Jim Lee’s connection to the Shawnee Indian Mission is deeply personal, rooted in both family and heritage. His journey began in the late 1970s, when he started exploring his family genealogy. He knew his great-grandmother was Shawnee and had lived in Kansas City in the mid-1800s. This search led him to the Shawnee Indian Mission in the early 1980s, where he found references to his Silverheel ancestors. One figure stood out: Moses Silverheel, his great-grandmother’s uncle, who raised her after she was orphaned and had served as a prominent leader and mission school overseer during its time in Fairway.
Over the years, Jim continued to uncover stories tied to both his family and the land. In the mid-1980s, he and his brother investigated a 40-acre tract in Leawood that they believed had never been properly sold—land tied to his grandmother and possibly still protected under allotment laws. He also located the burial site of his 2nd and 3rd great- grandparents on their original property.
In March 2024, Jim joined the Board of Directors at the Shawnee Indian Mission Foundation. A long-time visitor and researcher at the mission, Jim brings a personal lens to the history preserved on the grounds. He credits John Forbes, who runs the mission’s research library, for being a vital resource throughout his years of study.
Jim envisions a broader, more inclusive future for the Shawnee Indian Mission Foundation. While he applauds the new in-person learning events, he also sees opportunities to expand the mission’s reach through online programming. Virtual events and a library of recorded presentations could make the mission’s history more accessible to the public and bring in voices from across the country who may not be able to visit in person.
For Jim, Indigenous representation at the mission is essential. More than 20 tribes, along with many non Native children, had students who attended the school. He emphasizes that if tribes wish to be represented in exhibits or programming, the mission should welcome their contributions. He also challenges the oversimplified narrative of the mission as a government-run boarding school, noting that many Native parents sent their children there in hopes of preparing them for a changing world.
Jim Lee continues to advocate for truth, inclusion, and understanding—ensuring the stories of the Shawnee people and others who walked the mission grounds are preserved and shared with care and accuracy.