Established on October 28, 1839, the Shawnee Indian Mission Manual Labor School is one of North America’s earliest operating residential schools. Many Shawnee children resided at the mission, and questions remain as to whether there are Shawnee children buried on the site’s grounds, located in present-day Fairway, Kansas.
Now called the Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site, the mission’s grounds and its remaining buildings are currently operated by the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office, managed by the City of Fairway and supported by a private nonprofit foundation comprising local individuals.
Tribal leadership and the Shawnee Tribe Cultural and Historic Preservation Committee (STCHPC) have begun to build a collaborative relationship with the City of Fairway and others to protect this site and take steps to unwind the history of Shawnee children there, dating back almost two centuries.
“The Shawnee Indian Boarding School represents a personal connection for me, having family members that attended the school,” says STCHPC Chairman Garet Couch, “It’s a point of inspiration knowing what those individuals went through, surviving an attempted cultural genocide. Through fortitude and determination, they not only maintained our culture through adversity, but they were also able to pass it on to us today. I would encourage all saawanooki* that had family that attended the boarding school say their name today on this anniversary of the school so that they are not lost to history and to inspire all of us to uphold our responsibility to our ancestors.”
Last month, Chief Ben Barnes gathered with STCHPC members, Shawnee citizens and members of the public at the mission to commemorate Orange Shirt Day in memory of the children lost to federal and church-run Indian boarding schools and to honor those who survived.
“My own family member, David Dushane, was forced to attend and habitually escaped and fled back home from the harsh conditions at the boarding school,” says Shawnee Tribe Chief Ben Barnes, “The legacy of residential schools flows through all of us, and today, We Remember.”
Shawnee leadership encourages citizens to contact their U.S. congresspersons to urge them to support the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy Act.
If you or a loved one have been affected by the historical trauma of Indian boarding schools, please reach out to someone. Click here for a list of resources from the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.
WATCH a video short about the Shawnee Indian Mission here.
*Shawnee people
The Shawnee Tribe’s 2025 General Council & Election Weekend included a community dinner and stomp dance, as well as the annual meeting of the Shawnee Tribal Council and Business Council election. Citizens had the opportunity to meet tribal service programs & administrative staff, collect raffle prizes, and hear reports on the past twelve months of happenings of the […]
Check out this helpful information on recycling myths. 1. Myth: Everything with a recycling symbol is recyclable. Fact: The symbol shows material type, not what your local facility accepts. 2. Myth: It’s okay to guess what’s recyclable — “wishcycling” helps. Fact: Guesswork often leads to contamination; non-recyclables can spoil batches. 3. Myth: Recyclables don’t need […]
This September 30, 2025 is Orange Shirt Day.
Welcome to ta’saawanwaatoweeyakwe, the new blog series dedicated to the Shawnee Language Immersion Program’s happenings and language preservation work. From June 18-21, Shawnee Language Immersion Program apprentices, mentors, Community Language Preservationists (CLPs), and other guests gathered for their annual conference at the Emma “Mock” Donaldson Shawnee Language House. Many of the attendees live far away from […]
Miami, OK — The Shawnee Tribe is pleased to announce the launch of its Project Proposal Portal, a new digital platform designed to streamline the submission and evaluation of business ideas and partnership opportunities. This initiative supports the tribe’s commitment to economic independence, sustainability, and diversification beyond gaming-related enterprises. The portal offers a straightforward process […]
BATTERIES: Why batteries shouldn’t end up in landfills. Key Reasons to Avoid Disposing Batteries in Landfills:
GUYMON, OK — Construction is complete on the $78 million expansion of the Golden Mesa Casino & Hotel, which now boasts a 40,000-square-foot gaming floor, new food and beverage options, an RV park and a four-floor hotel. On Friday, Shawnee Tribe officials and representatives from Shawnee Development, Global Gaming Solutions, Chickasaw Nation, the City of Guymon, Connect […]
MIAMI, OK – The brand-new FAMily Discovery Center at First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City will have its grand opening later this summer, thanks in part to support from the Shawnee Tribe. In May 2024, the Shawnee Tribe’s Business Council approved a pledge of $500,000 over four years to help support the FAMily Discovery Center. […]