Native Americans

The Illinois House has approved a bill that would ban portrayals of Native Americans in school logos, names and mascots, and another bill that would force a Southern Illinois school to drop its use of the Midgets nickname.

The land in southern Dekalb County once belonged to Chief Shab-eh-nay of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation but was seized and sold by the U.S. when the chief was visiting relatives.

The Illinois State University Horticulture Center is literally going back to "native roots" for this year's Autumnal Festival. The center is honoring the connection to indigenous plants as part of the annual fundraiser for the center on Saturday and Sunday.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed a package of bills Friday extending cultural protections to Native Americans in Illinois and requiring the teaching of Native American history in public schools.

Historians and McLean County officials gathered at West Park north of LeRoy to dedicate a new historic marker that details the history of the Kickapoo tribe in central Illinois.

A performance centering on Native American voices served as a sort-of groundbreaking for a natural art piece at Illinois State University's Horticulture Center that will be developed over the course of eight years.

In a first-of-its-kind hire last month, the Illinois State Museum added a director of tribal relations – a pioneering role in the institution’s 145-year-history. Heather Miller will be responsible for building and repairing relationships between the Springfield-based museum and Native American tribes with historical ties to the state, specifically when it comes to how the state has handled native artifacts and remains.

Starting this fall, Bloomington officially will celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day the second Monday of each October. The Bloomington City Council…

The Bloomington City Council on Monday gave staff the OK to pursue the possibility of observing Indigenous Peoples Day each October, but not before a…