Colonial Illinois: European and Indigenous Encounters on the Prairies and Woodlands
This presentation provides an overview of the diverse types of encounters that occurred in the early colonial period of Illinois history. Scott Stevens examines the various Native communities that called the Illinois country “home” and the peoples of European and African descent who interacted with them on many levels: fur traders, missionaries, soldiers, and settlers. Stevens explores the place of Native Americans in this important era in the history of Illinois.
Dr. Scott Stevens is the director of the D'Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies at the Newberry Library. He was previously a member of the faculty and director of graduate studies in English at the University at Buffalo and has presented numerous public lectures around the US and Europe. Dr. Stevens is a member of the Akwesasne Mohawk Tribe and is particularly interested in Native American history and cultures, especially of the colonial period, and 20th century Native American civil rights activism.
