In the Great Plains region of the United States, situated in what is now the state of Nebraska, lies the rich history of the Pawnee Tribe. The Pawnee people have an extensive and complex history, spanning over six centuries. The tribe was originally a semi-nomadic people, often migrating between summer and winter locations in search of food and shelter. The name "Pawnee" is a French-Canadian term used to describe the tribe, which they adopted and now use to refer to themselves.

Historically, the Pawnee were a powerful and prominent tribe in the Great Plains region. They consisted of four main bands: the Grand, Republican, Loup, and Tappage. Each band was further divided into villages, often constructed near rivers such as the Platte River in present-day eastern Nebraska. Their settlements, typically villages of fifty to one hundred houses, were strategically located to optimize access to resources, allowing them to hunt, farm, and maintain their distinct culture. For example, the Grand Village, located on the forks of the Loup River near present-day Genoa, Nebraska, was a prominent site in the late 18th century.

The Pawnee people were skilled farmers and traders, cultivating crops such as corn, beans, and squash. Their agricultural practices often involved mixed or companion planting, where two or more complementary plants were grown together. An example of this practice is the famous "Three Sisters Method," wherein corn provided support for the beans as they grew, while the beans fixed nitrogen in the soil for both the beans and the corn. This relationship enhanced soil fertility and stability, benefiting the crops as a whole.

The Pawnee were also expert traders, engaging in trade with both neighboring and distant tribes, as well as the French and other European colonizers. Some of their most valuable trade items included buffalo hides, dried meat, and cornmeal. The Pawnee were accomplished diplomats and allies, often maintaining strong relationships with the Omaha, Otoe, and other tribes of the region. For example, in 1835, the Pawnee and Omaha tribes collaborated to push the hostile Lakota Tribe out of the area.

The Pawnee people maintained a distinct society that adhered to a strict division of labor and complex spiritual practices. They were predominantly a matrilineal society, where property and inheritance followed the female line. In addition, the Pawnee followed a spiritual framework centered around a combination of shamanism, ceremonial games, and reverence for the sacred Thunderbird. They performed ritualistic ceremonies that often symbolized vital seasonal transitions and the balance of nature.

The introduction of European diseases, violent conflicts with neighboring tribes, and forced relocation ultimately devastated the Pawnee population. By the mid-20th century, the Pawnee population had significantly decreased, and the tribe was fragmented, living on reservations in both Oklahoma and Nebraska.

Travelers today can visit historic Pawnee sites such as Mission Hill and Pawnee Indian Village, near present-day Geneva, Nebraska. Mission Hill features a sandstone and brick village church constructed in 1848, and Pawnee Indian Village, an official National Historic Landmark, was the village site of the Pawnee people between 1830 and 1838.

Additionally, museums such as the Great Plains Art Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Museum of the American Indian offer cultural exhibitions, historical artifacts, and personal artifacts representative of the Pawnee and their ancestors.