Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa Long Range ...

prepare spiritually for the future. It is also a gathering time for all Native Americans so
they might share the spiritual and emotional values so vital to their way 0.f life.
Other aspects of tribal life continue to be practiced, including traditional ceremonies by
the various clans and the Tribe as a whole. The uniquely Meskwaki arts and crafts also
continue to be practiced and taught. It is further significant that an estimated 80-90
percent of the people still speak Meskwaki.
SizeLocation
The Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa is located in Central Iowa
approximately 14 miles east of Marshalltown, and 4 miles west of TamaIToledo in Tama
County. It is divided by the Union Pacific Railroad and now extends north of U.S.
~ l ~ h 30. w a The ~ Tribe's land is comprised of a variety of land features including flood
plains along the Iowa fiver, rolling hills, tree stands and forest cover, wetlands, pasture
and farm land. The Settlement has grown from 80 acres i.n 1857 to over 7,000 acres in
2005. Figure 2-1 maps the location physical and layout of the Settlement.
Figure 2- 1. Sac and Fox Tribe Location
Deleted
In addition to main settlement land, the Tribe owns approximately 700 acres of land in
Palo Alto County west of West Bend, Iowa. This land is currently farmed and set aside
as a wildlife refuge. The Palo Alto area will not be taken into consideration as part of
this plan.
Population
Historical population data is available through Tribal records as well as through state and
federal census information. The earliest Tribal population records the population of the
Meskwaki Indians as 12,000 in 1665. Tribal records have a majority of annual
population counts between 1665 and the present for enrolled members. Since the
Meskwaki Indians have moved throughout their history, these counts may refer to
populations in differing geographic locations across the Midwest. State and federal
census counts are specific for residents on the Settlement. Generally, the population of
the Meskwaki Indians dropped from 12,000 in 1665 (total count) to 144 (Iowa count) in
1 855. After 1855, enrollment population gradually increased from 144 to the present
enrolled membership of approximately 1,288 (9116102, Fiscal Department), not all of
which reside on the Settlement. The 2000 Census recorded a Settlement population of
76 1. Tribal counts more accurately depict a Settlement population of 977 (1 212610 1,
Public Works). Table 2-1 depicts historical and future population projections for the
Settlement.
Future population is often the basis for planning. Future population is often difficult to
project, and different methods may take various characteristics of the population into
consideration. Alternative methods include:
projecting number of households and average household size,