United Remnant Band of The Shawnee Nation - History

History

Prior to 1831, the Shawnee were relocated, band by band, to Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and other parts of the American Plains as a number of Shawnee chiefs would surrender to the United States. By the time Black Hoof died, historians claim there were only 400 Shawnee living in Ohio. These Ohio Shawnee left Wapaughkonetta (today, Wapakoneta) and Hog Creek (near present-day Lima, Ohio) for Kansas after the death of Black Hoof. However, the United Remnant Band claims that there were Shawnee still living in Ohio after Black Hoof's death. In any case, say the URB supporters, Black Hoof never signed a treaty forfeiting the remaining Shawnee settlements to the U.S. government. The United Remnant Band therefore claims that there are lands in Ohio still legally owned by the Shawnee nation.

In 1971, the United Remnant Band of the Shawnee Nation was organized in an attempt to reclaim these lands. An investigation was launched by the Ohio General Assembly in the latter part of the decade. This legislature officially recognized the United Remnant Band in 1979. Today, the URB states flatly that it is a state-recognized tribe, not a federally recognized tribe.

The group purchased a tract of land, consisting of 20 acres, three miles (6.4 km) south of Urbana, Ohio in 1989. This historic land purchase resulted in the Tribe owning the first Indian owned Tribal land in Ohio since 1830. In 1996 the URB purchased the Zane Caverns between Zanesfield and Bellefontaine, Ohio. The 100-acre (0.40 km2) Camp Ground, Museum, Gift Shop, Concert Venue, Caverns and surrounding property were renamed the Zane Shawnee Caverns and Southwind Park.