In late December 2024, as the year drew to a close and the nation prepared to usher in a new administration, Native American leaders from across Ohio gathered to share a meal. This was no ordinary meeting. Leaders from Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and other cities came together, not out of protest or resistance, but to reconnect—to honor the enduring ties that bind us as Native Peoples, no matter where we live.
The gathering was a moment of reflection, a time to pause and consider not only the challenges we face but the opportunities that lie ahead. It was a time to lean into our teachings, to embrace the lessons of our ancestors, and to explore what it truly means to live as Native Peoples away from our homelands. For many of us, being an "Urban Native" isn’t about city living—it’s about the experience of being away from the lands and communities that shape us. It’s about holding on to our Indigenatey in unfamiliar and often isolating spaces, all while building new connections and creating a sense of belonging and kinship wherever we are.
The Legacy of Disconnection and Resilience
Ohio’s Native history is a story of resilience against immense odds. In the 1800s, Tribal Nations were forcibly removed from these lands, leaving no reservations, no Tribal governance, and no infrastructure such as Indian Health Service clinics or Bureau of Indian Affairs offices. For generations, Native Peoples in Ohio have had to navigate life without the systems of support that exist in other regions. Thirty years ago, Ohio was home to more than 20 Native-serving organizations, including three in Cincinnati alone. Today, only a handful remain. Despite this, our communities have endured. Those who have come to Ohio for work, education, or other opportunities have leaned on each other, forming intertribal and inter-Indigenous communities. These networks have become places of kinship, where shared experiences create a bond as strong as blood ties. Together, we have found ways to not only survive but to thrive.
A Moment of Connection
The December gathering was a testament to our Native People's ability to rise to the occasion and answer the call on behalf of our future generations. Rather than focusing on the battles ahead, we chose to focus on who we are and who we want to become. As one Native leader reflected during the meeting, “We ask ourselves, how does one overcome the legacy of divide and conquer? The answer is in coming together.”
The meal was more than a time to share food; it was a time to share stories, wisdom, and hope. It was a moment to recognize that while the political winds may shift, our identity as Native Peoples remains steadfast. We are guided by the knowledge that our ancestors adapted to countless changes and thrived, and so can we. The gathering served as a reminder that connection—to each other, to our traditions, and to our future—is the antidote to division and disconnection.
Looking to 2025 and Beyond
As we turn the page to a new year, we carry forward the lessons of this gathering. The challenges we face—climate change, social injustice, and political instability—are immense, but so is our capacity for adaptation and innovation. We are reminded that our strength lies in our unity and in our ability to draw from the deep well of wisdom that our ancestors left for us. For those who live far from their homelands, the new year offers an opportunity to reconnect in new ways. Whether through organizations like the Urban Native Collective, which provides a space for belonging and cultural exchange, or through gatherings like this one, we can continue to build the networks and support systems that sustain us.
This gathering of Native leaders was not just a reflection of who we are, but a quiet promise of who we are becoming. As the wheel of the year turns toward 2025, we carry with us the understanding that while the world around us may shift and change, our identity as the first citizens of our Tribal and Indigenous Nations is unshaken, as constant as the drumbeat of the earth. We are Ohio Urban Natives, living far from our homelands, yet those lands live within us—in the stories we tell, the work of our hands, and the ways we carry ourselves through this world.
The road ahead is uncertain, like a fog-covered path at dawn, but within that uncertainty lies the vastness of possibility. Together, we will continue to honor the teachings of our ancestors, hold up our communities with care, and dream a future where our children can thrive and grow strong. This is how we move forward—hand in hand, heart to heart—woven together by connection, nourished by kinship, and rooted in the enduring strength of our People.
NOTE: This event was a private gathering, and we wish to keep it that way—Those who were in attendance were meant to be there, and they know who they are. As you read, please understand that we purposefully leave certain aspects out of this writing, honoring the privacy and sanctity of the gathering.
