Native Americans in Livingston County, Illinois, by Dale C Maley

Discover the deep history of Native American presence in Livingston County, Illinois, as explored in this presentation created for the Livingston County Historical Society. Join historian Dale C. Maley and Roger Kutzner in tracing the story from the earliest inhabitants, through the Woodland Period and Cahokia Mounds, to encounters with Marquette and Jolliet in 1673. Learn about the Kickapoo tribe’s migration, key archaeological discoveries, and how Native Americans shaped the region for thousands of years. The video features artifact analysis, burial site findings, legends like Starved Rock, and dramatic events such as the 1730 Fox Massacre and the Kickapoo’s final years in Illinois.[1]
• Featured topics: timelines from the Ice Age to 20th-century discoveries, the Kickapoo and other local tribes, pivotal battles, and first contact with European explorers.[1]
• Local stories include the Darnall family and the Kickapoo, Native American plant uses, and early settler interactions.[1]
• The presentation closes with reflections on the vast stewardship of Indigenous Peoples over the land, providing resources for further research and inviting viewers to learn more at the Fairbury Echoes Museum or Livingston County Historical Society.[1]
Perfect for history enthusiasts, museum visitors, educators, and anyone interested in the Native American heritage of central Illinois.[1]