Experience an important part of Fort Wayne’s Native American heritage through Miami Indian Heritage Days.

This cultural celebration kicks off Saturday, May 5 at the Chief Richardville House, 5705 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne.  Sponsored by the History Center, Miami Indian Heritage Days programs are held from 1-4 pm on the first Saturday of the month, May through November.

Miami Indian Heritage Days are a great way to learn about the pastimes of Fort Wayne's first inhabitants.

What can visitors expect? The event promises local artists, performers, and representatives from the Miami Indians and other Native American groups demonstrating aspects of their heritage.

• “Medicine Woman Drum” will be featured May 5 beginning at 1 p.m. The group’s performances demonstrate the importance of drumming, singing and dancing in Miami society.
• On June 2, Erik Vosteen will present traditional Great Lakes weaponry, including hand and throwing weapons as well as the atlatl.
• July 7 is the bi-centennial celebration of Miami Chief Little Turtle’s death. A memorial herb medicine wheel will be created on that day and artifacts belonging to Little Turtle will be on display.
• The August 4 program by Katrina Mitten will feature Native American bead work.
• September 1, Dani Tippman presents “Miami Harvest” on edible and usable plants and materials.
• M.I.A.M.I. (Miami Indian Alliance of Miami Indians) will present programs on October 6 about wikiami building and cattail matting.
• November 3-4 is Traders Days. Vendors, craftsmen and artists sell quality Native American items including fine art, gourd work, beading, carved wood pieces, corn husk dolls, Christmas ornaments, Native American shields, jewelry, clothing, feather work, homemade baked goods and more.
• Traders Days events are free to the public and are open Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.

Admission for each Saturday event is $7 adults and $5 students and seniors. History Center members and children ages 5 and under are free. Admission also includes the opportunity to visit the Chief Richardville House.

For more information, contact the History Center at (260) 426-2882 or visit the website.

Waynedale, while located in Fort Wayne City Limits, has an identity all of its own. The community was annexed in 1957, but the name stuck. Residents take pride in being from this south side Fort Wayne neighborhood.

Also kept in tradition are multi-generational family-owned businesses, who have continued to do business in Waynedale since their start. As many of the businesses are within walking distance of our residential neighborhoods, most people don’t have to travel far to find what they need without leaving the neighborhood.

In the neighborhood for a few hours? Here are a few must-sees/dos:

Chief Richardville House: The Chief Richardville House, at his original site at 5705 Bluffton Road, bears several monikers, including the oldest Native American dwelling in the Midwest, the first Greek Revival Style house in northeast Indiana, and the oldest house in northeast Indiana. Perhaps most notable is the fact that it was home to the wealthiest man in Indiana at the time of his death in 1841. Miami Indian Heritage days programs are held at the Chief Richardville House from 1-4 pm on the first Saturday of the month, May through November. Sponsored by the History Center, admission for each Saturday event is $7 adults and $5 students and seniors. History Center members and children ages 5 & under are free.

Photo Courtesy of The History Center

Hanson Observation Deck: The Hanson Observation Deck is open to the public, offering a breathtaking view of the quarry in action. The deck is safely enclosed with fencing. To get there, follow Sandpoint Road West, the Observation tower will be visible on the left side, 2 minutes past Ardmore Avenue.

Something Old Something New: Looking for a bargain? Something Old Something New Consignment Boutique, located at 2519 Lower Huntington Road, carries all styles of ladies clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories. From unique to casual, Something Old Something New has it all!

Azar’s Big Boy: Hungry for American fare? You can’t go wrong with Big Boy! Recently the restaurant, located at 6800 Bluffton Road, completed an extensive renovation, which included improvements like new carpet, ceiling, booths, table tops, a refacing of the salad bar, new counters at the cash stand area, and a new hostess counter.

Curley’s: A Waynedale staple, Curley’s Village Inn has been serving up cold ones for a long time. The owner, Mary Armstrong, and her partner, Irishman Dudley O’Carroll, lend a down-home feeling and extra touch to the long-time establishment which sits high above the St. Marys River just across from Foster Park. In the summer, the deck is a popular gathering place.

In addition to patronizing these Waynedale busiensses, be sure to look for information on the annual Community Picnic, Memorial Day Parade, Taste of Waynedale and more.  For more information about Waynedale, visit the Waynedale News Web site.

The Historic Chief Richardville House

It’s that time of year again, time to start thinking about holiday shopping, especially those who are difficult to shop for.

Trader Days at the Chief Richardville House offers unique handmade gifts that are just the thing! Vendors, craftsmen and artists will be selling Native American items such as beading, carved wood pieces, corn husk dolls, shields, jewelry, clothing and feather work. And of course, they will also have Christmas ornaments and homemade baked goods.

Trader Days will be open November 5^th and 6^th from 1 pm – 4 pm both days. This event is free to the public.

Chief Richardville House is located at 5705 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana. For additional information, call the History Center at (260) 426-2882.

During your next Fort Wayne visit, take a step back in time and stop by the Chief Richardville House — which honors the memory of Miami Chief Jean Baptiste de Richardville, a great negotiator in American History. The spacious and elegant home he built in 1827 still stands today, and is the location of regular tours and special events this fall.

A portrait of Chief Richardville

Richardville, born in 1761, was the son of a French fur trader and a Miami Indian mother — Tacamwa, who was a sister to the Miami War Chief Little Turtle. Richardville was one of the first entrepreneurs native to the Fort Wayne and Allen County area. Richardville went on to build a trading empire using the St. Mary’s and Wabash rivers, upon which Fort Wayne was founded. That trading empire encompassed Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

Today the Chief Richardville house stands as a testament to his accomplishments, including being a respected negotiator for land rights between Native Americans and the U.S. Government. At the time of his death in 1841, Richardville was the most wealthy man in the state of Indiana. Today his restored home takes visitors back in history.

The Chief Richardville House is one of the oldest in the area.

The home was built in part with a $600 gift to Richardville from the U.S. government. Richardville is said to have entertained many of Fort Wayne’s early civic leaders. The Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society secured the property in 1991 and afterward restored the exterior of the home.

The house, located at 5705 Bluffton Road,  is open for public tours from 1 to 4 p.m. the first Saturday of each month May through November. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for students and seniors alike; and children ages 5 and under pay no admission. Parking is free. For more information visit the Chief Richardville House online.

Upcoming special events include a traditional wikiami building and cattail matting presentation on October 1. Traders Days follow the next month on November 5 and 6, where homemade wares and baked goods will be for sale on site.

Experience a weekend of Native American culture as the Fort Wayne History Center presents Miami Indian Heritage Days!

The weekend kick starts at 1 p.m. on August 6. Guests can make their way to the Chief Richardville House to experience three hours of Miami culture including a Native American Beadwork presentation by Katrina Mitten.

Miami Heritage Week starts the following day in conjunction with the Woodland Art exhibit, a Native American fine arts festival featuring powwow dancing and native artwork such as clothing, jewelry, gourd art and drums.

Heritage week spices up the art exhibit with a variety of special activities. A performance by Medicine Woman Drum and cattail weaving can be enjoyed by all from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday. Monday evening, visitors can sit in and interact in a discussion focused on the Miami’s history. And Tuesday night, be sure to drop by with the kids to experience a Native Children book reading by Miami educators and students.

As with any cultural celebration, guests will have the opportunity to try unique foods including elk burgers and sassafras tea during their visit to the events of Heritage Week.

Check out this link for more information about Miami Heritage Days, and click here to learn more about Miami Indian Heritage Week.