![]() |
Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma and Nebraska. Delegation to Washington, DC, 1865. |
Statement of Purpose
We believe that Illinois’ deep past is not merely a subject of archaeological curiosity—it is a living cultural inheritance that demands respect, stewardship, and inclusive storytelling. This initiative exists to advocate for the protection, education, and celebration of prehistoric and Indigenous heritage sites throughout Illinois, from the effigy mounds of Chicago to the ceremonial avenues of Cahokia.
Our Mission is Threefold:
- Preserve vulnerable archaeological and sacred landscapes from erasure, looting, and neglect.
- Educate the public and policymakers about the historical significance and spiritual importance of these sites through accessible resources, community engagement, and curricular support.
- Honor Indigenous voices and historical truths by amplifying Native perspectives, fostering collaborative research, and challenging distortive narratives rooted in colonial interpretation.
We reject the notion that cultural heritage is static, niche, or solely academic. It is dynamic, political, and deeply human—interwoven with questions of identity, land, and memory. Our work is not simply about artifacts and mounds; it is about justice, visibility, and legacy.
Through storytelling, scholarship, and advocacy, we seek to protect the sacred, restore the misrepresented, and reawaken public consciousness to Illinois’ ancient roots. The soil speaks—we are here to listen, to preserve, and to act.
In 1813, the "Peoria War" was a big part of eliminating Indians in Illinois.
1814 Wood River, Illinois Massacre.
1816 Treaty of St. Louis and the 1821 and 1833 Treaties of Chicago.
1814 Wood River, Illinois Massacre.
1816 Treaty of St. Louis and the 1821 and 1833 Treaties of Chicago.
Illinois Confederacy, History in the Illinois Country.
Illinois Confederacy, History from the Illinois Country through the Mid-1830s.
Illinois Confederacy, History from the Illinois Country through the Mid-1830s.
Paleo-Indian Migration to North America & Ready/Lincoln Hills Site, Jersey County, Illinois
Paleo-Indians of the Albany Mounds, the Hopewell Tribe, in Albany, Illinois.
Paleo-Indians of the Albany Mounds, the Hopewell Tribe, in Albany, Illinois.