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Cleveland is Located on the Land of the Erie Indigenous People

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Cleveland is Located on the Land of the Erie Indigenous People

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In a landmark case in July of 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that about half of Oklahoma is Native American land, a decision that could have major implications for current and future litigation. In another victory for indigenous communities the same year, a judge halted progress on the Dakota Access Pipeline, long protested by the nearby Standing Rock Sioux community. While most major events and conversations involving native communities remain centered in Western states, many of these communities have roots elsewhere. Though historically forced to relocate or migrate West, tribes called Northwest Ohio their home long before European settlers did.

"Ohio was the original 'Indian territory' of the U.S. in the 1790s. We had reservations, for a brief time," Dr. Barbara Mann, author and professor at the University of Toledo, said in an email. Mann has published extensively, noting that as she went into academia, the Ohio Indigenous elders gave her the task of "setting the record straight."

Along with the formation and gradual expansion of the United States came the strategies of creating oftentimes-dishonest "Indian treaties" to claim Ohio for settlers. Such treaties include the Fort Stanwix Treaty, Fort McIntosh Treaty, the Mouth of the Great Miami Treaty and the Fort Harmar Treaty, which applied pressure to the Union of Ohio Natives, which allowed Indigenous peoples to call Ohio their territory. The Greenville Treaty, however, granted a collective of European settlers permission to claim Ohio as farmland. Amidst turmoil and expansion with the succession of wars and the American Revolution from 1747 to 1794, many settlers took the opportunity to obtain cheap and available land, seeking after their own prosperity. From that point on, the Indigenous communities in Ohio either left or remained unrecognized.

While in recorded history these treaties often appear constructive and mutually beneficial, in reality, they caused serious problems for the Indigenous communities of the time: deceitful federal agents negotiated unfair treaties, translators purposefully miscommunicated the contents of the treaties and some Natives were forced to sign under fear for their lives.

This series of treaties led to the Ohio Removal between ca. 1840-1845. But while most history books stop here, the true story is a bit more complicated.

"A tremendous number of Indigenous people remained in Ohio after Removal. Another thing little known by the general public is that people flatly refused to go west," Dr. Mann said. "The government simply declared those people no longer Indian."

In those cases, the United States government refused to record someone's existence or even deliberately misrecorded it.

"The upshot of record-falsification on identities is that about one-half of all living Indigenous Americans in the U.S. do not have identity cards issued by the U.S. government. Because the Ohio reservations were quickly taken away, and the government declared holdouts in Ohio no longer Indian, the official story is that 'there are no Indians in Ohio' but that is bunk. This problem leads to very painful fights between 'enrolled' and non-treaty peoples," Dr. Mann said.

While Ohio may not be at the forefront of conversations today around Indigenous peoples and land ownership, a closer look reveals a past and arguably even a present fraught with struggle and hardship but also rich with heritage and culture. Below is compiled information on some of the nations known to have occupied what is now known as Ohio, and more specifically, the Toledo region.

Image courtesy of Dr. Barbara Mann.

Native Ohio Nations

The original inhabitants of Ohio consisted primarily of three nations: the Erie, Kickapoo and Shawnee, the first two both residing in areas near modern-day Toledo.

The Kickapoo Tribe*

The Kickapoo tribe branched out from a part of the Shawnee tribe, and linguists speculate that the word "Kickapoo" is a reinterpretation of the Shawnee word for " wanderers." Speaking in a tonal language similar to Algonquian, the Kickapoo also used a distinct lingual code called "whistle speech" to communicate simple statements-today, considered a lost art. The Kickapoo were somewhat pacifistic, wanting neither to fight in wars nor surrender to invaders. They refused to assimilate to colonization when European settlers first arrived, but the settlers later forced the Kickapoo to relocate further south and out of Ohio. The Kickapoo soon immigrated to reservations located in other states.

Today, the Kickapoo community is largely accounted for in 3 states- Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas -, although there is a smaller community situated in Coahuila, Mexico. About 3,000 Kickapoo live in this community, with roughly 800 people who speak the native language. Revitalization efforts are continuing in the modern Kickapoo communities to teach the younger generations, but the language remains endangered in America.

The Erie Tribe

The Erie tribe settled lakeside in Northern Ohio, giving way for European settlers to name Lake Erie after them. Erie tribal history is not well recorded, but their language bears distinct similarities to those of the Iroquois and Seneca tribes. Like other tribes in the area, they were known as an agrarian community and natural enemies to the Iroquois over land disputes. The Erie tribe is no longer around after being defeated in war by the Iroquois Confederacy in 1654. Survivors merged with the Huron-Wyandot nation or were captured by the Iroquois and Seneca tribes.

Today, possible Erie descendants have blended with several other tribes, like the Iroquois, Huron-Wyandot or Seneca.

The Shawnee and Ohio Valley tribes

With noted ancestry from the Lenape (Delaware) tribe, the Shawnee were commonly known to migrate around Ohio at will. Archaeologists have also found evidence of villages in New York, Illinois and Georgia. In the mid-1600s, the Shawnee also had to travel due to pressure from the Iroquois and American settlers. With other Ohio Valley tribes in parts of the southern region also under stress from the Iroquois Confederacy and European-American colonization, Shawnee leader Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa tried to unite eastern tribes under a movement called the Pan-Indian Unity in the early 1800s. The alliance allowed the tribes to band together to fight against colonization until it was dissipated by Americans shortly after Tecumseh was defeated in the Battle of Thames in 1813. This forced the Shawnee tribe to relocate to Oklahoma.

Today, the Shawnee are found in three federally recognized communities in Oklahoma: the Absentee Shawnee, the Eastern Shawnee and the Shawnee tribe.

Migrated Tribes

According to the Greenville Treaty, Ohio was considered "original Indian Territory" to the U.S. in the 1790s. When other Indigenous nations were forced into conflict or relocation, Ohio was one of the areas to which they migrated.

Many Native American descendants still living in Ohio today follow ancestry from these migrated tribes. The main migrated tribes include the Lenape (Delaware), Miami, Ottawa, Seneca and Wyandot. Several other tribes migrated in and out of Ohio, but these five represent the greatest share of the Indigenous population.

The two tribes that migrated toward the present day Toledo region were the Ottawa and Seneca. The Ottawa tribe lived by lakes and rivers and were known as traders. Ottawa tribes originally migrated to Ohio due to conflicts with the Iroquois Confederacy.

The Seneca lived in longhouses along riversides and by the lake, similar to the Ottawa. Although fierce and skilled in warfare, the Seneca also had a pronounced flair for diplomacy. Eventually they joined the Iroquois Confederacy.

Image courtesy of Dr. Barbara Mann.

Toward the middle and eastern borders of Ohio were the Wyandot and Lenape tribes, and to the south was the Miami tribe.

The Wyandot used a language that was closely related to Iroquois and spread their ancestry through several branches. Outer parts of the Wyandot community, who did not want to be a part of the Iroquois Confederacy, fought in many conflicts and were eventually defeated. Survivors of the conflicts branched off to create a new tribal identity called the Wendat tribe. After various land invasions, cattle theft and killed leaders, the Wyandot had limited options and were forced to depend on the American government for support, relocating out of Ohio.

The Lenape, also known as the Delaware tribe, lived in an area they called Lenapehoking, which means " Land of the Lenape." This land was vast and included all of New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, southeastern New York, northern Delaware and a small section of southeastern Connecticut. Due to spread of disease and hostile conflicts over trading and hunting because of the Europeans, some Lenape disbursed and left Lenapehoking, thus migrating to Ohio.

The Miami tribe called themselves the Myaamia, which translates to "the downstream people," and were excellent hunters of white-tailed deer. The Myaamia endured hardships of disease, war and colonization, as well, and were eventually forced to relocate under the Greenville Treaty of 1818.

Eventually, all of the fiver tribes that migrated to Ohio were forced into relocation elsewhere. Some descendants branched off and lived off-site from their communities, which ensured that some presence would remain in Ohio. Some founded nations that are federally recognized communities on reservations in places like Oklahoma, Kansas, Mexico and Canada. Meanwhile, others are banding together to become federally recognized and receive government assistance and to keep their smaller communities alive.

Currently, there are no federally recognized tribal communities or nations in Ohio, but there are non-federally funded communities trying to stay connected to their ancestry and become federally recognised, such as the Munsee Delaware Indian Nation of Ohio and the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band. Some Ohio universities are also putting out statements to acknowledge and show respect for the people who inhabited this land long before European settlers did. By understanding our region's past and educating ourselves on the history of who lived here before colonization, we recognize and re-open the lost histories and stories that otherwise fall to threaten to be whitewashed or erased completely.
Visit some of the communities at their official websites:
John Harvey and Cielle Waters-Umfleet contributed to this article. This article was updated on 07/20/20 to reflect additional insight from Dr. Barbara Mann. Miami Tribe of Oklahoma
Miami Tribe of Indiana
Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma
Seneca Nation of Indians
Wyandot Nation of Kansas
Wyandotte Nation
*Utilization of the terms 'tribe' and 'nation' have been under debate since the early 19th century. "Tribes" refer to "any group that derives from a common ancestor" whereas "nation" refers to "a body of people associated with a particular territory, that is sufficiently conscious of its unity to seek or possess a government of its own." Learn more here.

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The Forgotten History of Ohio's Indigenous Peoples - Midstory

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In a landmark case in July of 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that about half of Oklahoma is Native American land, a decision that could have major implications for current and future litigation. In another victory for indigenous communities the same year, a judge halted progress on the Dakota Access Pipeline, long protested by the [...]

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Cleveland is an epicenter of some both Racist and Anti-Racist events in U.S. History. Visit the timeline to see some of the details of Cleveland's History with Racism.

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The council "nonprofit organization that aims to preserve, maintain, and promote Native American culture in Northeast Ohio"

LENAC was established in 1990 with the mission to promote traditional values in the Native American youth of Cuyahoga County.

The posts on their Facebook page (link below) show how the Native American population of Cleveland is contributing and proudly keeping in touch with their heritage. The LENAC was involved in the recent name change of Cleveland's Professional Baseball team.

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Season 3 of Serial Podcast follows different cases at the Cleveland Justice Center. Each week, a new case is discussed. This podcast covers several of the issues already discussed in other posts. This podcast allows you to hear from the perspective of the oppressed. Specifically, the narrator speaks about the 137 shots case.

137 Shots -21 minutes, 30 seconds to 22 minutes, 55 seconds

Serial Podcast Website: https://serialpodcast.org/

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Episode 03: Misdemeanor, Meet Mr. Lawsuit

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Episode 03: Misdemeanor, Meet Mr. Lawsuit

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Antiracist Organization: YWCA of Greater Cleveland

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Antiracist Organization: YWCA of Greater Cleveland

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Their Mission: The elimination of racism wherever it exists, and by any means necessary.

In 2016, The YWCA of Greater Cleveland performed an internal evaluation of its organization and realized they were not practicing what it preached. The organization dedicated itself to change and embodying the message they are promoting; "Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women". They overcame persistence and resistance from their members and management team to create diversity and inclusion in their organization.

In 2020, YWCA of Greater Cleveland led the mission to declare Racism a Public Health Crisis in Cleveland. That was just the beginning. That declaration kicked off their 5-year Strategic Plan to defeat racism at any cost.

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A Love Letter to an Antiracist Cleveland - Dr. Mark Joseph

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A Love Letter to an Antiracist Cleveland - Dr. Mark Joseph

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Dr. Mark Joseph is an antiracist and activist advocating for entering into conversations about race with love and dignity. "His research focus is mixed-income development as a strategy for promoting urban equity and inclusion." Dr. Mark Joseph is an associate professor of Community Development at the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, OH.
Site: (https://case.edu/socialwork/about/directory-faculty-and-staff/mark-l-joseph)

In this speech (link below), he eloquently breaks down how easy it is to take action as an antiracist. He challenges his listeners to lean into the discomfort of talking about race and make a point to break up homogeny in social settings.

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In 2019, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland, Western Reserve, Lorain & Erie Country merged into the Boy & Girls Club of Northeastern Ohio. The merger was performed to boost membership and ensure the financial standing of Individual Clubs. The Boys & Girls Club in Cleveland has supported the community for over 70 years.

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Cleveland, Ohio remains in the top 10 most racially segregated cities in the U.S. 70% of the residents in Cleveland are Caucasian (represented in blue), and 20% of the population is black (represented in green). 10% of the population represents Asian, Hispanic, and Native Americans (<0.1%).

Additional Resource: https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-city-rankings/most-segregated-cities-in-america

Source: Race, Diversity, and Ethnicity in Cleveland, OH | BestNeighborhood.org

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Size of School: 12,069 Students

Diversity or Antiracist Policy?
The University has a Diversity Education Program for all students as well as Diversity Awareness Training. Both are focused on Students, Faculty, and Staff. (https://case.edu/diversity/programs/diversity-360)

Diversity of Students?
The Universities Mission Statement includes the following goal: "Promotion of an inclusive culture of global citizenship."

The University publishes a "Diversity Snapshot" for every semester. https://case.edu/ir/cwru-facts/diversity

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Data Source: cleveland ohio population 2022 - Search (bing.com)

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Cleveland Declares Racism a Public Health Crisis

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Cleveland Declares Racism a Public Health Crisis

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In 2020, following Milwaukee, Wisconsin's lead, Cleveland, and several other cities in Ohio declared Racism a Public Health Crisis. It was deemed that racism had infected American Society so much that it was having a detrimental effect on the health and wellness of the BIPOC population.

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GOP Lawmakers in Ohio introduce the Voter Suppression bill aimed at restricting Mail-in Ballots and alternative voting in Ohio. The bill will most directly impact the BIPOC population, making it harder for individuals in poverty to vote.

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Ohio's new voting bill, HB 294, would place restrictions on mail-in ballots, early voting, and drop boxes.

Ohio has introduced a new voter suppression bill championed by Republican elected officials, joining Georgia and Florida which have signed similar legislation into law this spring.

The bill, is sponsored by representatives Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) and Sharon Ray (R-Wadsworth), and replete with restrictions on mail-in ballot "curing" or corrections, early voting, and reduces the number of drop box locations to just one per county, according to the Huffington Post. If passed, HB 294- also called the Elections Modernization and Security Act- would turn a number of voter restrictions into law.

They include ensuring that drop boxes are located only at election offices, giving voters only 10 days to drop off ballots, compared to 30 in the 2020 general elections, significantly cutting the number of days people can request absentee ballots before an election, from three days before to 10, and require two forms of identification to request absentee ballots online. It would also eliminate early voting on the Monday before an election.

A volunteer poll worker wears a VOTE mask waiting in line to help early voters cast their ballots inside of the Franklin County Board of Elections Office on October 6, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio allows early voting 28 days before the election which occurs on November 3rd of this year. (Photo by Ty Wright/Getty Images)

Jen Miller, who is the executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, criticized the absentee ballot limitations outlined in the bill and said that the organization is reviewing the bill and will challenge parts that curb voter access, Cleveland reports.

"What this is going to do is potentially make [traffic] worse for a Cleveland voter," said Miller. "Instead of extending that ability for 28 days it's only for 10 and still at the same address."
Read More: Florida governor signs GOP voting law critics call 'un-American'
Ohio State Senator Matt Huffman, and representatives Seitz and Ray have praised the bill, saying it makes improvements to voter and election security.

"People say that's voter suppression, and I know we're never going to get past that line of public comment," said Huffman. "But I think it's important that when we have a bipartisan group coming to you to say, 'We can run our elections better if we make this change,' the legislature needs to take that seriously."

(Credit: Getty Images)

Huffman says that the Ohio Senate is drafting its own version of the legislation, AP News reports.

One provision included in the bill in favor of voter access for Ohioans is the online absentee ballot request system and automated voter registration program via the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

However, many voting rights advocates have outright rejected and condemned the bill. All On The Line (AOTL), an organization focused on ending gerrymandering in politics asserted that HB 294 "will have a disproportionately negative impact on Black and Brown voters, students, low-income Ohioans, people with disabilities, active duty military and seniors," in a statement released Thursday.

"It should be our collective driving purpose to make our democracy more accessible so that every voter has an equitable path to the ballot box. House Bill 294 shamefully does the exact opposite," added AOTL director, Kathy Shanahan.
Read More: Texas GOP's voting restriction bill passes key House vote
A week before election day in 2020, an estimated 2.2 million Ohioans had already voted either early in person or by mail and absentee ballots were returned at almost double the rates as in 2016, according to . Considering those numbers, it's clear that the bill would have a major impact on Ohio voters if passed.
Have you subscribed to TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku. Download theGrio today! theGrio's new podcast "Dear Culture"? Download our newest episodes now!

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Ohio GOP lawmakers introduce voter suppression bill

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Ohio's new voting bill, HB 294, would place restrictions on mail-in ballots, early voting, and drop boxes. Ohio has introduced a new voter suppression bill championed by Republican elected officials, joining Georgia and Florida which have signed similar legislation into law this spring.

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After several fatal police-involved shootings around 2014, the Department of Justice (DOJ) found that the Cleveland Police department violated the Constitution through "a pattern or practice of using excessive force". The city of Cleveland was issued a Consent Decree, an agreement that the police would make changes to their practices.

Decree Summary: https://case.edu/schubertcenter/sites/case.edu.schubertcenter/files/2020-04/Consent-Decree-Summary-Edited.pdf

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Netflix documentary ‘137 Shots’ created to spur police reform

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The filmmaker behind the documentary about Cleveland’s infamous police chase that killed two residents shared insights into his crew’s process during a panel discussion.

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In 2012, a police chase of two unarmed Cleveland citizens ended in tragedy when the police fired 137 shots into the vehicle, killing both individuals. Cleveland Police Officer Michael Brelo was the only officer charged with criminal charges. He was later acquitted of all criminal charges.

In 2014, Cleveland Police shot and killed a 12-year old boy carrying a fake gun. A Grand Jury found the death was justified and the officer's "response was a reasonable one". (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Tamir_Rice)

(Link requires a Netflix Subscription to view)

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In this documentary, law enforcement faces scrutiny as Americans demand justice after police violence claims multiple Black lives in Cleveland. Watch trailers & learn more.

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Issue 24 - Cleveland Police Citizen Oversight

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Issue 24 - Cleveland Police Citizen Oversight

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As a result of the decree issued by the DOJ in 2017, Issue 24, a charter amendment to Cleveland's city charter allowing for citizen oversight of police misconduct hearings, was passed and was put in place in November 2021.

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Issue 24, Cleveland's controversial police reform ballot measure, passes

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2021 - Cleveland National Baseball team changes mascot from Indians to Guardians

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2021 - Cleveland National Baseball team changes mascot from Indians to Guardians

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In 2021, after years of criticism, the Cleveland Indians baseball team is changing its name & mascot to the Cleveland Guardians. The Cleveland baseball team has used the racial stereotype of Chief Wahoo since 1915, explaining away concerns of Native American misrepresentation with a "homage" to Louis Sockalexis, the first Native American to play pro baseball; which is a myth.

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The name of the Cleveland Indians has been rooted in "racial oppression" for more than a century and the activists and academics who've spent decades fighting against it told The Post Friday it was high time for a change.

The Major League Baseball team announced Friday it will be changing its name to the Cleveland Guardians and phasing out its Chief Wahoo mascot at the end of the 2021 season following years of criticism that the branding was racist and an affront to Native Americans.

"It's supposed to represent us but it's a caricature of us, of indigenous people, and that's not acceptable," Jeff Pierce, executive director of the American Indian Education Center for Cleveland and the People not Mascots group, told The Post.

"It was a harmful name because when people are grouped together as a caricature, it's dehumanizing to the group of people it represents."

Pierce, who also serves as the spokesperson for the Cleveland Ohio American Indian Movement, said the baseball team took a halfhearted approach in 2018 when it said it would stop using the mascot, but only removed it from the stadium's banners and nowhere else.

"We are happy they're changing [the name]. We are going to be a hundred percent convinced when they do because we are told this every year. We think the name choice is very cool and very representative of all of Cleveland," Pierce said.

"We're just excited that, even though it's 50-plus years too late, they finally made the right choice."

Jeff Pierce, executive director of the American Indian Education Center for Cleveland, claims the Cleveland Indians' name dehumanized Native Americans.

AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File

The team, once called the Blues, Broncos and Naps until it was named the Indians in 1915, once tried to sell the story that the moniker and mascot represented Louis Sockalexis, the first Native American to play pro baseball, and the branding was an homage to his career.

Dr. Ellen Staurowsky, a professor in sports media at the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College, said she has spent nearly 30 years "debunking" that myth.

"What's clear is that the franchise was suffering back in the 1910s, they were in the bottom of the league, the franchise player that they had promoting the club was going to be leaving town and they were looking for a new name," Staurowsky said by phone.

"During that period of time, it was a period of time when Wild West shows were very popular and the appropriation of Native American imagery and storylines was something that was heavily used in promotion in all forms of entertainment, including sports teams.

"It became clear that these stories were being used to create a pretense that the images were benign, that they were not hurting anybody but they're all part of a larger social script of racial oppression."

Staurowsky, an internationally recognized expert on social justice issues in sports, said any kind of racial stereotyping, such as the Indians' name and their Chief Wahoo mascot, which the team stopped using, "is going to be problematic."

"Racial stereotypes are there for a reason and part of that reason is to maintain the control of the dominant group and it is also a reflection of how much control a group has when they can appropriate and misappropriate images of another group and do anything they want with them," the professor explained.

"They can tell any stories they want to tell about them, they can distort history, they can make a lot of money about them and reinforce their control and in the meantime, they can also educate a populace that it's all right to do those kinds of things," she said.

Cleveland Indians owner Paul Dolan unveils the MLB team's new name during a news conference in Cleveland on July 23, 2021

AP Photo/Tony Dejak

Cynthia Connolly, a citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indian and a member of the Cleveland Indigenous Coalition, said the use of Native American stereotypes has done irreparable harm to the community.

"There is a growing body of scientific research that clearly demonstrates Native American team names and logos reflect and reinforce harmful racial stereotypes about Native Americans," Connolly said.

"These images and team names also contribute to low self-esteem, low community worth, increased negative feelings of stress and depression in Native people - especially in Native youth. We see these findings reflected in the experiences of our Native community members. These findings leave zero room for Native American mascots in our communities."

Connolly called the team's decision to change their name a "momentous occasion" and the "culmination of over 60 years of grassroots advocacy and activism by Indigenous leadership."

"Our community has worked tirelessly to be recognized as diverse and vibrant, instead of being portrayed in inaccurate and harmful ways," she continued.

"This name change will help create a place where Native American children and their families are valued and fully seen."

Last summer, the Washington Football Team announced it would be shedding its "Redskins" name following similar criticisms, and experts said Cleveland's decision could lead to more changes from other teams like the Atlanta Braves and the Kansas City Chiefs.

"I think it's going to be musical chairs until the last one's standing, it's just going to be a domino effect from here," said Pierce.

Staurowsky expects something similar.

Cynthia Connolly, a citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indian, hails the Cleveland Indians' decision to change names as an accomplishment of "Indigenous leadership."

Jason Miller/Getty Images

"We have had a number of other corporations that have ... arrived at similar conclusions as well during the past year, you know with Uncle Ben's rice, Aunt Jemima, and frankly all of these images come out of that early 1900s marketing advertising climate," Staurowsky explains.

"It's possible that we may see that other sport leaders begin to re-examine what they're doing and can see a path towards doing something different."

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Cleveland Indians' name change hailed by Native American groups

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The name of the Cleveland Indians has been rooted in "racial oppression" for more than a century and the activists and academics who've spent decades fighting against it told The Post Friday it was high time for a change.