ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — It's hard not to see Black Hawk's name or face across the Quad Cities.
The Native American warrior was born in a village that was located in present day Rock Island.
While many people refer to Black Hawk as a chief, one history professor from Augustana said that isn't accurate.
"He did not come from the particular clan, the Sauk people from which chiefs come. So he was a leader. He was an orator. He was a worrier. But he does not seem to have been a chief," said Jane Simonsen, a history professor at Augustana College.
Black Hawk fought in multiple battles in his lifetime. The most infamous, 'The Black Hawk War of 1832', which took his name.
"The Sauk people allegedly signed a treaty in 1804 in St. Louis, which handed over this portion of Illinois to the US government."
That treaty gave over 50 acres of tribal land to the United States government. The move is still disputed to this day.
Black Hawk died of illness at 71 years old.
"Then when he died and was buried in the traditional manner, white people dug up his bones stole his body. And that's really, that's an important part of the story for Native people is how disrespectful it is to to steal someone's body when really in their belief system, your body is needed for the afterlife, and the things that you bring with you are needed in the afterlife."
Simsonsen said she hopes the rich history Black Hawk brought to the Quad Cities gains more recognition.
"So many Native nations are like, wow, we are working really hard on so many things. And keeping our culture alive and caring for our children and caring for the environment. And and images that just show this one snapshot. Don't help white folks understand who we are at all."