1882 to 1892

As Americans became increasingly dissatisfied with reservations, they called for the allotment of Native lands. The process ended communal landholding and designated 160-acre plots for individuals. “Surplus” lands became eligible for sale to American settlers. Kiowas and other Native people responded with alarm. Allotment not only violated treaties, it also undermined their way of living in relation to the land and each other. As Americans clamored for allotment, the federal government also cracked down on Native cultural practices, including rites for seeking sacred power. Kiowas faced pressures to end communal dances, peyote rites, and healing practices. In this climate, Kiowas sought out new possible power sources, including the Christian God preached by missionaries. They also joined Native peoples across the West in a movement that came to be known as the Ghost Dance, envisioning a future in which their lands were restored and lost relatives and buffalo herds resurrected.