Church returns sacred lands to Wyandotte people

For 176 years, generations of Meth­odist missionary societies and Methodists in western Ohio have held in trust the land upon which the Methodist mission among the Wyandotte (also known as Wyandot) people was planted. On September 21, United Meth­odist Global Ministries returned three acres of land, including the historic Wyandot Mission Church, to the Wyan­dotte people.

Chief Billy Friend of the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma called it “a monumental day” for the Wyandotte people. “For the Methodist people to come to us and offer to give the land back to us, we are truly overjoyed.”

With tears in his eyes, Friend accepted the deed to the land from Thomas Kemper, general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. Nearly 600 people rose to their feet and ap­plauded while Wyandotte from Okla­homa, Kansas, and Michigan voiced celebratory cries. Wyandotte children and youth—including Wyandotte Prin­cess Sara Wright—danced, and Wyan­dotte men drummed.