Northern Cheyenne tribal members and students from The Lippman School hold an annual ceremonial
walk on The Portage Path in Akron, Ohio. Photo by Charlotte Gintert/Summit County Historical
Society
The citywide law, passed by the Akron City Council, recognizes and honors the history and culture of Native Americans and tribal nations’ contributions to the development of the American continent. It also acknowledges the efforts to preserve this history in Akron, Summit County, Ohio, and the United States.
Lippman students prepared the resolution with humanities teacher and curriculum coordinator Matt Russ and volunteer Marvin Shapiro, a retired judge. Students met with Councilperson Marilyn Keith, and City Council staff collaborated with Lippman board member John York, city attorney in the Civil Division, and David Lieberth, president of the Summit County Historical Society. Tribal elder Otto Braided Hair and student Bryan Fisher from the Northern Cheyenne Nation flew in from Montana to present to the City Council.
“From what we understand, Akron is the first city in the United States to designate a unique day to recognize native people rather than renaming Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day,” says Lippman Head of School Sam Chestnut. “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.”
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. The annual symbolic walk will now be held on the first Monday of October to commemorate North American First People’s Day.
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