The Horseshoe Prairie Chapter at its November meeting shared with its members the Proclamation signed by Hamilton County Commissioners declaring November as “American Indian Heritage Month” in Hamilton County.
Chair of the American Indians Committee Sharon McMahon presented the Proclamation to Julia Melander, Regent of the Chapter. Chapter members also signed holiday cards for the Chemawa Indian School and heard a report by McMahon on the history of Native American inhabitants of Hamilton County and the removal of the Lenape and other tribes by the Treaty of St. Mary’s in 1820.
Sharon McMahon (right), Chair of American Indians Committee, NSDAR, reads from the Proclamation declaring November as “American Indians Heritage Month” signed by the Hamilton County Commissioners. The Proclamation was approved and accepted by Horseshoe Prairie Chapter Regent Julia Melander (left). (Photo provided)
The NSDAR American Indians Committee is entrusted to the continuing education of the history and culture of this community, as well as the support of the educational and cultural pursuits of its citizens.
DAR members further those objectives by educating themselves and the general public, promoting cultural activities and providing financial and material assistance to the DAR supported schools, American Indian Youth Summer Camps and through the DAR Office of Development. Grants to qualifying Native American projects are considered each year.
The national committee offers five American Indian scholarships, the Francis Crawford Marvin scholarship and Anne Trevarthan Memorial scholarship administered by the College of William & Mary, Virginia. In addition to these scholarships, the committee provides scholarship funding to Bacone College, Chemawa Indian School, and Indian Youth of America for summer camp. This year the committee awarded more than $57,000.
“Hamilton County and the surrounding area owes much to our Native American settlers,” McMahon said, “and this committee dedicates itself and all DAR members to honor and serve the original inhabitants of this land.”
About NSDAR
Founded in 1890, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is located in Washington, D.C. For more information about joining NSDAR, go to the Indiana DAR website, darindiana.org, or the national website, dar.org. You may also contact local Chapter Horseshoe Prairie at horseshoeprairiedar@gmail.com.