Native Illinois History & Contemporary Issues

Lifelong educator and cultural advocate Dr. Dorene Wiese shares the vibrant knowledge, history, and continuing contributions of Native American people in Illinois. Native people have lived in this region for thousands of years, yet their stories and present-day experiences are often overlooked. This presentation explores the deep history of Native communities in Illinois and connects that history to the lives of Native people today.

Dr. Wiese will guide audiences through the historical foundations of tribal nations such as the Chippewa, Potawatomi, and Ottawa, as well as the development of urban Native communities in Chicago during the 20th century. Through storytelling, music, dance, and art, she will highlight how history remains alive, how Native contributions continue, and why cultural respect matters.

As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, this program invites audiences to celebrate Native traditions and consider who has shaped the larger story of America.

About our speaker:

Dr. Dorene Wiese is an enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe–White Earth and a lifelong educator, leader, and cultural advocate. She holds a doctorate in Leadership and Policy Studies from Northern Illinois University and is the founding president of the American Indian Association of Illinois. Dr. Wiese currently serves as president of NAES College Inc., formerly Illinois’ only urban-based American Indian college. A past Newberry Library Fellow, she has worked to preserve Native scholarship, oral histories, and cultural traditions. She is also Artistic Director of the Black Hawk Dance and Performance Company and has lectured across Illinois on Native history, media, oral traditions, and cultural policy.