Indigenous groups in Missouri shared common spiritual traditions. One belief held that there were three levels of the universe: an above world (the sky), a middle world (where humans lived), and a below world. The Otoe, Missouria, Osage, Kansa, and Ioway all believed in a single universal creator who became known as Wakanda or Wakonda––“supreme being” or “creator of everything”. The Missouria initially referred to Wakonda as Máun (“earth maker”) but later adopted the name Wakonda. Similarly to other indigenous groups, they believed that communication with the spirit world could be achieved through visions and dreams.
Many spiritual beliefs were preserved through oral histories. Creation stories differed slightly between each group that recognized Wakonda, but the Otoe-Missouria tradition holds that there was nothing but water in the beginning. Eventually all life emerged from the water, beginning with plant life and extending to animals. First came the Bear Clan people; following them came the Beaver, Elk, and Eagle Clans. The four Earth clans communicated with Wakonda to gain knowledge of how to live properly, receiving social and spiritual guidance. The Earth clans later met the Sky clans: Buffalo, Owl, and Pigeon. Both groups exchanged sacred pipes that had been gifted to them by Wakonda. The exchange cemented friendship and cooperation between the clans, who began living together as a single people.
Creation myths were not always believed to be literal, though they did shape the social and religious structures of tribes. For the Otoe and Missouria, the creation myth had a day-to-day impact on the nation’s social order. The Otoe-Missouria operated under confederations of family clans based on spirit animals that had made significant contributions during the creation days––the seven clans referenced in the creation story. Clan culture created a spiritual bond between families and their ancestors.
Otoe-Missouria society was divided into two “moieties” (social divisions) of clans: the Upper Sky moiety and the Lower Earth moiety. The moieties structured the social order in accordance with their rank. The Upper Sky moiety was led by the Buffalo, Owl, and Pigeon clans and the Lower Earth moiety was led by Bear, Beaver, Elk, and Eagle. While society was structured by clan rank, with Buffalo and Bear holding the highest responsibilities, leadership rotated seasonally between each moiety. The Sky moiety presided over tribal affairs during the spring and summer, while the Earth moiety presided over affairs during the fall and winter. One’s clan was determined by their father’s ancestry tracing all the way back to the times of creation, drawing a direct connection between Wakonda and the creation myth to daily life.
