(Dublin, Ohio) — Each spring, golf patrons in Dublin consistently have a question: Will it rain at the Memorial Tournament this year? If it does, it’s not a curse — it’s just the Ohio weather.
In partnership with the Wyandotte Nation, the City of Dublin is working to dispel the longstanding myth of the “Curse of Leatherlips.” The tale erroneously purports that the Wyandot warrior, who was executed in the Dublin area in 1810, put a curse on the Muirfield Village Golf Club land so that it would rain during the Tournament.
Leatherlips — known as Šaʔteyarǫnyes in Wandat, the traditional Wyandot language — was a respected warrior of the indigenous tribe who stewarded the land where the City of Dublin is now located. The noted Wyandot leader is also venerated with a sculpture in his honor at Scioto Park.
To further recognize Leatherlips’ honorable and peaceful character, the City and Wyandotte Nation members are sharing a friendly request to golf lovers, media, meteorologists and the public to help put an end to this inaccurate description of the native leader.
“Known as a man of integrity and a good friend to both native and white people, Šaʔteyarǫnyes was a principled man who would have never placed such a curse on the land,” says Chris Houk, a lifeways researcher with the Wyandotte Nation, based in Wyandotte, Oklahoma. “Witchcraft was a forbidden practice for the Wyandot, so understanding both Šaʔteyarǫnyes’ traditions and his status as a respected leader is critical to helping eliminate this unjustified legend.”
The City thanks the Wyandotte Nation for its members’ continued partnership and acknowledges this painful part of our shared history.
“The curse is an inauthentic and hurtful representation of the Wyandotte people, a flourishing tribe with its roots in Ohio, including Dublin,” says Christine Nardecchia, outreach and engagement director. “We are proud to work alongside the Wyandotte Nation on many projects, including our Heritage Interpreter program, nature education efforts and information sharing, to better share our land’s history with our community. We want to do what we can to stop this story out of respect for Leatherlips and our Wyandotte partners.”
NOTE: Šaʔteyarǫnyes is pronounced “Sha-tey-ya-ron-yes” in Wandat. Learn more about the Wyandotte Nation’s account of Leatherlips’ history or visit the tribe’s website.
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Media Contact:
Rebecca Myers
Public Information Officer
614.381.5225 – Cell
rrmyers@dublin.oh.us
Newsroom: https://dublinohiousa.gov/newsroom/
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