A Kansas House committee on Wednesday heard divided testimony on a bill that would allow the Shawnee tribe to take control of the Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway, a state owned by Kansas for nearly 100 years. The legislative hearing comes after more than two years of debate over the future of Kansas' most historically significant landmark. Chief Ben Barnes of the Shawnee Tribe pushed for research to find out whether Indigenous children who attended the site's former manual labor school in the 1800s were buried in unmarked graves on the land. He believes his tribe is best placed to control the search for any children's graves by owning the land. “It makes a lot of sense for us to be a key partner in this location,” Barnes said Wednesday. “It's a Shawnee place. It's Shawnee territory, so it makes sense that a Shawnee presence would have a voice. Barnes shared his explanation and a $15 million plan to restore buildings at the site with the commission. But Fairway city leaders and the Kansas State Historical Society and members of the Kaw Nation don't want the Legislature to transfer 12 acres of land to the Shawnee Tribe, saying the land and buildings have a deeper history More than just a manual labor school. The city of Fairway, operators of the Shawnee Indian Mission, has invited talks with 21 other tribes that have children who have attended the manual labor school. “We want the full story of the mission to be told,” Fairway City Manager Nathan Nogelmeier said. “And to be available to everyone. For them to come and see and hear, and we believe the only way is for the state to remain theirs. Before the Shawnee tribe. “We have a vested interest in the areas that we already control,” Ken Belmard, a government affairs officer for the Kaw Tribe, told the commission. “We have a vested interest in the areas that we already control,” Belmard told KMBC after hearing, then they can basically do whatever they want with it. Chairman Barnes committed to a legislative committee on Wednesday that he would not build any type of casino on the site and said his goal was to preserve history. It marked the first hearing on House Bill 2208 in Kansas state headquarters. You can watch the entire session here. The bill never reached committee during last year's legislative session. There was no vote Wednesday at the hearing. Who should own the Shawnee Indian Mission and search for possible burial grounds for Indigenous children — are the central questions of the new KMBC chronicle: Children of the Shawnee Mission, which will be released for the first time on Jan. 30 at 7 p.m.
A Kansas House committee on Wednesday heard divided testimony on a bill that would allow the Shawnee tribe to control the House. Shawnee Indian Mission In Fairway, Kansas, an estate for nearly 100 years.
The legislative hearing comes after more than two years of debate over the future of Kansas' most historically significant landmark.
Chief Ben Barnes of the Shawnee Tribe pushed for research to find out whether Indigenous children who attended the site's former manual labor school in the 1800s were buried in unmarked graves on the land.
Barnes believes his tribe is best placed to control the search for any children's graves by owning the land.
“It makes a lot of sense for us to be an anchor partner for this site,” Barnes said Wednesday. “It's a Shawnee place. It's Shawnee territory, so it makes sense that the Shawnee's presence would have a voice.
Barnes shared his interpretation and $15 million plan To restore buildings on site with the committee.
But Fairway city leaders, members of the Kansas State Historical Society and members of the Kaw Nation don't want the Legislature to transfer 12 acres of land to the Shawnee Tribe, saying the land and buildings have a deeper history than just the work school evidence.
The City of Fairway, operators of the Shawnee Indian Mission, has invited talks with 21 other tribes that have children who attend the manual labor school.
“We want the full story of the mission to be told, available for everyone to come and see and hear, and we believe the only way to do that is for the state to remain in ownership,” Fairway City Manager Nathan Nogelmeier said.
The Kaw Tribe opposes handing over ownership of the Shawnee Indian Mission, saying they existed before the Shawnee.
“We have a vested interest in the areas we have already controlled,” Ken Belmard, government affairs officer for the Kau Nation, told the committee.
“Once that land is transferred to the tribe, they get it into federal trust, and then they can do whatever they want with it,” Belmar told KMBC after the hearing.
Chairman Barnes committed to the legislative committee on Wednesday that he would not build any type of casino on the site, and said his goal is to preserve history.
Wednesday saw the first hearing House Bill 2208 At the Kansas State House. You can watch the entire hearing here.
The bill did not reach the committee during last year's legislative session. There was no vote on Wednesday at the hearing.
Who should own the Shawnee Indian Mission and search for possible burials of Native children — are the main questions for KMBC's new chronicle: Children of the Shawnee Mission, which will debut Jan. 30 at 7 p.m.
