Echoes of Ohio's Indigenous Legacy: Bridging Past and Present

This exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the rich, complex history of Indigenous peoples in the Northwest Territory and their enduring connection to the land we now call Ohio. Through the work of contemporary Indigenous artists, including those with ancestral ties to the region, we explore narratives of resilience, displacement, and cultural survival. The exhibition offers a platform for stories often overlooked, weaving together visual art and voices to create a multidimensional experience.

In collaboration with the Eichelberger Center for Community Voices and WYSO Public Radio, the Museum integrates podcasts from The Ohio Country series into the exhibition. These podcasts center the perspectives of the Miami, Shawnee, Wyandotte, and other American Indian peoples, providing a vital context for understanding Ohio’s past and present. 

This partnership allows visitors to engage deeply with history and hear directly from those whose stories remain essential to the land’s identity. The ancient Hopewell culture, recognized with a UNESCO World Heritage designation, transformed the Ohio landscape through monumental earthworks aligned with celestial movements. Yet, much about these people—including their names—remains unknown. The exhibition acknowledges the weight of these absences while confronting the ongoing legacies of forced removal and erasure of the tribes that once called Ohio home. In doing so, it aims to make visible what history has often obscured.

This is not a definitive narrative but a beginning. Over months of collaboration with scholars, communities, writers, and historians, this project seeks to create a foundation for further exploration and dialogue. By featuring contemporary artists whose work engages with identity, place, and memory, we hope to inspire deeper connections and foster a broader understanding of Ohio’s Indigenous heritage.

Looking ahead, the Museum aspires to amplify these efforts by building relationships with more tribal nations and presenting future exhibitions that highlight traditional makers and artisans.