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An Indigenous History of the Upper Great Lakes Region

A Mini-Course Offered by the NU Emeriti Organization and EPL

This mini-course, taught by Prof. Patty Loew, Director of Northwestern's Center for Native American & Indigenous Research, focuses on the history of our region from the perspective of First Peoples.

Effective 5/17/21: Waitlisted registrants are now invited to log in to the Tuesday, May 18, class! 

This non-credit, no-cost, two-session mini-course, taught by Prof. Patty Loew, Director of Northwestern's Center for Native American & Indigenous Research, focuses on the history and lifeways of the First Peoples of our region. Class sessions take place on two successive Tuesday evenings, May 11 & 18. 

This mini-course, offered to the greater Evanston community as a collaboration between the Northwestern Emeriti Organization (NEO) and Evanston Public Library, begins with an introduction to fundamental Native American concepts and customs that preceded European settlement and moves on to recount the history of local Native communities. It explains the “treaties” by which Native people were expelled from the region, the significance of tribal sovereignty, and how empowered Native nations are invoking treaty rights in contemporary environmental struggles. The land on the southwestern shore of Ininwewigichigami (Lake Michigan) sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, the Potawatomi, and Odawa, as well as the Menominee, Miami, and Ho-Chunk nations.

The instructor for this course, Prof. Patty Loew, Director of Northwestern's Center for Native American & Indigenous Research, is herself a citizen of Mashkiiziibii (Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe) and the award-winning author of several books, as well as the producer of several equally highly praised PBS documentaries.

Although attendance of both classes is strongly recommended, it is not required for participation. 

Suggested readings and Zoom login information will be distributed via email to all registered participants several weeks before the first class. 

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