Elgin Public Museum notes

Elgin's own El Cenzontle Aztec Dancers will perform on Sept. 6 and 7 at Native American Cultural Days and Bison Blessing at Lords Park Zoo.

Sponsored by the Elgin Public Museum and Midwest Save Our Ancestors Remains and Resources Indigenous Networking Group, the two-day event will highlight the early inhabitants of Illinois and Elgin. Other sponsors include the City of Elgin and the Elgin City Employees Credit Union.

This marks the fourth year for this cultural program, which includes Native Americans doing demonstrations, serving food, dancing and storytelling. Chicago flute player Bill Conquering Bear Buchholtz will play Native flute and a group from Chicago will handle the drum duties as others do fancy and traditional dances. Native American vendors will be available for shoppers. Carl Perry of Barlett will bring his authentic Plains tipi to the gathering.

Visitors will be invited to take part in the dances. There will be games for children and a flint knapper will demonstrate on Sunday. Joy Dern, a Native American from Michigan will demonstrate crafts such as quill work and beading.

SOARRING's president and founder Joseph Standing Bear will conduct the Bison Blessing at 10 a.m. Sunday on the knoll across from the Lords Park Zoo bison enclosure and is free to the public. The main gate will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. General admission is $5, with a maximum of $25 for a family of more than five. For details, contact the Elgin Public Museum at (847) 741-6655 or www.elginpublicmuseum.org.

• To register for programs or obtain further information, call the museum at (847) 741-6655 or visit the Web site at www.elginpublicmuseum.org.