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 hope this is one of many opportunities for our tribal leadership to build and strengthen relationships that lead to future partnerships and opportunities for our nation.”
The desire to visit the Shawnee Tribe was born from past trips both Chief Barnes and Chief Roy Baldridge made to Ohio for various historical and cultural events.
“Chief Barnes and I were able to share with the Governor the importance and deep cultural ties to our homelands in Ohio and surrounding areas, as well as key historic sites,” said Chief Baldridge.
Upon those initial talks, Governor DeWine indicated a desire to visit the Shawnee Tribe and better understand who the Shawnee are as a tribal nation. In addition to meeting with Chief Barnes and Second Chief Baldridge, the DeWines visited with staff in the Tribal Historic Preservation Department, and the Shawnee Language Immersion Program.
The Shawnee Tribe’s Behavioral Health Program is providing information in January for Stalking Awareness Month. Stalking is a serious and often misunderstood form of victimization. It involves a pattern of behaviors that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or experience significant emotional distress. Stalking is not rare, and it is not […]
Tire recycling (or rubber recycling) is the process of collecting worn-out tires and reprocessing them into useful materials instead of letting them take up space in landfills. Because tires are durable and don’t break down easily, recycling them protects the environment, reduces fire risks, and eliminates potential mosquito-breeding sites in improperly disposed tire piles. Common […]
For many people, the holiday season brings connection, celebration, and routine changes. But for survivors of domestic violence or past trauma, this time of year can also bring unexpected emotional challenges. Increased stress, family expectations, and sensory triggers can intensify anxiety, depression, and symptoms of PTSD. Holiday environments can activate the brain’s trauma pathways. Sensory […]
Common E-Waste Items: Why does it matter? Key Facts: Sources: World Health Organization
On Saturday, September 20, during the Annual Meeting of the Tribal Council, former Shawnee Chief Ron Sparkman gave a history and retrospective. In 2019, the Business Council gave Sparkman the title of Ambassador to the Shawnee Tribe. He served as Chief from 2001 to 2019. “We have come a long, long way,” said Ambassador Sparkman. […]
WHY SHOULD I RECYCLE? HOW DO I RECYCLE? Sources: earth911.com
by A. Gwynn Henderson and David Pollack The original mouth of the Scioto River, in what is now southern Ohio, is far from Oklahoma. So far, perhaps, it has been forgotten. But important events in Shawnee history—in the mid-1700s and thousands of years earlier—took place there. Two painted panels on Portsmouth, Ohio’s floodwall highlight its […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MIAMI, OK — The Shawnee Tribe has declared a state of emergency and released emergency funds to assist citizens who may lose access to food assistance following the federal government’s suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The U.S. Department of Agriculture notified the Tribe on October 22 that SNAP operations will […]