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Lake historians welcome Shawnee chief About 40 people were in attendance during the Indian Lake Area Historical Society meeting Monday evening to hear a new perspective on Indian Lake history offered by Chief Chongo of the Deer Clan of the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band. Chief Chongo shared a brief history of how the Shawnee came to be more than 12,000 years ago in Mexico and how they migrated across the Gulf of Mexico to Florida after being made slaves by the Myan community. He said when the migration began, the tribe divided into two groups, following the Indian belief that “one surely is the right choice” to ensure survival of the nation. From Florida, the group migrated north, eventually settling in Ohio and neighboring states, before they were states. He recounted the history of the conflict between English settlers and the Native Americans and how the tribe found friendship and formed alliances with the Amish and African American communities that continue today. His story included an account of a Shawnee woman handing her child to an Amish woman as she began her trek on the Trail of Tears, with no words spoken, only an understanding that the child’s survival depended upon the exchange. He also said it was his mission, “my personal commitment to retain the land (Zane Shawnee Caverns and Southwind Park)” recovered in 1995 through an agreement with the government and asked for any community assistance to help the tribe to that end. Finally, he shared with the group “the one guiding principal of the Shawnee Nation — Do no harm,” words the tribe lives by. During the business meeting, the group elected Ralph Krouskop, Gene Rice and Dave Bohla to serve as board of trustee members, joining Bob MacDonald, Perry Hodies and Ron Duning, who also served as the organization’s president. The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 at Galilee Lutheran Church. |