WYSO’s coverage of Native American life, history, and sovereignty centers American Indian voices and perspectives from Ohio and beyond. These stories explore a wide range of issues—from land acknowledgments and tribal recognition to contemporary Native art, education, language revitalization, and political activism.
In the Miami Valley, many residents are unaware that the land they live on was once home to the Shawnee, Miami, and other nations who were forcibly removed in the 19th century. Our reporting aims to bridge that gap in public knowledge by connecting with federally recognized tribal citizens, especially those whose ancestors were displaced from Ohio.
WYSO also highlights ongoing efforts by American Indian communities to protect sacred sites, reclaim traditional practices, and resist erasure. Whether it's a conversation with educators, a feature on musicians, or a look at the intersections of environmental justice and land rights, these stories seek to elevate Indigenous truth-telling in a region that often overlooks its Native past and present.
This tag includes interviews, documentaries, news features, and commentary that honor the diversity and resilience of American Indian peoples.
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In 1843, the Wyandot tribe was forced to leave Ohio. They had to walk 150 miles from Upper Sandusky to Cincinnati, leaving behind all they built in the Sandusky River Valley.
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Tecumseh is a renowned Shawnee leader known for his resistance to American colonialism. The Sunday event in Springfield gave his descendants a chance to visit their Ohio homelands and share their lives with Ohioans.
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The event will be held at the Springfield Museum of Art on Sunday, Oct. 12 ahead of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
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The fourth book in a series about a teacher who can see ghosts tackles the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women in a Michigan resort town setting.
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Educator Gwen Agna discusses her memoir on community-centered leadership and creating equitable schools. Plus, a bonus interview with late Indigenous flutist Kevin Locke.
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REACH Indigenous Advocacy and Levitt Pavilion Dayton will host a free arts and music event this Saturday, Aug 9 – the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
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The U.S. exit from the United Nations’ cultural agency leaves some archaeologists and American Indian leaders worried that Ohio’s Serpent Mound will face big barriers to being listed as a World Heritage site.
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Great Council State Park is the only Ohio state park built in collaboration with any of Ohio’s historic tribes – in this case, the Shawnee tribes. WYSO checked in on how the first year has gone.
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This Book Nook features Ohioan Mary Annette Pember discussing "Medicine River," her memoir about the Indian boarding schools that tried to erase their cultural heritages.
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Once at risk of development years ago, the property is now managed by Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park. Now, they’re opening the site up to the public for limited tours.
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The series is titled "Neepwaantiinki." That translates to learning from each other in the Miami language. Each episode seeks to describe the history and contemporary life of the tribe today.
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As the Trump administration continues to cut federal spending, the Shawnee Tribe fears a grant to preserve the Shawnee language could be cancelled. That’s because a delay in the money left the tribe expecting it not to come through at all.