Native American Shawnee on the Eve of the American Revolution at Colonial Williamsburg

September 29, 3:01 PMHistory & Landmarks Travel ExaminerPauline Dolinski

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    Shawnee in RevolutionaryCity -  Photo/Col. Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg will begin a new program depicting the Native Americans in Williamsburg in 1775 on the Eve of the American Revolution on October 3, 2009.

The program, called “So Far From Scioto,” will run  for three weeks as part of the new Revolutionary City American Indian Initiative. The Shawnee characters will be portrayed by an all Native cast. 

The Initiative will make sure that the histories of the Native people in 18th Century Williamsburg will be included in the activities at this living history museum.

Williamsburg reports that this presentation tells the story of three young Shawnee emissaries who were taken to Williamsburg in 1774 as diplomatic hostages to ensure compliance with a peace  agreement ending Lord Dunsmore’s War in Ohio country.

"So Far From Scioto” will show the situation from the point of view of the Shawnee delegation as they witness the events at the beginning of the American Revolution in Williamsburg. These events include the seizure of the colony’s gunpowder at the Magazine by British marines, the news of the events in the north at Lexington and Concord, Lord Dunmore’s departure from the Governor’s Palace and Williamsburg, and the growing conflict with the Virginia patriots. The young Shawnee must consider their course of action in the midst of all this, with the political problems, their homesickness, and their responsibility and sense of honor as they serve as security for the safety of the Shawnee people.

    Shawnee Indians ready for their roles in the Revolutionary City.  Photo / Colonial Williamsburg 

“So Far From Scioto” will be presented daily except Mondays from Oct. 3 to 24 in the garden of the Governor’s Palace in Colonial Williamsburg. Admission is by CW admission ticket or Good Neighbor Card. 

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