In mid-July, Nathan Nogelmeier, Fairway City Administrator, invited the 22 Native American tribes who sent children to the Mission school, plus 40 other tribes with aboriginal or other ties to the land to a special gathering at the Mission. His letter outlined several reasons for the meeting:
• to introduce the Mission and welcome some who might not know of its existence;
• to invite the tribes to collaborate with us on re-imagining the displays, programs and other offerings of the Mission; and
• to guide us in presenting all the varied perspectives on Mission history.
Although many of the tribes expressed interest in the Mission and an intent to collaborate on its future, they were unable to attend the first session. Representatives of four tribes – the Kaw Nation, the Wyandot Tribe of Kansas, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and The Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma – did gather at the Mission that September morning. The agenda for the day included a recap of the various owners and uses of the Mission property during its nearly two-hundred-year history; an explanation of the three-way partnership that currently owns and operates the Mission; and a brain-storming session on how the resources of the Mission can be used to educate and engage visitors.
After the formal presentations, the guests had lunch and then explored the Mission at their own pace, touring the buildings and perusing the collections. Mission staff and volunteers were on hand to answer questions about Mission activities, past and present.
By the end of the day, most of the tribal representatives agreed that this was an important first step toward a common goal. Our guests seemed eager to gather again and share ideas about how to present — accurately and truthfully—all the stories that unfolded here.
