Local

 

AKRON, OH - On Monday, January 22, seventh and eighth grade students and faculty from The Lippman School, along with representatives of the Northern Cheyenne Nation in Montana and the Seneca Nation in New York State, presented a resolution to the Akron City Council to form an annual "First People's Day" on the first Monday of October in the city of Akron.

 

Akron City Council is taking time to review the resolution.  If passed, the new law will recognize and honor the history and culture of Native Americans, and contributions by tribal nations to the development of the American continent, as well as acknowledge the efforts to preserve this history in Akron, Summit County, Ohio, and the United States.

 

"This is an exciting time for our students, staff, and the Northern Cheyenne Nation, and I am proud of what we've been able to accomplish together," said Sam Chestnut, Lippman Head of School.

 

Lippman students prepared the resolution with humanities teacher/curriculum coordinator Matt Russ and volunteer retired Judge Marvin Shapiro.  Students met with Councilperson Marilyn Keith, and staff have collaborated with Lippman board member John York, city attorney in the Civil Division, and David Lieberth, president of the Summit County Historical Society.  The elder Otto Braidedhair and student Bryan Fisher from the Northern Cheyenne Nation contributed to discussion in the Council chambers, where Otto Braidedhair also led Native prayer and song.

 

Each fall, The Lippman School, The Northern Cheyenne Nation, The Summit County Historical Society and other local schools walk a portion of The Portage Path, the oldest landmark in Summit County, as a tribute to Native people who first settled in Akron.  if passed into law, the annual symbolic walk will be held on the first Monday of October to commemorate First People's Day.