MOLINE, Ill. — November is Native American Heritage Month. It's a chance to celebrate and recognize the history, culture, languages and achievements of Native Americans and Alaskan Natives.
Locally, Native American presenter and author, Kim Sigafus McIver, will give a one-hour presentation on the history, customs and impact of Native women on Monday, Nov. 25. The presentation will be at the Moline Public Library. This will be in the Gold/Silver/Bronze room from 6 to 7 p.m.
Sigafus McIver focuses her talk on what is considered "The Hidden Half" or the women who helped shape Illinois. Specifically, she'll educate visitors on Hononegah and Singing Bird, the latter of which was Blackhawk's wife.
From the women's day-to-day lives to the role they played in their husbands' and families' lives, Sigafus McIver shines a light on what it was like for these ladies. She also touches on the courting, marriage and child-rearing customs of the time. Plus, she'll dive into why Singing Bird was Blackhawk's only wife, despite a popular tradition at the time for men to have multiple wives.
Audience members will have a chance to pick up and view items, learn Native language and music and get the chance to play the drum in this interactive experience. There will be time for a Q&A at the end.
Sigafus McIver tells News 8 she wants attendees to know that Native people are still in Illinois. She went on to note the importance of Native women to Native culture, but also to all cultures.
"I think it's important to remember that we were here. We lived here. This was our hometown, this was our village and where we were. Everywhere you look has some native connection, some native person walked the same land that you're on at one time," Sigafus McIver said.
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