Lecture Series- Ancestral Waters: The Pokagon Band and their Homelands

Name: Lecture Series- Ancestral Waters: The Pokagon Band and their Homelands
Start: 2025-10-15T18:30:00-04:00
Location: 260 Dyckman Ave, South Haven, MI, United States, Michigan 49090

Schedule

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025 at 06:30 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

260 Dyckman Ave, South Haven, MI, United States, Michigan 49090 | South Haven, MI

Whispers Across the Water Lecture Series Continues!
Join the Michigan Maritime Museum and presenter Cecil Wilson on Wednesday, October 15th at 6:30 PM as Cecil shares the history of his people, their connection to the land and waters of the Great Lakes, and the ways they have carried their traditions forward. Since time immemorial the Pokagon Band people have called the Great Lakes their home and water is sacred as it has helped shape their past and their future.
Cecil Wilson is an enrolled citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and a proud member of the Turtle Clan. His work centers on the preservation of the cultural landscapes, histories, and living stories of his people. Deeply rooted in a sense of place and responsibility, Cecil works at the intersection of advocacy, education, and cultural revitalization. Whether engaging in government-to-government dialogue, researching historical land use, or sharing oral histories with both Native and non-Native communities, he is committed to ensuring that the voice of the Pokagon Band remains strong and visible. His efforts reflect a core belief: that the Pokagon people are not only a part of history, but a thriving, present, and enduring Nation with a future shaped by sovereignty, resilience, and connection to land and water. This lecture is part of our year-long programmatic series Whispers Across the Water that showcases and celebrates the invaluable contributions of minority communities to Great Lakes maritime history and heritage.
Tickets are free for Museum members and $10 for non-members. Doors open at 6 PM. You can purchase tickets for this event online, over the phone, or in-person.
This lecture series is made possible thanks to the Nielsen-Wells Grant Fund and Mike & Susan Smith.
Purchase tickets online today!: https://michiganmaritimemuseum.org/event/lecture-series-ancestral-waters-the-pokagon-band-and-their-homelands/