Randy Vissing: “Lenawe Nilla” by Paula Mchugh a Mystery, Or Maybe Better Described As a Perplexity, Had Haunt- Ed Randy Vissing for Decades
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Volume 17, Number 21 Thursday, May 31, 2001 Randy Vissing: “Lenawe Nilla” by Paula McHugh A mystery, or maybe better described as a perplexity, had haunt- ed Randy Vissing for decades. Never quite able to pinpoint why he felt that his family was some- how “different” from the others he observed as a young boy growing up in Northwest Indiana, Randy proceeded on with his life, marry- ing, becoming a father, and settling down in Long Beach. That nagging enigma evoked among other things, memories of out-of-earshot conversations between Randy’s grandmother and grandfather. Their words were spoken in a mystifying tongue, one unknown to Randy. And the bits of folk wisdom and remedies from his mother, such as suggesting he go out and find a willow bark branch when he lost his toothbrush, also hinted of the uncommon. Randy said that his family had told him he was of German and French descent, and who was he to question otherwise, with the surname, Vissing? So, it came as a surprise, but not exactly as a shock, when Randolph (a French name) Vissing (a German name) discovered his Shawnee heritage. Lenawe Nilla—I Am Shawnee “I found the information when I was looking for my mother’s birth certificate approximately four years ago,” Randy said. “I discovered that my grandfather had been a full-blooded Shawnee, and my grand- mother, one-half Shawnee.” Before this discovery, the Vissings— Randy, Sue, and Blake had attended sever- Red, yellow, black, green and white beads, ribbons, al public pow feathers and fringe adorn this young lady. wows in South Bend. “Going to them kinda started things,” Sue said. “Randy would say, ‘these people all look like me.’” “It’s been a weird journey. I always felt different,” Randy said. In his digging for more information about his fami- ly genealogy, Randy, described himself “at first total- ly ignorant” about the Shawnee culture. But now, after visits to the Shawnee reservations in Oklahoma and Kansas and meeting long-unknown blood kin, Randy is beginning to assimilate the history and significance of his Native American heritage. Blake, Sue and Randy Vissing talked about their travels to the Shawnee lands in Kansas and Oklahoma. Randy Vissing Continued on Page 2 Page 2 May 31, 2001 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.bbpnet.com/Beacher/ Published and Printed by THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS 911 Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also Subscription Rates delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. 1 year $26 6 months $14 3 months $8 1 month $3 Randy Vissing Continued from Page 1 Wehyahpilerhnwah = Bluejacket “My mother’s family name was Bluejacket,” Randy said, adding that the Shawnee were bro- ken into three tribes: the Eastern, Loyal, and Absentee. Randy said that when his elderly mom was getting to a point where she couldn’t talk much, he started asking many questions. He learned that both his mom and his aunt changed their surnames. “That was a common practice. My mom said that ‘you don’t tell enemies what your real name is.’” The Bluejackets originated from the eastern tribe, and along with Tecumseh (Loyal), Cornstalk, the Prophet, and Black Hoof, Bluejacket was a famous Randy and Blake enjoyed a sweet spring breeze while visiting the reservation cemetery for members of the Bluejacket family. leader and Chief. Randy was quick to point out that today, Shawnee leaders are called chairmen, not “chiefs.” Randy, wife Sue and son Blake traveled to Oklahoma recently to participate in the U.S. government’s official recognition of the Shawnee Nation. Until this year when the tribe gained official autonomy, the Shawnee had been assimilated in with the Cherokees. The Vissings not only met new relatives for the first Randy and Blake stand by a long list of their Bluejacket relatives at the official recognition ceremonies in Oklahoma. Randy discovered that the Reverend Charles Bluejacket The Vissings visited the Bluejacket family cemetery during their had been his great great uncle. recent trip to Oklahoma and Kansas. May 31, 2001 Page 3 Open ‘til 7 p.m. Evenings wwwElegant.littlehousef Apparelashions.com for the [email protected] Fashion Conscious Woman Women’s Apparel All Summer Clearance Up to 30% Off Two of Randy’s Shawnee cousins whom he met at the ceremony. time—there were between 30 and 40 Bluejackets at the ceremony, they said— they also had an opportu- nity to participate in a Stomp Dance, visit the Bluejacket family cemetery and town of the same name. And they brought back photos of the colorful ceremony and celebration, which they agreed to share with Beacher readers. The Vissings said that only certain people are allowed to participate in the Sacred Bread Dance. The Bread Dance is traditionally celebrated in the spring, at planting time, and in the autumn, at harvest time. A third, the Green Corn Dance, occurs during the ripen- ing of the crops. The Shawnee, considered descendants of the Delaware, originally lived in the areas now known as Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia and were dri- ven from their lands by the Iroquois. As white settlers continued to move westward, the Shawnee also were eventually forced to Oklahoma. Randy Vissing Continued on Page 4 Tent Sale BARGAINS 75% off Last Sale Price Meet Us For Lunch And A Style Show THURSDAY, MAY 31 - ROSKOE’S, LA PORTE THURSDAY, JUNE 7 - TIPPECANOE PLACE, SOUTH BEND 409409 AlexandrerAlexander Street Street LaPorte, LaPorte, IN IN 326-8602326-8602 OnOn Hwy Hwy 3535 -- 5 Blocks SouthSouth of of Lincolnway Lincolnway TTurnurn Right onon AlexanderAlexander Only certain select members are allowed to participate in the Bread MondayMonday-Friday - Friday 9:3010 to to 6 7 Saturday Saturday 9:309:30 to 5 Dance, but everyone is invited to join in for the Stomp dance. Page 4 May 31, 2001 Randy Vissing Continued from Page 3 Bluejacket Tecumseh, Panther Passing Across The Shawnee leader Bluejacket, born in the mid- Randy is currently reading a history by British writer 1700’s, captured Daniel Boone in 1778. Boone, because John Sugden, and at our interview he had several vol- he so often was able to elude the Shawnee, was espe- umes spread on a table. Prominent among the titles cially respected by the tribe. They “adopted” him was a book about Tecumseh, the most respected and that same year. famous of the Shawnee chiefs. Noting that I had “My son, you are now flesh of our flesh and bone of taken up a great deal of the Vissing’s evening listening our bone. By the ceremony performed this day, every to their fascinating story, I took my leave and spent drop of white blood was washed from your veins; you the next few days digging into a little history on my were taken into the Shawnee nation…you were adopt- own. ed into a great family.” Tecumseh’s name translated is “The Panther (Adoption of Daniel Boone, 1778) —Black Fish Passing Across” and originates from a meteor that (Shawnee) “passed across” the sky at the time of his birth in 1768, believed to signify his eventual place within the In 1791, Bluejacket led many tribes working togeth- Shawnee tribe as a great leader. Tecumseh refused er to defeat President Washington’s army sent to the to sign treaties giving up land to the Americans, and Ohio region. The army, lead by Arthur St. Clair, sought to unify all the Native American tribes against reportedly suffered the greatest defeat by Indians in further expansion. Whether fiction or fact, reports from American history. Three years later, Bluejacket and early records noted that Tecumseh, two years before his warriors were defeated by General Anthony his death at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1813, report- Wayne’s army at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, and con- edly had told several chiefs of southern tribes that he ceded half the land that is now Ohio to the American would “stomp his feet and cause the earth to shake” government. as a sign to unify the tribes in battle against further Randy is continually learning new things about his land encroachments. An earthquake, preceded by a cultural heritage, from both books and in talking meteor 30 days earlier, did occur later that same with his newfound Shawnee relatives. year. Tecumseh, said to come from a family of prophets, After witnessing what Randy described as “histo- is also said to have predicted the time and circumstances ry in the making” during the Shawnee nation feder- of his own death. al recognition ceremonies, it’s a sure bet that the Vissings will be returning to Oklahoma for many more visits. This celebrant holds the head of a eagle in his right had, and the shield of the Loyal Shawnee A closer look at the eagle’s head, Dressed for the Sacred Ceremony. tribe in the other. used in sacred ceremonies. May 31, 2001 Page 5 New Nursery Clark’s Secret Garden 504 Eastwood (Moore) Road 1 ⁄2 mile south of Hwy. 12 Michigan City (219) 879-0089 Semicircular rows of sacred eagle feathers, whose possession www.clarkssecretgarden.com is allowed only by Native Americans. All others are forbidden to own them by federal law. Beautiful, well-loved plants grown at our nursery. 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