The American Indian Advisory Committee

The American Indian Advisory Committee to the Dayton Society of Natural History (DSNH) came into being through the interest of several dedicated individuals of Native American heritage.  In 1972, Solomon Brokeshoulder and other Native Americans of the Four Points Intertribal Association requested a meeting with the Dayton Museum of Natural History to communicate their concerns regarding the archaeological excavations at what is now SunWatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park.  Members of the Four Points Intertribal Association were originally opposed to the excavation at that site, but subsequent communication between the two groups revealed a common desire to preserve and share Native American culture.

The Miami Valley Council for Native Americans

SunWatch is partnering with the Miami Valley Council for Native Americans on events such as the Keeping the Tradition Pow Wow and the Council’s clothing and school supply drive to benefit the Rosebud, Crow Creek, Cheyenne River, and Standing Rock Reservations in South Dakota. For more information about the Council click here.

The Miami Valley Flute Circle 

Members of the Miami Valley Flute circle have monthly meetings at SunWatch. They invite anyone interested in the Native American flute to come to their meetings (See our Schedule of Events for meeting dates). In addition they also help us organize our SunWatch Native Flute Gathering. To learn more about the Miami Valley Flute Circle click here.

Five Rivers MetroParks

Five Rivers MetroParks manages several parks in the Greater Dayton region preserving open spaces and offering outdoor recreation experiences to the Miami Valley. In addition, Five Rivers MetroParks offers SunWatch the opportunity to harvest timbers from their properties as well as prairie grasses from their restored native prairies. These resources are used at SunWatch in our reconstruction efforts, helping us allow our visitors to get an accurate portrayal of what village life was like at SunWatch almost 800 years ago. For more information on Five River MetroParks click here.

The Miami Conservancy District

The Miami Conservancy District monitors, protects and promotes the use of recreational amenities throughout the Great Miami River watershed. The Miami Conservancy District also offers SunWatch access to their land for harvesting timbers and other materials we use in our reconstruction efforts. For more information about the Miami Conservancy District and their facilities click here.

Two Trees Inc. is a 501(c)3 charitable non-profit organization dedicated to community building and cultural bridging through: cultural exchanges; empowerment events and activities; and production of multi-media materials. It was also created to carry out the vision of Lakota Rose Madison, a 17-year-old Hunkpapa Lakota woman who was murdered before her vision of creating safe places for at-risk youth and having cultural exchanges could be realized. Two Trees, Inc. promotes models of service and methodologies of intercultural interaction that engage individuals and communities as pro-active agents in their own healing, especially those involved with youth recovery, wellness, and empowerment. Two Trees is honored to work in partnership with SunWatch for periodic events and cultural exchanges.