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There are three recognized tribes remaining in the [[United States|U.S.]] - the Kickapoo of [[Kansas]], the Kickapoo of [[Oklahoma]], and the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of [[Texas]]. There is a further group in [[Coahuila]], [[Mexico]]. There is also a large group in [[Arizona]] currently seeking federal recognition. Around 3,000 people claim to be tribe members.
The tribe originated in the [[Michigan]]-[[Ohio]] area and share a common origin with the [[Sauk]] and [[Fox]] tribes. Conflict between Kickapoos and [[Iroquois]] from the [[1640s]] forced the tribe west into [[Wisconsin]]. In the [[1700s]] the tribe movedmigrated again, and by 1770 they had resettled in the [[Wabash Valley]] and the general area towards central [[Illinois]]. There they dominated niegboring tribes, and with French support nearly eradicated their former allies the [[Fox]].
AfterUnder pressure from American colonists, the tribe splintered into three major factions. Some moved west, resisting by retreating rather than assimilating or fighting. They cededOther theirstayed landin eastthe ofWabash theregion [[Mississippiand River]]joined Indian resistance movements, such as those led by treatyTecumseh and reachedBlack Hawk. Those who resisted were forcefully removed to [[Missouri]] aroundin 1820 and [[18201834]];. some ofA third group, led by Kennekuk the tribeKickapoo remainedprophet, inpeacefully Illinoisresisted andencroachment werebut forcedeventually outceded bytheir theeastern USlands militaryfor tracts in [[1834Kansas]]. They This Kickapoo band absorbed many [[PotowatomiPotawatomi]] Indians tribe during the move. Many movedThose onKickapoo fromrelocated to Missouri infrequently theconflicted [[1830s]],with Osage and split,other headingtribes. south andMany westgrew into Kansasdiscontent and Texas.the Theband USfurther governmentdivided, movedmany themmoving severalto times moreOklahoma, sendingothers joining the tribefar west band in MissouriMexican toTexas, avirtually reservationabandoning inMissouri. Kansas inAfter the late[[Mexican-American 1830s.War]] Athe largeTexas groupKickapoo movedsplintered intoyet northernagain; some migrated to Coahuila, Mexico; others remained in Eagle Pass. aroundCirca [[1850]], joiningheavy withmigrations smallerfrom groupsOklahoma alreadyand residingKansas intraveled theto stateCoahuila. of Coahuila; moreMore Kickapoo followed them into Mexico in [[1857]] and [[1863]]. When some attempted to return from Mexico they were sent to Oklahoma. In the late 1870's border raids from Mexico led the United States to pursue a policy of repatriation, first peacefully but later by force. Ultimately, the Kickapoo remain a highly splintered tribe residing in Coahuila, Eagle Pass, Arizona, Oklahoma and Kansas.
[[Image:Kickapoo wickiup.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Kickapoo [[wickiup]] on the [[Sac and Fox]] Reservation, about 1880]]
The Traditional Tribe of Texas was not recognized until [[1983]], having previously been part of the group living in Coahuila. Today, this tribe owns and operate a casino on their reservation just south of Eagle Pass, Texas. Their website is www.kickapooluckyeaglecasino.com. This casino hosted the 25th Anniversary Tejano Music Awards on March 19, 2005.
The Kickapoo speak an [[Algonquian]] language closely related to that of the Sauk and MeskwakiFox.
Also: [[Lake Kickapoo]], [[USS Kickapoo]]
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