Finding our way ho The Great Lakes Woodland People The Indiana Historian A Magazine Exploring Indiana History Indiana—the Land of the Indians— On page 3, Rita Kohn, the playwright, Focus recognizes its earliest residents through describes the source of the play and its name. Most Hoosiers today, however, provides context for its content, casting, know little about the history of the and staging. This publication is dedicated to Lora American Indians who occupied this On pages 4 through 11, the Speakers Marks Siders, Miami Elder and Teacher. land before and after statehood in 1816. in the play are introduced using excerpts Most Hoosiers are also unaware of the from their narratives. Portraits of some We gratefully acknowledge all the Elders growing numbers of American Indians of the Speakers are also included. and Teachers who guide us, especially the living and working in Indiana today. On pages 12 and 13, there is a brief Narrators, whose oral histories are the This issue of The Indiana Historian—a introduction to the Woodland People— basis for the play, People of the Turtle. collaboration with the Indiana American the People of the Turtle, whose stories Indian Theatre Company (IAITCo.)—is are the subject and content of the play. part of an effort to heighten the knowl- Some background on the IAITCo. and On the front cover: The Elder spoke edge of Hoosiers about Indiana’s Ameri- key people involved is presented on page that there are fewer than a handful of can Indian connections—past, present, 14. these “Trail Trees” left in Indiana today. and future. It is a guide to accompany Extensive selected resources are These special gifts were made for our the 2001 original play, People of the provided on page 15. People as they journeyed to find their Turtle. It can also stand alone as a For more information about the way back home to the loved ones in the starting place for readers interested in Indiana American Indian Theatre circle. Intentionally bent, this magnifi- learning about, and from, the American Company, call 317-580-0882 or visit cent tree still stands. As I stood there, I Indian Speakers whose stories are www.bearcreekgallery.com. could see and feel the others, ancestors, presented here. from times past in the shadows . and hear the whispers they spoke, About the symbols “go now, and find YOUR way home.” The symbols and art pieces scattered the Web site of the Indiana Historical With great humility I thank the Elders throughout the text are reminders of our Bureau (www.IN.gov/history). As the and Ancestors for this gift to share with truths. Native Art, as well as other art, turtle walks throughout the pages, notice you. May we all find our way home is a visual language of what we hold in how sometimes it may be with speed or safely. Aho. STands. our hearts. I invite you to discover what even a slow pace; in the end, his journey Editorial note: STands has shown the these symbols mean by asking an Elder complete, his home is within and shadows of the Ancestors in the fore- of Native descent and continue some of surrounds himself. ground. The “Trail Trees” originally the oral traditions; you may also go the Walk in Beauty. STands. functioned to guide people to the villages. Thank you The portraits of the Speakers Indiana Historical Bureau to place the The Indiana Historian Colored photographs in Always a color portraits on its Web site at September 2001 ISSN 1071-3301 People are from the original 20" x 24" oil www.IN.gov/history. Order Number 7052 on canvas portraits by Evelyn J. Ritter, “Finding our way home” has been Editor which are a portion of the Dr. Mike and Pamela J. Bennett supported by the Department of History, Linda Shinkle Collection of Woodland Lead Researcher Ball State University and by a grant Paula A. Bongen Leaders—The People of the Turtle. For from the Indiana Humanities Council/ Designer additional information about the unique Dani B. Pfaff National Endowment for the Humanities. Contributing Editors story of the people in this collection, Carole M. Allen, Janine Beckley, Paula Bongen, Alan Conant, Dani B. Pfaff, please address questions to The Dr. Mike James Williams and Linda Shinkle Collection, PO Box The Indiana Historian provides resources and models 3442, Peoria, IL 61612 or call 309-693- for the study of local history to encourage Indiana’s citizens of all ages to become engaged with the history 7128. of their communities and the state of Indiana. For information regarding portrait The Indiana Historical Bureau thanks The Indiana Historian (formerly The Indiana Jun- Rita Kohn and Stands Tall Woman for ior Historian) is issued occasionally. Back issues are availabilities in The People of the Turtle available at individual and bulk pricing. exhibit, please contact the President, sharing their knowledge and talents in Some back issues of this magazine are available to the production of this issue. visually impaired patrons in audio format, courtesy of Minnetrista Cultural Center, 1200 N. the Indiana History Project of the Indiana Historical Minnetrista Parkway, Muncie, IN 47303- Thanks to those who helped make Society. Tapes are available through the Talking Books 2925 or call 765-282-4848. Program of the Indiana State Library; contact the Talk- Always a People possible: Rita Kohn, W. ing Books Program, 317-232-3702. The portraits are presented in this Lynwood Montell, R. David Edmunds, The Indiana Historian is copyrighted. Educators publication with deep appreciation to Dr. may reproduce items for class use, but no part of the and Michelle Mannering. publication may be reproduced in any way for profit Michael Shinkle and Mrs. Linda Shinkle, without written permission of the Indiana Historical who own the copyrights. The portrait Sponsors of the play production: Bureau. 140 North Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, IN Union Federal Bank, Bear Creek at River 46204; 317-232-2535. images have been cropped for design and E-MAIL [email protected] space purposes on pp. 4-11. Dr. and Mrs. Crossing, Interim Solutions LLC, and INTERNET www.IN.gov/history Shinkle have most graciously allowed the Friends of IAITCo. 2 The Indiana Historian © 2001 Indiana Historical Bureau People of the Turtle —in their own voices History transmitted through theatre is This is not theatre with its “fourth one of the oldest activities of human- wall” through which the audience is kind. People of the Turtle is a drama supposed to see and hear but not intended to expose commonly-held participate. This production asks each stereotypes about American Indians, to person in the audience to cross the demonstrate their diversity, rich heri- boundaries between stage and seats, not tage, present lives, and hopes for the in a voyeuristic sense, which implies future, and to help members of each eavesdropping, but in a welcoming way audience move toward more accurate that opens each person to the unfolding understandings of the contributions of of a story. It is a story in which each Indiana’s longest continuous residents. person plays a part, makes a difference, What is now Indiana was once and has a future voice linked with the woodland, heavily forested land with past—good, bad, or indifferent. waterways sustaining wild animals, The Woodland People worldview is birds, and fish. The land and water also the inheritance of all people. It comes sustained the Woodland People and their with the place they had to vacate so a sophisticated system of agriculture and new wave of residents could alter that wide-ranging trade. The United States place to suit their own, old-world view. government in the mid-nineteenth When Europeans came to settle the century forcibly removed the majority of Northwest Territory they set about the Woodland People from this land. The cutting down trees to bend the place to government took away not only their way the old way of life from which they had of supporting themselves economically, fled, supposedly to make a new life. but also their spiritual and cultural base. When the Woodland People were driven Rooted, not entrenched in a past that from Indiana to Missouri, to Kansas, to always is present, Woodland People have Oklahoma, they adapted to the geogra- always been prepared to weather the phy, flora, and fauna of each new next season, to grow into it, to move location, achieving an at-one-ness that forward as determinedly as the seeds of incorporated their core beliefs and the trees that mark both their unique- values. They had to find new ways to ness and universality. Their business of feed, clothe, and shelter themselves. In life is multi-dimensional, multi-faceted, the process, some of the material and multi-plied. historical culture was taken away, lost. The two-act play is divided into eight People of the Turtle is a dramatization Yet the qualities of endurance, reclama- scenes. Act I is constantly moving. It of life, spoken individually in collective tion, and optimism are ever present. covers memories of childhood, school voices. The speeches in the play are This play demonstrates why and how and prejudice, what happens when use of culled from longer narratives printed in this is true. the native language is forbidden, how Always a People, a benchmark work that The world of the play is a Tableau of spirituality continues despite hard times. presents the unedited words of contem- thirty-one different people from seven- Act II is more a coming together with porary people of Great Lakes Woodland teen different tribes. It is presented as stories, dancing and singing, a return to descent.