Miami Indian Village Schoolhouse and the Meshingmesia Cemetery
The Miami Indian Village School was built in 1860 on the Meshingomesia Reservation which encompassed 10 square miles along the Mississinewa River.
Meshingomesia also had a church built along with the school, for he had come to realize the coming impact of integration between the Indian and the European settlers. The Miami needed European education and religion in order to survive the new age forced upon Meshingomesia's people. Where the schoolhouse now sits, a church had also been built.
The Miami Village School is the last wooden frame Native school still in existence in Indiana today. It was used from 1860 to 1898 with an average attendance of students ranging from 5 to 20 years of ages and included Miami and white children. Its purpose was to integrate the Miami into the European culture. The children were to learn the European language and culture, and leave behind their traditional tongue and culture. The schools' purpose was to change the lives and traditions of the Miami people.
Meshingomesia had the MIami Schoolhouse built, as well as a church. When he died in 1879, his reserve was divided among his descendants, who had little knowledge of farming and the current tax laws. Within 20 years, most of the reserve had been sold or lost for taxes, and only a few acres remained in Miami hands. The village chief was buried in the cemetery behind the newly remodeled schoolhouse, along with about 30 other people who had developed a fatal case of tuberculosis in 1879.
After the school closed in 1898, it sat vacant until 1930, when it was moved by a nearby farmer and used as a corn crib. The church that once sat upon the grounds collapsed in the 1940's. Miami Spiritual Leader, Wap Shing, had become acquainted with JoAn Calvert-Weaver. He confided to her his desire to have the school back on Miami land and in Miami hands. JoAn located the owner of the property our school sat on, Mr. Larry Stuber, and spoke to him several times about the Miami and their interest in buying the school and returning it to Miami land. Mr. Stuber decided to donate the school back to the Miami people on September 19, 1998.
Money from a grant written years ago was used to help restore the old school and with support from the many good people and groups who assisted with manual labor, grants, and donations, the Miami Indian Village School was on its way to being relocated and restored to its original land and condition. A crew was hired to take the school down piece by piece, with the exception of the floor, which was moved intact. A new foundation was put down and they had to replace some windows and the front door. Much time and effort was appropriated to insure that replacements of furnishings and lumber would be as that used in its' original time period. Desks and seats were made. A teachers' desk was found. The original chalkboard is in the school and a flag of that time period was erected. Authentic and useable shutters were handcrafted and hung on the outside. The school, being nearly completed, once again stood proud and alive with purpose. What was once built to instill European culture and language now stands to revive the age old beauty of the Miami language and culture.
On April 19, 1999, the Miami people and some supporting friends gathered to experience and share exhilarating jubilation and joy at the rededication of the Miami school. The ceremony, performed by Miami Spiritual leader, Wap Shing, was appropriately named "Returning the Spirit". This name proposes the school coming full circle, the taking of a building that once took away from the Miami and now returning the spirit of the Miami people through language and culture.
Meshingomesia's Miami Indian Village School is now used by the Miami to teach their people the Miami language and culture that was nearly lost. It is also used to teach others the importance of regaining and retaining the beauty of Miami culture and language. The school now stands as a symbol of the Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana, having the ability to stand strong and proud, restoring its' beauty and strength. Endurance and strength are evident among the Miami.
The schoolhouse is located 6 miles north of Marion, on County Road 600, off of State Road 15. Educational tours may be scheduled through the Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana, 80 West 6th Street, Peru, IN and by calling (765) 473-9631.