During General Council weekend (September 20-21), the Shawnee Tribe hosted Firaxis Games’ Pete Murray (Learning & Development Manager) and Lead Producer Andrew Frederiksen, developers of Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, due to be released next February.
Murray and Frederiksen kicked off their Shawnee visit with attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new Emma “Mock” Donaldson saawanwaatoweewika (Shawnee language house) on Friday, September 20, in Miami. They gave brief comments about the collaboration between Firaxis and the Shawnee Language Immersion Program (SLIP), Tecumseh’s character and Shawnee assets in the upcoming Civilization VII game.
Later that evening, Murray and Frederiksen joined tribal citizens, community members and staff for meat gravy & frybread and stomp dancing at the Miami Tribe Council House.
Murray and Frederiksen took stage Saturday morning to reveal and present the Civilization VII game to Shawnee citizens during the annual meeting of the tribal council at the Craig County Fairgrounds and Community Center in Vinita, OK. They spoke of how initial requests developed into an ongoing relationship they have working with the Shawnee Tribe, especially the SLIP staff. In addition to incorporating the Shawnee language into the game, they researched old family photographs, archaeological material, and consulted with cultural knowledge-keepers on content to share or not share.
Civilization VII had a table with promotional materials available for citizens during the annual meeting.
ONE CITIZEN’S JOURNEY THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION, CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND HOMEOWNERSHIP Shawnee tribal citizen Michael Cedrone lives in Texas, where he works as Head of Human Resources at GBC Food Services. Cedrone attributes his success to the tribe’s educational, career and housing support programs. His professional journey began at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, TX, […]
Messages from the Chiefs – Fall 2024: It’s a US Election Day! Chief Barnes highlights the importance of voting in every election, local to federal, and Chief Baldridge reflects on the earliest days of his service on the Business Council compared to where we are today.
Shawnee language classes will resume for the 2025 calendar year on Monday, January 6! Self-paced learners and those hoping to participate in live classes should contact the Shawnee Language Immersion Program team (SLIP) to begin enrollment. SLIP will work with each individual student to place them in the appropriate course(s) based on their learning preferences […]
On Friday, September 20, tribal citizens and community members gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Shawnee Tribe’s newest facility and cultural resource—the Emma “Mock” Donaldson saawanwaatoweewika (Shawnee language house). A little more than ten minutes east of central Miami, OK, the facility boasts a large, open gathering space with high ceilings and a […]
On October 15, the Governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine and his wife, First Lady Frances “Fran” DeWine traveled to Miami, OK to visit with various Shawnee Tribal programs and leadership. “We were honored to receive Governor DeWine and his wife at our Shawnee language house, Cultural Center, and Administrative offices,” said Chief Ben Barnes. “We […]
In September, the Shawnee Tribe’s Gaming Commission staff received safety training from City of Guymon professionals including; Fire Marshall Jason Bond, Fire Chief Scott Lathrop, 911 Director Justin Carnagey, and Police Sergeant Jacob Bankston. “It was a very productive training day and was well received by the Gaming Commission staff,” said Otis Hughs, Executive Director […]
GILA RIVER, Ariz.—Chief Ben Barnes attended today’s event on the reservation of the Gila River Indian Community, where President Joe Biden delivered a historic speech and a formal presidential apology for 150 years of federal Indian boarding school policies which he called “a shame” and “a blot on American history.” “I’m delighted that President Biden’s […]
In recognition of the harm domestic violence causes to our communities, Chief Ben Barnes designated the month of October 2024 as “Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month” through Shawnee Tribe Proclamation 2024-10-03. “WHEREAS, the Shawnee Tribe recognizes domestic violence as a threat to tribal sovereignty and the basic human right of our citizens to thrive, […]