Shawnee Tribe presses for control of former Native American boarding school

February 27, 2025

The Shawnee Tribe is advocating for control over the former Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway, Kansas, aiming to preserve the site’s history and address concerns about its current operations. The tribe’s second attempt to reclaim the land, where Native children endured assimilation practices from 1839-1862, faces opposition from the Kansas Historical Society, Fairway, and a nonprofit managing the site. A bill introduced by Rep. Tom Kessler would transfer the land to the Shawnee Tribe with stipulations, including prohibiting casino development. The tribe plans a multi-million dollar restoration, emphasizing cultural preservation.

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