There were various activities and meetings in the first quarter of 2024 that brought the three partners together who own, maintain and manage the Shawnee Indian Mission Historic Landmark.
The Shawnee Indian Mission experiences a brief period of dormancy each winter, but this year, the quiet was interrupted by news of HR2208, a bill that could alter the Mission’s fate. The bill proposes transferring ownership of the Mission grounds and structures to the Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. With just a week to prepare, the Mission partners, the City of Fairway, the Kansas State Historical Society, and the Shawnee Indian Mission Foundation, rallied to gather testimony against the proposed transfer.
The partners sought to convey the different aspects of the Mission’s importance to the community, state, and region. They also reached out to other tribes, such as the Kaw Nation, who oppose the transfer and advocate for continued state ownership with input from all tribes.
At the public hearing on January 24, Chief Ben Barnes of the Shawnee Tribe presented arguments for the transfer, citing the poor condition of Mission structures and the sacredness of the land to the Shawnee. However, it was revealed that a study commissioned by the Shawnee contained factual errors and was not shared with the owner. Mission operator, or the Foundation.
With limited time remaining, opponents of the conveyance finally had their say. Mayor Melanie Hemperly emphasized the Mission’s significance of the Mission’s large physical size and enormous historical significance. She expressed doubt about the ability of a single tribe to maintain it. Ken Bellmard of the Kaw Nation asserted that the land was their homeland for centuries prior to the Shawnee’s arrival and criticized the Shawnee lack of consultation with other tribes.
Local historians highlighted the Mission’s pivotal role in Kansas history, including its connection to the vote for statehood and its use by Union soldiers and pioneers headed West. They emphasized the Mission’s broader significance beyond its association with the Shawnee tribe.
Kathy Gates of the Shawnee Indian Mission Foundation praised the volunteers who have worked tirelessly to preserve the Mission’s legacy. She highlighted the support from citizens and vowed to make sure that a hundred-year legacy of citizens would be continued for decades more by keeping the Mission in public State ownership.
Significantly, many residents in this area and throughout the State are also in support of opposition to HB 2208. The representatives, senators in the legislature and the House Committee on Federal and State Affairs has received hundreds of letters in opposition.
Despite the opposition, Chief Barnes and his supporters, backed by significant funding, continue their efforts to acquire the Mission. The involvement of lobbyists and publicists suggests plans for the Mission that remain unclear to its defenders.
To secure the Mission’s future for the decades to come, a broad based, committed coalition of all who benefit from its history and land will be necessary.
