The Indiana Dunes is more than sandy beaches and towering dunes; they're a place with rich indigenous history—history that is often overlooked. The area is the ancestral homeland of Miami, Potawatomi, and other Indigenous peoples. The Indiana Dunes Indigenous Cultural Trail is one small step toward telling their present-day stories and their history.
Origins and Vision
The Indiana Dunes Indigenous Cultural Trail began as a conversation between Indiana Dunes Tourism, Indiana Dunes National Park, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. While exploring trail themes and locations, the team realized that the Indigenous story as a whole is under-told in Northwest Indiana. They decided to develop a trail at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center so Indigenous stories would be told to its 200,000+ visitors in an authentic way.
Five key themes emerged during the discussions with the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi: water, sustainability, cycles/seasons, connections, and living things that teach us.
Development and Collaboration
Collaborative Planning
From its inception, the trail’s development was rooted in collaboration with the Miami and Potawatomi tribes. Tribal representatives worked closely with project planners to ensure that every element of the trail authentically reflected their traditions, histories, and ongoing relationships with the land. This partnership extended beyond consultation to include active decision-making in areas such as content, design, and ecological restoration.
Design and Infrastructure
A priority for the project was maintaining cultural integrity while creating an accessible, engaging experience for all. The design was created with respect for the local nature as well. Key trail components include:
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Boardwalks: Low-impact pathways allow visitors to traverse sensitive ecosystems without harming the environment, which is important to all members of the development team but also embodies the Indigenous principle of living in harmony with nature.
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Gathering Spaces: A fire pit adorned with Miami designs serves as a communal space for storytelling, ceremonies, and educational events.
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Crosswalks: Decorative crosswalks with Potawatomi-inspired motifs visually integrate the trail into the surrounding area while adding a sense of place.
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Accessible Curb Cuts: Existing curbs were cut and shaped to ensure that the trail is accessible for all.
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Indiana Dunes Tree Trail: A tree trail around the Visitor Center grounds is in the works. Guests will be able to find trees along the trail and read about their cultural significance to the Miami and/or Potawatomi tribes.
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Public Art: Murals by the graffiti artist ARCY depict local flora and fauna that are culturally significant to Miami and the Potawatomi tribes. Large limestone turtle sculptures with shells adorned with the tibes’ calenders were sculpted by Roman Villarreal. The calendars were created by Bmethwen, also known as Kyle Malott.
Interpretive Content
Interpretive elements of the trail offer rich insights into the cultural and ecological significance of the area:
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Trilingual Sign Elements: Important words on trail signs are presented in English, Potawatomi, and Miami, honoring linguistic heritage while educating trail users. Along the Tree Trail, most tree names are also shown in the three languages.
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Ecological Themes: Phase One's signage highlights the importance of protecting water through sustainable practices. This encourages understanding of traditional ecological knowledge Indigenous Peoples of Northwest Indiana.
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Interactive Features: Limestone snapping turtle sculptures offer hands-on ways to explore. The large turtles have Indigenous calendars on their shells.
Public Art
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Bmethwen, also known as Kyle Malott, created the calendar designs found on the limestone turtles' backs.
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Roman Villareal designed the large limestone turtles. He and his team sculpted the turtles out of Indiana limestone.
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ARCY painted the murals that feature native plants and animals.
Community Support and Milestones
The Groundbreaking
On July 21, 2002, a groundbreaking celebration took place at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center. Members of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi gave presentations on subjects such as the Miami Peoples' past and present and the monitoring and restoration of wild rice. The graffiti artist ARCY spray painted murals around the Visitor Center's grounds. The celebration ended with a Flag Song and Presentation and the land acknowledgement.
The Dedication of Phase I
On September 27, 2023, the project's first phase was dedicated. Indigenous dancers performed a round dance to the beat of the drummers. The Iron Big Bear Singers sang as the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and Miami Tribe of Oklahoma flags were raised at the Visitor Center during a flag-raising ceremony. S'mores were enjoyed around the new firepit and Nicole Harmon, director of Humane Indiana Wildlife, released a rehabilitated red-tailed hawk, the bird on the Pokagon Band of Potawatom seal.
Challenges and Achievements
Bringing the Indiana Dunes Indigenous Cultural Trail to life has not been without challenges. One of the biggest is raising the funds to make the trail a reality. To date, over ½ million dollars has been raised through grants, donations, and crowdfunding. The fundraising continues as more elements of the trail are installed. If you would like to support the project, donations are being taken here.
Despite these challenges, the team's accomplishments have been significant. Visitors and residents can walk around the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center grounds and learn about Indigenous culture, clean water practices, Indigenous seasons and cycles, while enjoying the numerous art installations.
Future Developments
The Indiana Dunes Indigenous Cultural Trail is an ongoing project, with ambitious plans to expand and enhance its offerings:
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Trail Extensions: The team aims to extend the trail onto adjacent lands.
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Enhanced Interpretive Elements: More educational signage will be created to teach about the remaining themes: sustainability, cycles and seasons, connections, and animals that teach us.
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More Public Art: As the trail extends, so will the number of art installations.
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Community Programs: Plans for workshops, storytelling sessions, and cultural events will introduce the trail to locals and more visitors.
Indiana Dunes Indigenous Cultural Trail stands as a powerful example of a successful and dynamic collaboration. Through a cooperative process that included trust building, mutual respect, and a commitment to the team’s vision Indiana Dunes Tourism, Indiana Dunes National Park, Miami Band of Oklahoma, and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi were able to work together to tell untold Indigenous stories.
As the trail development continues, it promises to deepen public appreciation for the ecological and Indigenous cultural heritage of the Indiana Dunes region. It links the present to past and ensures that the stories of the land's original stewards are celebrated and remembered.