Posted on Jan 4, 2023
Shawnee Tribe seeks control over Indian Mission in Fairway, says historic site is in 'deep...
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A report commissioned by the Shawnee Tribe concluded up to $13 million in restoration and repairs are needed at the longtime Native American boarding school. But the city of Fairway, which is responsible for maintaining the site, says it has no plans to transfer ownership.
The Shawnee Tribe is seeking to take control of the Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway, saying the historic site is deteriorating and in need of millions of dollars in repairs.
But city officials dispute some of the key findings of a tribe-commissioned report, foreshadowing a potential battle over one of Johnson County’s most recognizable landmarks as tribal leaders press state lawmakers to transfer ownership of the site.
Shawnee Chief Ben Barnes said a tribe-commissioned report conducted by California-based Architectural Resources Group, a firm specializing in historic preservation, shows that the Mission “is in deep distress and is an endangered site.”
The Shawnee Tribe is seeking to take control of the Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway, saying the historic site is deteriorating and in need of millions of dollars in repairs.
But city officials dispute some of the key findings of a tribe-commissioned report, foreshadowing a potential battle over one of Johnson County’s most recognizable landmarks as tribal leaders press state lawmakers to transfer ownership of the site.
Shawnee Chief Ben Barnes said a tribe-commissioned report conducted by California-based Architectural Resources Group, a firm specializing in historic preservation, shows that the Mission “is in deep distress and is an endangered site.”
Shawnee Tribe seeks control over Indian Mission in Fairway, says historic site is in 'deep...
Posted from kcur.org
Native Americans
Fairway
American History
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The Shawnee Indian Mission was founded as a boarding school in the 1830s on land that the Shawnee Tribe had been forced to relocate to from their ancestral lands further east.
The tribe in recent years has pushed for a fuller accounting of the treatment and potential deaths of Native children at the mission.
Fairway said ARG requested “minimal historical information” from KHS when preparing its report, though the state holds previous site preservation records.
The city also said it wasn’t clear if the tribe would be able to put the same amount of resources towards preserving the site as the state has, pointing out that the tribe has so far relied on grant funding to do some of its preliminary studies of the site.
“Sadly, this attempt by Chief Barnes to disparage KHS and the city of the conditions of the buildings is not his first,” the message reads. “In the spring of last year, Chief Barnes lobbied a national organization to label the site as ‘endangered,’ using the same ARG report.”
In addition, the city suggested tribal leaders wanted to acquire the Mission site with the ultimate aim to “use the site for economic development.”
Barnes flatly rejected that notion, telling the Post in an email, “Any claim that the Tribe has motives other than restoring this sacred site for the public benefit is baseless. This site is in distress and the Shawnee Tribe has already invested significant resources to ensure it remains a historic treasure for generations to come.”
..."The Shawnee Indian Mission was founded as a boarding school in the 1830s on land that the Shawnee Tribe had been forced to relocate to from their ancestral lands further east.
The tribe in recent years has pushed for a fuller accounting of the treatment and potential deaths of Native children at the mission.
Fairway said ARG requested “minimal historical information” from KHS when preparing its report, though the state holds previous site preservation records.
The city also said it wasn’t clear if the tribe would be able to put the same amount of resources towards preserving the site as the state has, pointing out that the tribe has so far relied on grant funding to do some of its preliminary studies of the site.
“Sadly, this attempt by Chief Barnes to disparage KHS and the city of the conditions of the buildings is not his first,” the message reads. “In the spring of last year, Chief Barnes lobbied a national organization to label the site as ‘endangered,’ using the same ARG report.”
In addition, the city suggested tribal leaders wanted to acquire the Mission site with the ultimate aim to “use the site for economic development.”
Barnes flatly rejected that notion, telling the Post in an email, “Any claim that the Tribe has motives other than restoring this sacred site for the public benefit is baseless. This site is in distress and the Shawnee Tribe has already invested significant resources to ensure it remains a historic treasure for generations to come.”
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