Great Council State Park is a first-of-its-kind interpretative center developed by the three federally recognized Shawnee tribes and the state of Ohio.
Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma Chief Glenna Wallace has been pushing for a space like Great Council for decades. In this episode, Wallace talks about her dreams for the future of the Shawnee people in Ohio.
Great Council State Park
Watch the video below to see and hear the grand opening of Great Council State Park in its entirety.
Great Council Park has been open for around four months and has had thousands of visitors.
Octagon Earthworks
Below is a statement from The Shawnee Tribe in August 2024 after it was announced that the ownership of the Octagon Earthworks in Licking County east of Columbus would be transferred from the Moundbuilders Golf Club back to the Ohio History Connection:
"The Shawnee Tribe has historical connections to more than two dozen states, necessitating that we maintain countless working relationships with various organizations and communities. Among these, the Ohio History Connection has consistently set the gold standard for meaningful consultation with Indian tribes. Their dedication to preserving and advancing our shared history is commendable and aligns with our values. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Ohio History Connection. Together, we will ensure that the Octagon Earthworks and other Shawnee cultural sites and resources are protected and accessible, allowing for vibrant visitor experiences."
Starting in 2025, the History Connection will open the Octagon Earthworks to the public, and its American Indian Policy (discussed in episode 11) will be applied at the property. Previously, the Golf Club only allowed the public to visit the earthworks a few select days a year. That means citizens of federally recognized will be able to visit the culturally significant earthworks that their ancestors built much more frequently.
In this episode, Chief Glenna discusses how seeing the Octagon Earthworks being used as a golf course inspired her to take action and change how the Shawnee and their ancestors were being represented in their homelands. Numerous other citizens of federally recognized tribes experienced a similar reaction when seeing the Moundbuilders Country Club, including Josh Garcia, a citizen of the Wyandotte Tribe, who wrote an op-ed about it in the Newark Advocate.
The Ohio Country Season 2
We are tentatively planning to produce a second season of The Ohio Country—trust us, there are many other stories to tell.
Thanks so much for listening. Please rate, review, share, and subscribe to The Ohio Country.
