Discover the history of Native American women in Illinois

Join the Forest Preserve District of Kane County for “Learn from the Experts: Singing Bird and the Importance of Native American Women in Illinois History,” on Sunday, Oct. 13.

Dressed in her native regalia, Kim Sigafus will give a history of Native Americans in Illinois, with a focus on native women – often considered to be “The Hidden Half.”

Her primary stories will be about women such as Singing Bird (Blackhawk’s wife) and Hononegah.

Sigafus will bring the audience into these women’s day-to-day lives, including their courting, marriage, and child-rearing. She will also talk about women’s roles in their husbands’ lives and how those lives affected the history of Illinois.

She will bring native items that would have been used in their daily lives and discuss the role women played within the family unit.

Audience members will be able to pick up and view native items, learn native language and music, and get the chance to play the drum in this interactive experience.

The program for ages 18 or older will be 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Barbara Belding Lodge which is located within Brewster Creek Forest Preserve at 6N921 Route 25 in St. Charles.

The registration fee is $15 per person. Advance registration is required. To register, call (630) 444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.com.

For more information, visit www.kaneforest.com or find the district on social by searching @forestpreserve.