Seqouyah National Wildlife Refuge

Welcome to Seqouyah National Wildlife Refuge located near Vian, Oklahoma about 150 miles east of the State Capitol. Refuge History: In 1970 Seqouyah National Wildlife Refuge was established to protect the habitat of migratory birds and other resident wildlife. Seqouyah was named for the man who invented the Cherokee alphabet. Inside the refuge boundaries archeologists have unearthed evidence from all prehistoric periods including artifacts from the Caddoan culture, whose descents became the Caddo, Arikara, Wichita, and Pawnee tribes. The first known European to enter the region was Hernando De Soto, who arrived in 1541. Followed by him were French traders traveling the Arkansas River who did business with the natives and traded things such as beads, knives, guns, hides, and meats. The 17th and 18th century saw a lot of competition over trade with the natives between the Spanish and French Governments. The United States gained control of this land with the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. European settlers began arriving soon after that. The U.S. Government had plans to use the Oklahoma territory as a reservation for tribes that were forced off of their lands in the eastern states. In 1809 many tribes began moving westard and soon the land was governed by the Cherokee and Choctaw tribes. In the 1860’s the nation began falling apart the Civil War began. The tribal leaders of both the Cherokee and Choctaw sided with the South but the war took a devastating toll on the tribes and their land. Many non-natives began to arrive in the region including railroad workers and freed slaves. By 1890 there were more non-natives than there were natives in the region. Wildlife: Seqouyah National Wildlife Refuge helps protect the home of numerous wild critters including ducks, geese, hawks, quails, bobcats, muskrats, squirrels, rabbits, tree frogs, and diamondback snakes. For the lover of the outdoors this refuge boasts many great hunting opportunities and so much more. Come on out and have a blast!