2009 (retrieved 8 Feb 2009)
4. ↑ [1]. ‘’Peoria Language Course.’’ 2023 (retrieved 2 Jan 2023)
5. ↑ Anderton, Alice, PhD. "Status of Indian Languages in Oklahoma", Intertribal Wordpath Society. 2009 (retrieved 8 Feb 2009)