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"Illinois, Welcome The Kickapoo Home"

On May 30, 1998, with the sun at its height, smiling down at the the celebration, 2,500 visitors paid tribute at the Grand Village of the Kickapoo in LeRoy, Illinois. Crowded around the hay-ringed arena, participants gathered from across the Midwest to welcome over 300 Kickapoo members back to Illinois at the Homecoming of the Kickapoo Nation Pow Wow and Dedication of the Grand Village of the Kickapoo Park. The nation was driven west via the Treaty of Edwardsville, signed in 1819, and the Kickapoo had not resided in the state since 1832. The Grand Village at current LeRoy in central Illinois, had been the major village of the Kickapoo Nation from 1750 to 1832, hosting 2,000-3,000 Kickapoo (see Wings 10, page 1). At one time, the Kickapoo claimed 10 millions acres of land in Illinois, nearly 3/4 of the state.

Introductions

Bill & Doris Emmett, owners of one half of the original square mile village site, introduced themselves and explained their sense of moral obligation to preserve the land and its burials. In 1991, they had purchased the first quarter of the section for their home, then purchased the second quarter to prevent the construction of a large-scale hog confinement in 1997. Deeply committed to honoring the original inhabitants, the Emmett’s set aside one acre as the Grand Village of the Kickapoo Park. As a side benefit, current Illinois law prevents factory farm construction within 1/2 mile of recreational land. Approximately one-quarter of the village site remains in danger of development, therefore Joseph Standing Bear, President of the Midwest SOARRING Foundation, had suggested last year that the event be held to both welcome the Kickapoo home and draw attention to the need to purchase the 240 acres of land.

History & Presentations

Kickapoo tribal members travelled from Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and Mexico to attend the festival, most of them setting foot on the land of their ancestors for the first time. John Kaskaske, hostorian and elder of the Kickapoo of Oklahoma, provided a brief history of the nation, followed by introductions of tribal council members of both the Oklahoma and Kansas groups. The high point of the opening ceremony came with the announcement that the oldest Kickapoo elder, Marguerita Salazar, had travelled from Texas to be there. At least 104 years old, Marguerita’s grandmother, Kelkowah, and her grandfather, Neepaha, had lived at the Grand Village, making Marguerita the last living link to the land. She was gifted with cloth and a beaded necklace by the Foundation, and a bronze arrow was presented by Ralph Duvick, President of the LeRoy Historical Society, in honor of the Kickapoo people who had endured the struggles of yesteryear so that the descendents could be present today.

Kendall Scott, Chairman of the Oklahoma group, and Fred Thomas, Vice-Chairman of the Kansas group, then introduced themselves and other key tribal representatives. In fitting honor to Bill & Doris Emmett, gifts of Kickapoo dance outfits and blankets were presented from the Tribal Council and Elders’ Council, with the greatest honor bestowed by Kendall, with the words, "As far as I’m concerned, you’re Kickapoo."

The Gift of Dance

A Grand Entry of approximately 250 people, with half from the Kickapoo Nation in full regalia, hailed a new era for Illinois. As the Commemorative booklet stated emphatically: " The lands of Illinois territory have longed for her Kickapoo children to come home, awaiting the sound of their familiar footsteps, language, songs and dances. For over a century and a half, the ridges and valleys sensed a loss, and the rivers and creeks have flowed past trails and village sites with only the memory of Kickapoo life remaining. To the Kickapoo living today--welcome back to your homeland in Illinois! To the ancestors who lie buried at the Grand Village site, we pledge our ongoing work to protect and preserve your grave sites. And to the descendents of the Kickapoo yet to come, we promise our creative, consistent struggle to provide a land for you that knows it is blessed by your presence."

Tribal leadership expressed surprise and satisfaction at the large turnout of both tribal members and the general public, with between 6000-7000 participants over the weekend. The Kickapoo responded by sharing dances never before seen in public, such as the War Dance and Friendship Dance. To the thrill of all spectators, 104-year-old Marguerita led the Kickapoo-style "two-step," a courting dance for both men and women. The male dancers also appeared in face paint, a practice formerly reserved for private celebrations only.

Camping & Feasting

Between 200-300 Kickapoo, volunteers and week-end visitors camped in the beautiful hills and valley area to the south of the dance arena. The Emmett’s, Illinois State University volunteers from the Native American Student Association, and many others worked for months preparing 110 acres for the event.

Camping & Feasting

A sumptuous feast of 400 pounds of meat with 70 side dishes fed nearly 1000 people during dinner on Saturday afternoon. Serving trays were laden with buffalo, deer, elk, beef and wild turkey. On Sunday morning, a continental breakfast was served with food donated by Angelo & Cindy Padro and fruit from Scott Woeltje. Enough food was left over to provide another full meal for the clean-up crew on Sunday evening.

Performers Honor the People

Mitch Walking Elk, of Cheyenne-Arapahoe and Hopi descent, gifted the Kickapoo Nation with a song he wrote especially for the event, and entertained everyone during dinner break on Saturday. A South American flute ensemble called Chakras, also played, bringing music from south of the border in recognition of the unity of all indigenous peoples of the Americas. A Sunday pre-Grand Entry performance, in the light rock mode, was given by Wolf, Native singer from the Northwest coast.

Specials were headed by our Kickapoo guests. Brendan Fairbanks, a hoopdancer of Kickapoo and Ojibwe descent, performed on Saturday and Sunday, and a traditional give-away was done by head female dancer, Arlene Harrison.

Summary

The Homecoming event signifies a quantum leap in restoration for the state of Illinois and the US as a whole. In the hope of setting a precedent, Joe Standing Bear stated, "It was wonderful to see the people come back home, but this is not only for one tribe." He sees this as an example of what other communities throughout the state and the nation can do to restore balance to a land broken by disrespect and disunity.

To expel a nation from its homeland is a grievous wrong, whether by force or treaty. To desecrate the graves left behind is to further disrupt the natural cycle of life and death, and the ongoing survival of the people. On this special weekend, reparation began in the only way possible: through the respect of one group of people for the right to life and prosperity of another.

Only a Beginning

The Kickapoo people who attended were overwhelmingly in favor of repeating the event. At a post-pow wow committee meeting, Kickapoo representatives of Oklahoma and Kansas met with the Emmett’s and Midwest SOARRING Foundation, and the date for the Grand Village of the Kickapoo Pow Wow was set for May 22 & 23, 1999. Plans for an even bigger event are underway, as the Kickapoo again renew their original connection with their homeland in Illinois.