Shawnee Tribe seeks control over Indian Mission in Fairway, says historic site is in 'deep...

A report commissioned by the Shawnee Tribe concluded up to $13 million in restoration and repairs are needed at the longtime Native American boarding school. But the city of Fairway, which is responsible for maintaining the site, says it has no plans to transfer ownership.
The Shawnee Tribe is seeking to take control of the Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway, saying the historic site is deteriorating and in need of millions of dollars in repairs.

But city officials dispute some of the key findings of a tribe-commissioned report, foreshadowing a potential battle over one of Johnson County’s most recognizable landmarks as tribal leaders press state lawmakers to transfer ownership of the site.

Shawnee Chief Ben Barnes said a tribe-commissioned report conducted by California-based Architectural Resources Group, a firm specializing in historic preservation, shows that the Mission “is in deep distress and is an endangered site.”