Mekoche (or Mequachake, Shawnee: mecoce) was the name of one of the five divisions (or Tribes) of the Shawnee Nation, a Native American people, during the 18th century. The other four divisions were the Chalahgawtha, Kispoko, Pekowi, and Hathawekela. (All five division names have been spelled in a great variety of ways.) Together these divisions formed the loose confederacy that is the Shawnee Nation.
Traditionally, Shawnee healers came from the Mekoche patrilineal division.[1]
Since the late 20th century, the Lower Eastern Ohio Mekoce Shawnee has organized but it has not gained federal recognition. It is based in Southern Ohio and West Virginia, part of its traditional territory. The tribe, which filed a Letter of Intent to Petition on 3/5/2001 with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, founded The Inter Tribal Learning Circle in 1991. It has held cultural events at Fort Ancient in Lebanon, Ohio.[2][3]
Pigeon Town, occupied by the Shawnee Mekoche division, was located on Mad River, 3 miles northwest of West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio.[4] Macochee Creek is named for this Shawnee division; it is a small stream that meets the Mad River at West Liberty, having arisen near modern Pickrelltown, Ohio.[5]
Notable Mekoche
- Black Hoof
- Chief Russell "Logan" Sharp (1953-2010), a Lower Eastern Ohio Mekoce Shawnee from Wilmington, Ohio, conducted a Peace Tree Ceremony at West Virginia University in 2009. He lectured on "The Struggle of Non-federally Recognized Natives."[6][7]
References
- ^ John E. Kleber (18 May 1992). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. University Press of Kentucky. p. 815. ISBN 978-0-8131-2883-2. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
- ^ "Ohio Indian Tribes". AAANativeArts.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-14. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
- ^ "The Inter Tribal Learning Circle". Fort Ancient. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
- ^ "Shawnee Indian Tribe History". Access Genealogy. 9 July 2011. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
- ^ DeLorme. Ohio Atlas & Gazetteer. 7th ed. Yarmouth: DeLorme, 2004, p. 56. ISBN 0-89933-281-1.
- ^ "Native American Peace Tree Ceremony guest is former Shawnee Chief". Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. West Virginia University. 2009-10-07. Archived from the original on 2010-06-12. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
- ^ "Russell "Logan" Sharp". Wilmington News Journal. Wilmington, Ohio. 2010-11-29. Retrieved 2013-02-18.