WE ARE STILL HERE

The Piqua Shawnee, descendants of the mound builders, have been a presence in the Ohio Valley since time immemorial. They were driven from place to place as the whites invaded their territories. During Removal many were forced to move west to reservation land, but some stayed living in remote areas and in some cases intermarrying with whites. Today their descendants are scattered throughout the region. The Piqua Shawnee organized as a tribe in 1990 to bring people together. Three times a year they meet for ceremony in Kentucky (central location for the tribe spread out across the North East (Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky), breaking the long silence and hide-out mentality forced upon them. For over 5 years, With historian, Janet Clinger and myself, we documented two generations of Piqua Shawnee Tribal members committed to keeping their Native culture alive and thriving chronicling the ongoing cultural revitalization process taking place within the Tribe. In that time we were proud to become honorary members of the tribe.