The Pawnee are a Midwestern Native American tribe historically inhabiting territory on the Great plains along the Missouri river in present-day Nebraska and in northern Kansas.

They are federally recognized as the Pawnee nation, now headquartered in Oklahoma.

The tribal nation has four confederated bands: the Chaui, Kitkehakhi, Pitaharuet and Skiri.

Historically, the Pawnee lived in permanent Earth lodge villages while they farmed and left the villages on seasonal buffalo hunts, using tipis while traveling.

Their religion is centered on human sacrifice and the annual worshipping of the sun and stars.

Among the Warrior societies within the tribe, Mohawk hairstyles are common and eagle feathered War-bonnets are used primarily among chiefs or leaders.

In the early nineteenth century, the Pawnee number over ten thousand people and are one of the largest and most feared tribes of Plains Indians in the west.

They hadve escaped some of the depredations of exposure to European infectious diseases impacting other Indian tribes.

By 1866, disease and warfare have devastated their population to about fourteen hundred; however, by 1874 they are increased up to two thousand.

During this time, many warriors offer to serve as trackers and scouts for the U.S. army against hostile Indians as the Pawnee are enemies of many of the other tribes and are therefore willing to aid in military campaigns against them.

Most accept relocation to a reservation to Indian Territory in Oklahoma.

About forty-five hundred are enrolled and live on the reservation, others work or live elsewhere.

Their autonym is Chahiksichahiks, meaning "men of men".