In 1833, the Quapaw signed another treaty whereby they were removed from Arkansas for the last time. The next year, the Quapaw (led by Chief Heckaton) moved to northeastern Indian Territory near bands of the Shawnee and Seneca-Cayuga tribes. In Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), the Quapaw once again established themselves in traditional villages. Unfortunately, due to a survey error the lands on which they had established their homes belonged to the Seneca. Dismayed by the situation, the Quapaw broke into three bands. By 1846, one band was living with the Creeks, one remained in northeastern Indian Territory, and the other was living on the Canadian River. However, by 1859, in anticipation of the sale of reservation land in Kansas with a cash payment for distribution, three hundred and fifty-four (354) of four hundred (400) members returned to the the rightful Quapaw Reservation.
The Civil War broke out and the Quapaw signed an agreement with the Confederacy. However, the Quapaw ended up fighting for the Union after they were forced to flee to Kansas. After the Civil War the tribe was able to sell their reservation lands in Kansas.
As a result of President Grant's peace policy, the reservation was placed in charge of the Quakers. Many Quapaw, dissatisfied by this policy, left the reservation to settle among the Catholic Osage. They were led by the hereditary Chief, Louis Angel, also known as Tallchief, who was also a spiritual leader. By 1877, the group of Quapaw living on Osage land had grown larger than the group living on reservation land. There were so few Quapaw left on the reservation that the threat of losing their reservation lands became a distinct possibility. As a result of this threat, some tribal members who lived on the reservation convinced some Quapaw families who lived in Arkansas to join the reservation. Impressed by the willingness of reservation members to save their land, many of the Quapaw living in Osage territory moved back onto the reservation. By 1893, the tribe on the reservation had grown to over 200 people, up from 38 only 14 years earlier. Because of the Dawes Act and in anticipation of allotment, the Quapaw voted to allot their land among themselves. This strategic move gave each tribal member 240 acres, instead of 80 acres as specified under the Dawes Act. This allotment was ratified by the United States Congress in 1895.