'That can finally happen' Laws on Native American issues confront the past to 'celebrate our interconnectedness'

This editorial is a consensus opinion of the Daily Herald Editorial Board.

At the core of a package of bills Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law in Schaumburg last Friday is a concept we could use more of in politics.

Respect.

Respect for history. Respect for truth. Respect for people.

Regarding the past, the Native American History Law requires that Illinois K-12 students be taught about the roots and history of Indigenous people in the state, including contributions, culture, tribal sovereignty and more. The curriculum was developed in conjunction with Native American groups, including the American Indian Association of Illinois and the Chicago American Indian Collaborative.

Illinois already requires lessons on various cultures and ethnic groups, so there is sad irony in the fact that Native Americans, the original human inhabitants, are being brought into the picture at this level so late. Fortunately, at last, the law recognizes the importance of the story they have to tell - not just from the past but for the present as well. Aaliyah Begay, a Native American student at Columbia College and cultural dance teacher, emphasized that point in a story for St. Louis Public Radio.

"We should be teaching everyone that we're still here and that we're not just in the past. We're still out here, and we're still thriving," Begay said.

The law also emphasizes that the lessons should not sidestep the troubling aspects of the Native American experience in Illinois. At Friday's signing ceremony, Pritzker highlighted three specific sites in the state that "represent some of the ugliest parts of our history" and stressed that these need to be acknowledged and understood as well.

"It's up to us to right the wrongs of the past and to chart a new course, one that educates our people so we won't repeat the sins of the past," the governor said.

As for respecting people, another key component of the legislative package is the Human Remains Protection Act, which establishes procedures for managing human remains and grave sites found in Illinois and for reburial of repatriated Native American remains and materials. Despite a federal law requiring such repatriation, Illinois still has the second largest collection of unreturned remains in the country. The law requires that the return of remains and artifacts be managed in cooperation with tribal authorities.

"I can't imagine how horrible I would feel if someone dug up the grave of my grandmother, stole a necklace she was buried with to be sold as a curiosity and put her bones on display, but that's what we're talking about here," said Arlington Heights Democratic Rep. Mark Walker in a prepared statement. "Illinois' past and present are better because of the history and impacts of Native Americans. Reconciling the sins of our past means ensuring these remains are reburied with the honor and respect they deserve."

Joseph "Zeke" Rupnick, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Chairman, echoed that theme in a statement on the bill signing.

"With the governor signing these bills into law, Illinois is proving that a government is capable of reflecting on its past injustices and planning for a future that respects and celebrates our interconnectedness," he said, adding in a separate response. "We've longed for the day we can bring respect to our history and our ancestors the way they should've been respected centuries ago. Today means that can finally happen."