A new treaty between the Otoe-Missouria and the federal government in 1879 provided the legal control to allow the Otoe-Missouria to sell their reservation for tribal annuities, and relocate to Indian Territory.
The tribe had split into two factions.
The Coyote band favored an immediate move to Indian Territory, where they believed they could better perpetuate their traditional tribal life outside the influence of the whites.
The Quaker band favored remaining on the Big Blue River land.
They were willing to sell the western half of the reservation to whites to gain income for a tribal annuity.
By the spring of 1880, about half the tribe had left the reservation and taken up residence with the Sac and Fox Nation in Indian Territory.
By the next year, in response to dwindling prospects of self-sufficiency and continued pressure from white settlers, the remaining Otoe members in Nebraska sold the Big Blue reservation.
They migrate to Oklahoma.
With the Otoe-Missouria already there, they purchase a new reservation in the Cherokee Outlet in the Indian Territory, in present-day Noble and Pawnee Counties, Oklahoma.
The rest of the tribe moves to Red Rock (in present Oklahoma) in the fall of 1882, the reservation is disbanded, and the "undeveloped" land is put for sale.
The few remaining Otoes in Nebraska are of mixed background and will quickly integrate with the new settlers.
