Wyandot Nation of Kansas

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Huron Indian Cemetery format

Wyandotte/Wyandot peace pact signed

No gambling to be allowed at KCK’s Huron Cemetery

The Wyandot Nation of Kansas and the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma have entered into a legally binding agreement that prevents the usage of the Huron Cemetery for any purpose other than as a cemetery for benefit of the members of both tribes.  The agreement provides for the immediate and permanent protection of the Huron Indian Cemetery in Kansas City Kansas.

History of the Threats against the Huron Indian Cemetery

Chief Leaford Bearskin’s Letter Threatening to Build a Casino at Huron Indian Cemetery
August 29, 1997The Honorable Mayor Carol Marinovich
Mayor
701 North Seventh Street 
Kansas City, Kansas 66101Dear Mayor Marinovich:As you know, the United States has held title to the Huron Cemetery in trust for the benefit of the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma (the “Tribe”) continuously since 1855. As such, the Huron Cemetery “Indian lands” under Section 3 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (“IGRA”), 25 U.S.C. 2703(4). Although the Tribe has always had a right to develop and operate a tribal gaming facility over the Huron Cemetery, the Tribe, in deference to the City’s wishes, has refrained from developing a gaming facility over the Cemetery, and instead has sought approval to develop its gaming facility at the Woodlands.The Tribe certainly appreciates the throughly (sic.) professional manner in which you and Messrs. Hayes and Walker have dealt with the Tribe, as well as your assistance in trying to make the Tribe’s Woodland’s project a reality. While the Tribe can no longer afford to forgo the income from a tribal gaming facility over the Huron Cemetery. Recent and pending future cuts in Federal programs for Indian tribes require tribes throughout the country to generate revenue from all potential sources, and just as the other Kansas tribes have developed gaming facilities on their Kansas lands, the Tribe will now immediately move forward with plans to develop and operate a tribal gaming facility over the Huron Cemetery.Please be advised that the gaming facility the Tribe will build and operate over the Huron Cemetery will offer both Class II and Class III gaming, subject of course to the Tribe’s negotiation and execution of a Compact with the State of Kansas. Additionally, while the Tribe intends to begin development and construction immediately, the gaming facility over the Huron Cemetery is intended to be a very temporary facility and will cease operations the very same day that the Tribe’s gaming facility at the Woodlands opens to the public While I realize that the Tribe’s development of a gaming facility over the Huron Cemetery may not be consistent with the city’s long term revitalization plans for the downtown area, I hope that the Tribe’s gaming facility over the Huron Cemetery benefits both tribal members and the citizens of Kansas CIty. Please do not hesitate to call me at you (sic.) convenience if you have any questions regarding the Tribe’s development plans for the Huron Cemetery.Sincerely yours,
Leaford Bearskin 
Chief
A LARGE scanned image of the letter

The Brownback Amendment

Sen. Sam Brownback’s Amendment Preserving the Huron Indian Cemetery and preventing the use of the cemetery for anything besides a burial ground


Photos of Huron Indian Cemetery Kansas City Kansas Thanks Jerri Jones!

The Curse of Huron Indian Cemetery

“Cursed be the Villain that molest their graves”

This is not a curse to be taken lightly. The battle to defend Huron Indian Cemetery from commercial development has been ongoing for the past 130 years. The Wyandot Nation of Kansas has always and will always defend the Huron Indian Cemetery from any threats and desecration. The Wyandot Nation of Kansas is dedicated to the PRESERVATION, RESTORATION and MAINTENANCE of the Huron Indian Cemetery in Kansas City Kansas.

The latest attempt at development was the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma’s announcement that they have the BIA’s approval to put the land next to the cemetery into trust and then turn it into a casino. Please help us keep our cemetery the sacred site that it is.

In addition to the latest proposal of a casino, commercial interests have used the Federally recognized status of the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma to try to turn our sacred burial ground, protected by the Treaty of 1855 as a burying ground, into a parking lot and a department store site.

Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma v. Muskogee Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs

Chronology of Huron Indian Cemetery and the Wyandot Nation of Kansas

A comprehensive view of the 130 year battle to preserve the Huron Indian Cemetery from sale and desecration
By Jan English
Chief – Wyandot Nation of Kansas

Kansas Governor Bill Graves Letter to Bruce Babbitt
Kansas Governor Bill Graves Letter to the Wyandot Nation of Kansas
Kickapoo Nation of Kansas Opposes Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma’s Cemetery Casino Plan

Newspaper Articles about attempts to use Huron Indian Cemetery as a site for a Casino

Kansan Still Opposes Tribal Casino 11-28-97
“…the chief indicated he plans to pursue a court case pending in federal court here, seeking to prove the tribe has the right to build on the Huron Cemetery “

Newsweek Oct 6 1997

Tribes Spar over Casino at Cemetery 97-09-26 – Associated Press

SENATOR OPPOSES BINGO PROPOSAL Tulsa World 19 September 1997

AMENDMENT WOULD STOP BINGO HALL Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise 19 September 1997

Senator Sam Brownback’s Amendment to Protect Huron Cemetery Press Release 9-19-97

9-14-97 Tribe may build Huron casino in January Kansas City Kansan

Historic Newspaper Articles about Huron Indian Cemetery