For Immediate Release
Press Contact: media@shawnee-tribe.com
TOPEKA, KS – Kansas Governor Laura Kelley signed Senate Bill 405, authorizing the Kansas State Historical Society (KSHS), to convey the Shawnee Indian Cemetery located in Johnson County, to the Shawnee Tribe. The 0.52 acre parcel of land is the final resting place of Shawnee personages such as Chief Joseph Parks and family members of famous general Chief Bluejacket.
“The Shawnee Tribe considers the cemetery a sacred place, a traditional cultural property,” said Chief Ben Barnes. “We are committed to protecting the gravesites of our ancestors and to the preservation and conservation of the historical, archeological character of the site.”
The Shawnee Indian Cemetery is located near Nieman Road and W 59th Terrace, in Shawnee, Kansas. Chief Barnes and Second Chief Baldridge previously met with the leadership of the City of Shawnee with plans to continue relationship-building between the Shawnee Tribe and the City of Shawnee.
“Besides being a sacred site for our people, it also signifies the general location of our last true home,” said Second Chief Roy Baldridge. “We are grateful to the Kansas Legislature and the Governor’s office for the conveyance of the cemetery. We also appreciate the assistance of the Kansas Historic Preservation Office.”
The Kansas Attorney General has reviewed and approved the deeds and conveyance. The bill states the Shawnee Tribe agrees to pay all costs related to the conveyance and grants the State a historic preservation easement that will reflect current federal preservation laws regarding properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
WATCH 7-min video highlights of SB 405
EXPLORE Kansas legislature’s history of SB 405.
DOWNLOAD Chief Barnes written testimony for SB 405.
READ “Kansas bill aims to return sacred land to Shawnee Tribe” (Fox 4 Kansas City, Feb 8, 2022)
READ “A Visit to the Shawnee Indian Cemetery” (JoCoHistory, Oct 14, 2018)
READ “Shawnee Indian Cemetery” (KansasTravel.org, 2008)
***
About the Shawnee Tribe
The Shawnee Tribe is a sovereign nation of more than 3,700 citizens living across North America and abroad. Tribal headquarters are located in Miami, Oklahoma. Chief Benjamin J. Barnes was elected in 2019, and Second Chief Roy Baldridge took office in 2020. The Shawnee Tribe’s Kansas reservation was significantly reduced in 1854 and became allotted to individual Shawnee Tribal citizens by 1858, with some lands being held in common by Shawnee Tribal citizens of the Black Bob Band. However, aggression and abuse from white settlers before, during, and after the Civil War forced most Shawnees to relocate to northeastern Oklahoma. For more information, visit shawnee-nsn.gov.
This Lunch & Learn Meeting series aims to create a supportive and engaging Zoom community that allows survivors of domestic violence and intimate partner violence to learn about mental health, psychology, and personal growth through psychoeducation. No cost to join, and no registration necessary. Join us on Zoom with this link, noon to 1:00 PM […]
Check out recycling “Top 10 In The Bin” from the tribe’s Environmental Resources Department! What Can I Recycle? TOP 10 IN THE BIN Here is a list of the top 10 most recyclable items. 1. Cardboard 2. Paper 3. Food Boxes 4. Mail 5. Beverage Cans 6. Food Cans 7. Glass Bottles 8. Jars (Glass […]
As part of the ongoing clinical research project, Kipiyecipakiciipe “Coming home,” Dr. Evan White, Principal Investigator at Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR), and Dr. Deborah Jones-Saumty will be conducting a community readiness assessment regarding substance use intervention and prevention programming. The goal of the readiness assessment, or CRA, is to gain a comprehensive understanding […]
Shawnee language learners of all ages and abilities are invited to join the Shawnee Language Immersion Program for the 2025 Language Fair, Dinner and Stomp Dance on Saturday, July 26, at the Emma “Mock” Donaldson saawanwaatoweewika east of Miami, OK. Citizens of all three Shawnee nations are eligible to participate. Submissions will not be judged […]
Let’s show each other some love in saawanwaatoweewe (Shawnee language)! The tribe is hosting a Valentine’s Day card contest. Sincere, funny or somewhere in-between, we want to see your most creative cards, artwork, memes, or poetry. Email your entries to media@shawnee-tribe.com on or before next Wednesday, February 12. Entries must use Shawnee language. People’s Choice […]
February is Dating Violence Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about a serious issue that impacts people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. Dating violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used to gain power and control over a partner in a romantic relationship. It can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, […]
2K FOUNDATIONS SUPPORTING SHAWNEE LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION Updated February 20, 2025On February 3, tribal leaders and the Shawnee language team hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiling a newly renovated recording studio at the Emma “Mock” Donaldson saawanwaatoweewika (Shawnee language house) with citizens and staff from Firaxis Games. 2K Foundations, the charitable giving subsidiary of 2K Games, has provided generous support […]
From “The Ohio Country” Webpage: “This 12–episode series provides a perspective on the history of the region we now call Ohio that very few of us learned in school. It puts the experiences of Miami, Shawnee, Wyandotte, and other American Indian People at the center of a refreshed version of the state’s complicated past and […]