Miami University

Chiefs of three tribes hold a homecoming at Miami

10/19/2000

Leaders of three of the most prominent nations that originally inhabited the Miami Valley region-the Miami, the Delaware and the Shawnee-are coming back to their Ohio homeland Friday, October 27, to celebrate a homecoming. Meeting at Miami University will be Chief Floyd Leonard of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, Chief Dee Ketchum of the Delaware Tribe of Indians and James Squirrel, chairman of the Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.

The public is invited to attend two presentations in Leonard Theatre in Miami University’s Peabody Hall.

Tribal leaders will speak in a panel session from 2-3:30 p.m. Other guests will contribute to discussions from 3:30-5 p.m.

Anticipated topics include past and current customs and traditions, the tribes’ early struggles for survival and current quests to recapture important elements of their culture-particularly language, current business operations of their tribes, governance and issues they face today.

The second session will include discussions and a stomp dance explanation and demonstration. The sessions will be facilitated by Julie Olds, secretary/ treasurer of the Miami Tribe and tribal liaison to the university.

Later that evening, the Miami, Delaware and Shawnee guests will present an Oklahoma stomp dance as part of an "After Dark" event. An informational session explaining stomp dance will begin at 9 p.m. and dancing will continue until 10:30 p.m. The stomp dance will be held behind Shriver Center. Rain location will be Shriver’s multipurpose room.

The Miami Tribe is co-hosting the homecoming with Miami’s division of student affairs.