Minooteeni Park “Reveal”
Join us on April 7, 2024 at noon to see the progress and learn about this new park dedicated to the indigenous people of the region. Speakers include members of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.
Minooteeni Park Reveal Set for April 7
Vincennes, Indiana (March 11, 2024) – Wabash Valley Progressives invite the public to a “soft opening of Minooteeni “Village” Park on Sunday, April 7th at noon. The new park is located at the northern end of the Vincennes Riverwalk with the aim of honoring the Indigenous Peoples of the area.
“When we first started envisioning this park, we wanted to create a place for the people to learn about the Indigenous peoples that made up our area and state and to provide some context to the events that removed them from the area,” says Drews. “We wanted to collaborate with tribal representatives to make sure the park would be as accurate and respectful as possible.” These
tribes—in particular, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma—have been providing guidance and will be speaking at the Reveal.
Plans for the park include native plantings, interpretive signage, a nature-scape playground for children, and a water feature. To learn more about the Minooteeni Park, visit wabashvalleyprogressives.org.
Media Contact: Will Drews, President
Wabash Valley Progressives
wapdrews@gmail.com
765-430-3910
Progress Continues on Vincennes Park to Honor Indigenous Peoples
Vincennes, Indiana (Feb 7, 2024) – Progress is continuing on a new local park in Vincennes to honor Indigenous Peoples of the area. This project is part of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s (IHCDA) CreatINg Places program and was introduced in April of 2023 as Niihka Park. Wabash Valley Progressives (WVP) President Will Drews says a lot has changed since then.
“We (WVP) and our partners have been working hard to flesh out the details of the park since acquiring our match from the state last year. One of the big changes is in the name. We have decided to change the name of the park–with a lot of consultation and discussion–to Minooteeni Park at Aciiphkahkionki, or Minooteeni Park for short. Minooteeni means ‘village’ in the Miami and Peoria language and is a reference to the Piankeshaw village–called Aciiphkahkionki (meaning ‘Place of Roots’)–that existed near the park site,” says Drews. “This decision was made by the project committee based on recommendations from Indigenous tribes our group reached out to and has recently been collaborating with.”
These tribes—in particular, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma—have been providing guidance and suggestions about the interpretive elements of the park. WVP has been corresponding with the Shawnee Tribe and Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma to get their input as well.
“When we first started envisioning this park, we wanted to create a place to learn about the Indigenous peoples that made up our area and state before us and to provide some context to the events that removed them from the area,” says Drews. “To that end, we wanted to collaborate and work with tribal representatives to make sure this park would be as accurate and respectful as possible.”
“The Peoria Tribe appreciates the genuine efforts the Wabash Valley Progressives put forth in consultation and relationship building with our Nation to share some of our complex history in the Vincennes area. We are excited to see Minooteeni Park fully realized and to again enjoy this still-loved place we once called home,” says Burgundy Fletcher, Historic Preservation Specialist with the Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma.
Plans are being made for a soft opening of Minooteeni Park to occur during the weekend of April 6th to coincide with the 2024 Eclipse. More details on that event will be forthcoming.
Media Contact
Will Drews, President
Wabash Valley Progressives
wapdrews@gmail.com
765-430-3910
Native American Heritage Month
Join Wabash Valley Progressives and Vincennes University for a screening and discussion of the film We Still Live Here, about the revival of the Wampanog language. Join us on November 14, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. eastern at the Jefferson Student Union on the Vincennes University campus. The event is free, and features Dr. Nancy Petersen, Professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies at Purdue University.
Festival Latino – Gracias!
Thank you to all of our supporters for another beautiful festival. We couldn’t do it without you! Save the date for next year – September 21, 2024!
Thank you to our sponsors and donors!
Rainbow Over the Bridge – A Huge Thank You!
Thank you to EVERYONE who made our 2023 Pride festival so memorable. Mark your calendar for next year – June 22, 2024!
Minooteeni Park Update
Great news! We reached our fundraising goal of $35,000, which will be matched by IHCDA for a total of $70,000. Thank you to everyone who donated. More news coming soon.
Rainbow Over the Bridge is June 17, 2023
Join us at Patrick Henry Square in downtown Vincennes from 4-9 p.m. for our 5th annual Pride festival! Thank you to our sponsors! Our festival is FREE.
Donate now to create Minooteeni (Village) Park!
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Lt. Gov. Crouch, IHCDA launch crowdfunding campaign for Niihka Park$35,000 goal to receive a matching grant through IHCDA’s CreatINg Places initiative VINCENNES, Ind. (April 19, 2023) – Vincennes residents will soon reimagine an underutilized area of the Vincennes Riverwalk and bring awareness to the indigenous peoples of Indiana if this crowdfunding campaign reaches its goal of raising $35,000 by June 17, 2023. If successful, the project led by the Wabash Valley Progressives and assisted by Knox County CISMA will receive a matching grant as part of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s (IHCDA) CreatINg Places program “The enhancement of the Vincennes Riverwalk will further engage and educate residents and visitors,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “This campaign is the essence of the CreatINg Places initiative, blending a respect for the past with a vision for the future.” Funds from this campaign will be used to renovate an underutilized part of the Vincennes Riverwalk into a park honoring the indigenous peoples of Indiana. By creating interpretive signage, adding a nature playground, developing a sample woodland Native American village, and adding native plantings this space will honor Native Americans and the Miami Nation. ‘Niihka’ roughly translates to ‘friends’ in the Miami (Myaamia) language. “WVP is excited to work on this exciting and important project: the creation of a public park raising awareness about the indigenous peoples of the area,” said Will Drews, Wabash Valley Progressives (WVP) President. “Our group has been coordinating with the Miami Nation of Indiana on this park, and we are excited to bring recognition to their culture and language while creating a welcoming public park area along the Wabash River.” Since the CreatINg Places program began in 2016, projects have raised more than $7.5 million in public funds and an additional $6.3 million in matching IHCDA funds. The program is available to projects located in Indiana communities. Non-profit entities (with 501c3 or 501c4 status) and local units of government are eligible to apply. Eligible projects must have a minimum total development cost of $10,000, where the recipient will receive $5,000 in IHCDA matching funds should it successfully raise $5,000 through Patronicity. IHCDA will provide matching grant funds up to $50,000 per project. |
2023 Annual Meeting “VISION”
Join us for our Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 11th at 6:00 p.m. at the Harmony Society (111 North 2nd Street, Vincennes). Welcome our guest speaker Janice Barniak, the new Director of Visit Vincennes/Knox County, and hear from Sarah Wolfe about plans for the 2024 eclipse.
Free and open to the public. Light snacks provided. Cash bar available. See less
Save the Dates
Mark your calendars now!
Annual Meeting: April 11, 2023 from 6-8:30 p.m.
Rainbow over the Bridge: June 17, 2023 from 4-9 p.m.
Festival Latino: August 26, 2023 from 4-11 p.m.
Fundraiser for Destiny Wells
Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2022
The Vincennes University Humanities Film & Lecture Series and Wabash Valley Progressives are joining together on Monday, October 10th to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Red Skelton Performing Arts Center. The PBS film “We Shall Remain: Tecumseh’s Vision” will be screened starting at 5:30 p.m. and a discussion will follow. Dr. Nancy Peterson, a professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies at Purdue University, will lead the discussion. The event is free and open to the public. Red Skelton Performing Arts Center is located at 20 W Red Skelton Blvd in Vincennes, Indiana.
Thank you to everyone who made Festival Latino 2022 possible!
Festival Latino 2022
August 27, 2022 at the Vincennes Riverwalk
Join us for live mariachi music, a live salsa band, and a performance by Ballet Folklorico Mosaicos, a dance troupe from Indianapolis. We have lots of activities for kids planned, including pinatas, crafts, games, and a superball drop. Stop by and enjoy the food and fun. Festival Latino is FREE and open to the public.
Interesting in volunteering, sponsorship, and/or booth space? Contact us! The sponsor forms and vendor forms below may be completed and returned by email or by mail to Wabash Valley Progressives, PO Box 601, Vincennes, IN 47591. Thank you as always for your support!
Rainbow Over the Bridge 2022
June 25, 2022 at the Vincennes Riverwalk
Thank you to all our sponsors, volunteers, vendors and supporters for filling the day with happiness and caring.
ROTB is FREE! Entertainment features live music by local bands Buck Rogers Clark and The Randys, and a drag show with Brock Harder. Activities for all ages, vendors, food, outreach services and allies in a supportive, caring setting.
We are looking for vendors, volunteers, sponsors, and donors! Contact us if you are interested!
Earth Day Green and Clean: April 23, 2022
More than 25 volunteers helped clean up downtown Vincennes! Thanks to the Open Gallery for hosting the event, to the Knox County Indiana Democrats for helping coordinate, and to those who brought delicious homemade snacks!
WVP 2022 Annual Meeting
Thank you to everyone who was part of our annual meeting! A special thanks to local artists Amy and Andy Jendrzejewski who spoke about the arts community in Vincennes and the First City Public Sculpture program. outdoor sculpture project. It was an inspiring and enjoyable evening at the Harmony Society.
LGBTQ+ Friendly
June is almost here and that means PRIDE! To celebrate, Wabash Valley Progressives has created a list of LGBTQ+ friendly businesses, organizations, and resources. Check it out and support these local places! Look for this artwork!
YOU’RE INVITED
Maybe you’ve heard of us, served with us, supported us or attended one of our local events; THE WABASH VALLEY PROGRESSIVES.
This is a great time for you to meet with us, and support us with your voice, your energy – your ideas.
Please mark your calendar to attend our hybrid/zoom 2021 ANNUAL MEETING Tuesday evening April 13th at 6:30pm at The Harmony Society, 111 No. 2nd Street, in Vincennes. We’re excited to share this special evening with you reporting on our accomplishments, shared passions AND we are have a wonderful speaker planned.
Mr. Will Ditzler, from Westfield, IN is the founding member of the RiverBirch Executive Advisers and serves on the board of the Nature Conservancy: Indiana Chapter. He will speak on the Miami Indians & Their Life in Indiana. His interests and experience includes work with native peoples and a commitment to ecological restoration, wildlife habitat & indigenous peoples. Please join us and bring a friend.
Meet and Greet 6:30
Meeting 7:00
RSVP to 508-889-4648
To attend via zoom please email us with your name and phone number.
Masks required
WVP Statement on Gun Violence
We, the board members of the Wabash Valley Progressives, have been concerned over the past several years with the frequent incidents of gun violence happening across our country. The Rittenhouse trial verdict poured more salt into the gaping wounds that gun violence has inflicted on the nation. We believe legislative changes should be made now to make the country safer for all its citizens.
We believe that assault weapons should only be available to military personnel for national security purposes. We support more stringent background checks and safety training before anyone can acquire weapons designed, built, merchandised, and sold to shoot people. The ammunition to supply these types of firearms should also be just as difficult to acquire. If you agree with our positions and would like to do what you can to reduce gun violence, we encourage you to reach out to your senators and representatives and demand they take action on this pressing issue facing our country.
Contact Information: The Indiana state representative for our area (IN District 8) is Larry Bucshon (https://bucshon.house.gov/), and our two senators are Mike Braun (https://www.braun.senate.gov/) and Todd Young (https://www.young.senate.gov/). If you live on the other side of the Wabash River, the Illinois state representative for our area (IL 15th District) is Mary Miller (https://marymiller.house.gov/), and our two senators are Dick Durbin (https://www.durbin.senate.gov/) and Tammy Duckworth (https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/).
