Description

Join us at Isle a la Cache to meet Illinois Humanities Road Scholar Kim Sigafus, an award-winning Ojibwa author and speaker. Her family is from White Earth Reservation in Minnesota. In this presentation, she will discuss what was happening in the country regarding Native Americans at the time the Declaration of Independence was signed. She will discuss how the signing of that document affected the Native people and whether it mentioned them. She will also discuss how the government and its people viewed Native Americans and the consequences of those views. Sigafus will emphasize the impact the document had on the lives of the Native people and what ultimately was lost and how those fundamental differences between the government and the Native people ultimately led to conflicts. She will also explain how Native people viewed their land and why the ultimate loss of it negatively impacted them. Sigafus will discuss how they once lived, worked the land, and raised their children and explain what was lost of their culture as western expansion moved forward.

Sigafus will lead the audience into the lives of the Native people through a traditional story and song. The audience will have the chance to learn music, drum, sing and play other Native American instruments. Traditional native foods will also be discussed, and a recipe will be handed out. This presentation will end with a Q&A with the audience.

This presentation aligns with the Illinois America 250 Commission's theme “We the People.” This theme invites us to explore ideas of who has been included and who has been left out of the nation’s promise, as well as how people from all backgrounds have shaped and reshaped what it means to be part of “the people.” The Illinois America 250 Commission's goals are to uplift local stories, places, and programs; build pride; and showcase how Illinois brings the ideals of the Declaration of Independence to life.

Illinois Humanities is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that spark conversation, foster reflection, build community, and strengthen civic engagement for everyone in Illinois. Founded in 1974, we are the state partner for the National Endowment for the Humanities and supported by state, federal, and private funds.

If you have any questions, please call us at 815-722-9301.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service to participate in this program should submit a request online no later than 48 hours before the program.

Program Other Category

Registration required

Location

Isle a la Cache Museum at Isle a la Cache Museum