Peoria (tribe)

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The Peoria tribe was one of the Native American tribes that formed the Illiniwek tribal group in what is now the Midwest of the United States of America. The Peoria were one of the many tribes encountered by the exploreres Marquete and Jolliet. After being decimated by disease and wars, the members of the Kaskaskia, Peoria, Piankeshaw, and Wea tribes were confederated under the Peoria name and relocated to land in Kansas. After the Civil War, most of the confederated tribe was relocated to land in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). The tribe lost federal recognition in 1959, but regained it in 1978.

The Peoria spoke a dialect of the Miami-Illinois language. The name 'Peoria' derives from their name for themselves in the Illinois language, peewaareewa (modern pronunciation peewaalia). Originally it means "comes carrying a pack on his back"[1].

The tribe is based in Miami, Oklahoma, in the northeastern corner of that state.

The tribe opened a casino near I-44 in Miami, Oklahoma. It is called the Buffalo Run Casino.