Pictured above: Left: Tom Ziegler, Lakota, arriving at the Mission; Above: Hand made face guard on horse
In April and May the Mission hosted 2 groups of distinguished American Indian guests!
Mary Thorpe and her family visited the Mission in April after a recognition ceremony for her grandfather, renowned athlete Jim Thorpe, at Chiefs Stadium. Mary’s visit began with a tour of the buildings and the Mission grounds and concluded with lunch, served on beautiful dinnerware given to the Mission by volunteers from the 1930’s. Mary asked many questions about the beginnings of the school and what was taught. She wanted to know if the Mission was a Federally mandated school or if the students attended voluntarily. Mission historians shared that the Shawnee tribe requested that the Methodist establish a school for their children, that it was initially a day school in Turner, Kansas and that after several years 22 tribes joined together and requested a boarding school that included the teaching of trades, including agriculture, blacksmithing, carpentry, spinning, weaving, sewing and others. They also shared that the tribes participated in the establishment of the school framework, 3 trimesters with most students going home after each, paid tuition, and were a part of any disciplinary action that occurred.
Mary is a member of the Absentee Shawnee tribe. Her family includes people who still live in the traditional way today. She said she had apprehension about her visit, due to recent boarding school publicity. Upon leaving she said she now understood the difference between the Mission and the post-Civil war Federally mandated schools. We are eager for Mary’s return!
Pictured above: Left – Kaw Nation Secretary Little Carol Clark, Kathy Gates, Mayor Hepperly, and Kaw Nation Chair Kim Jenkins at Kaw PowWow; Right: Dusk settles as the dancer moves to the arbor
On May 24, five horses, thundered westward down 53rd Street to the spring fed creek on the Mission’s property north of 53rd Street. Some riders were in full tribal regalia. The Mission was a lunch stop on The Trail of Mending, a 4-day ride through areas of the KC Metro area, today’s healing answer to the 1800’s Trails of Tears (relocations of tribal people from eastern homelands to central North America). While the mending idea emanated from the sorrows of American Indians, this mending was for anyone who wanted to participate. Mission volunteers and some community members joined trail riders for a mending circle before lunch. Thoughts were shared about ancestors, needs for healing physical and spiritual illness, and gratitude. Lakota Chief Izzy shared his wisdom and cultural traditions. Chief told the group that we have the answers that people are seeking within us…they are in our heart. Our heart can show our eyes how to see and tell our mind how to think and it will move people to caring and love.. After the Foundation’s lunch, the travelers rode off to the Liberty Memorial, their nighttime destination.
