Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Kosciusko County Historical Society hosted the vice chief of the Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana to speak about the history of the tribe, federal recognition and preserving their history during the 61st annual banquet on Thursday.
“We’re the only tribe that’s got an origin story that took place here in Indiana,” said John Dunnagan. “They said we came out of the water, not created … but we just came out of the St. Joe River near South Bend. We claim the whole state of Indiana, two-thirds of Ohio and a quarter of Illinois.”
Dunnagan explained how several past treaties influenced the creation of the Miami Nation, along with the hardship they have been through since. He explained “the start of the fall” with the signing of the Treaty of the Forks of Wabash in 1834, which “called for the removal of the Miami.”
In 1846, half of the Miami were “put onto canal boats in Peru,” then put on riverboats from Cincinnati to Kansas, where several tribes already were. From 1846 until the mid-1860s, the Miami were then moved to Oklahoma.
“My family was able to stay because of a joint resolution which allowed … 23 members of Francis Slocum’s family to stay,” said Dunnagan. “In 1866 … a timber company in Grant County would take timber from the reservation … (the chief) at the time tried to take legal action … he petitioned the government to help protect the property. That’s what brought on the Allotment Act of 1872.”
Dunnagan touched on the different family and tribal members in Indiana still, and the problems with tribal land staying in the hand of the Miami Nation. He spoke of the several lawsuits that had come from the government taxing native land, without giving them citizenship.
“In 1854, we became the Miami tribe of Indiana,” said Dunnagan. “In 1898, the government argued about different land claims. The head of Miami County’s brother-in-law was the secretary of the interior, and he wrote an opinion. They used that to terminate the Miami of Indiana’s federal recognition.”
The federal recognition was removed because, according to that opinion, “the Indians dressed as white people and worked normal jobs.” Dunnagan explained that his grandmother wasn’t considered a citizen or native until the Citizenship Act.
The Miami of Indiana has been trying to gain back their federal recognition after it was revoked in the late 1800s. In 1936, the Miami of Oklahoma gained federal recognition, while the Miami of Indiana, in 1937, created a nonprofit 501(c)3 “to keep our tribal roles.” The federal recognition helps tribes with the revitalization efforts they need in order to keep their culture alive.
Dunnagan explained how several of the western tribes, not just the Miami, lost their cultures. He noted the Miamis are working on revitalization of their culture and language. Dunnagan said the last native, fluent speaker died the week he was supposed to be recorded, but the tribe has worked to bring about the culture in other ways through having the “homecoming language camp,” owning the property of a past chief and having events to celebrate their history.
Dunnagan also spoke on the impact casinos have on native lands and the financial implications and governmental hardships they have been facing.
“We are still here,” Dunnagan said.
To learn more about the Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana, visit https://www.miamiindians.org/.
Museum Happenings, Genealogy Library
Kosciusko County Historical Society Board President Greg Steffe stepped down from his role to spend more time with family. Executive Director Teresa Jones resigned to pursue other opportunities.
“We are very thankful to Greg for his many years of service,” said Board Vice President Cynthia Green. “We are very thankful to (Teresa’s) contributions over the last couple of years. A search committee has been formed to fill these two positions.”
Jim Tinkey, board treasurer, read the nominations for board officers and board members. The officers who ran were uncontested, and are: president, currently vacant until a candidate is found; vice president, Green; secretary, Sheryl Hanna; treasurer, Tinkey; assistant secretary, Elaine Beeching.
Board members, who will serve a three-year term, are Pam Carroll, Judy Kinsey, Patsey See and Jan Sloan.
Green also noted several exciting things the society has done this year and saw great success with, including: Freedom Fest, Kosciusko County Visitors Center’s Passport program, items of interest trunks given to local elementary schools, the Heritage Walk honoring veterans, the Pound Store had a much needed update, a large display of Al Disbro photos and a night at the museum based on the board game Clue.
Sharon Whetstone, librarian with the museum, gave updates on the library and the genealogy department and gave the Volunteer of the Year Award.
“We The People of Kosciusko County” is the genealogy library’s 250th “Happy birthday to America” project. Those with relatives who were born, raised or have lived in Kosciusko County can submit a form with the names of those relatives, where they worked, and what time period they were in the county. The forms need to be submitted by December and will be separated by decades.
Whetstone also noted the library had over 225 different research people who were working on family history about the county, along with 12 different states being represented within the library.
“We are more than just “who’s your grandma,’” said Whetstone.
She noted six to eight volunteers throughout the week help at the library. From the start of the year until the end of September, they have surpassed over 2,000 volunteer hours.
“In the last 10 years, this special person has spent a lot of her time in retirement being a volunteer,” said Whetstone. “She also volunteers and does work at Bell Air Museum.”
Alice Keirn, who Whetstone noted is now a “Thursday girl,” was awarded the Volunteer of the Year award.
To learn more about events happening at the Kosciusko County Museum and genealogy library, or to join the historical society, visit https://kosciuskohistory.com/.
