For centuries, the Wichita were skilled agriculturalists, traders, and diplomats. In the 1700s, they became key middlemen in a thriving trade network with the French, exporting tens of thousands of bison pelts to Europe. Their economy, language, and culture were deeply rooted in the land.
In August 1859, members of the Waco Tribe were forcibly removed from what is now Waco, Texas to Anadarko, Oklahoma. That removal reshaped families for generations.
Today, the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes number nearly 4,000 citizens. The nation continues to strengthen its language, cultural practices, and economic development for future generations.