McKee Preservation Group unveiling a Three Sisters Garden May 23

The McKee Preservation Group, which is raising funds for a planned Native American Cultural and Environmental Center at Churchill Woods Forest Preserve, is unveiling a Three Sisters Garden.

Construction of the Three Sisters Garden has been underway in an empty lot adjacent to Stacy’s Tavern in Glen Ellyn. The garden highlights how Native Americans traditionally produced corn beans and squash together in a manner that did not deplete the soil of nutrients. This garden will be adjacent to another garden that follows methods used by non-indigenous settlers who began arriving in the 1830s.

On May 23, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., all are welcome to come help plant the gardens with the seeds for the Three Sisters (corn, beans and squash). This will be a great activity for the kids! The American Indian mound garden is on the grounds of Stacy’s Tavern Museum located at 557 Geneva Road in Glen Ellyn.

The Midwest SOARRING Foundation proposes to establish the Native American Cultural and Environmental Center at Churchill Woods Forest Preserve, home to the historical site of a large Potawatomi village dating to back roughly to 1670.

The village was along a trail that stretched all the way from the Chicago River in Cook County to the Fox River in Kane County.

The center will be located in the architecturally and historically significant McKee House, a two-story, limestone-brick facility that will be restored and repurposed along with its neighboring work house building.

They envision rehabbing these facilities to house a Native American museum, library, as well as education and meeting rooms. The grounds will feature public gardens and a traditional longhouse.

For information, visit fundthecenter.org.