Beginning in November 2022 and continuing through 2023, several institutions throughout Lake Forest are presenting a variety of activities, performances, lectures and events that celebrate the culture and contributions of Native Americans, past and present, to the community. Entitled Native Voices, the year-long programming illuminates the legacy and current life of Native communities as we traverse thousands of years of history, covering their rich fabric of art, environment, culture, and communication.

Led by Lake Forest Open Lands Association, participating institutions include the Ragdale Foundation, The Lake Forest Library, The History Center of Lake Forest Lake Bluff, Elawa Farm Foundation, Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce, and Gorton Community Center. In addition, Districts 67/115, private schools, and Lake Forest College are involved.

Click on descriptions below for more information and registration (if required).

Date Host Age Decription Location Type
AUGUST        
11 LFOLA All ages Conservation Cocktails: Susan Kelsey, author and documentary film producer presents, "Connecting to the Land: The Billy Caldwell Story" Lake Forest Open Lands Mellody Farm Nature Preserve Film/Discussion
15 LF-LB History Center Young Adults/Adults Private Tour of the McNickle Center  The Newberry Library Private Group Tour
SEPTEMBER        
21 Lake Forest Library Adults/Young Adults Afternoons with Judy Levin: The Seed Keeper Lake Forest Library Book Discussion
23 Lake Forest Library Adults/Young Adults Create a Dream Catcher with Kim Sigafus Lake Forest Library Presentation/Activity
27 Gorton Center and LFOLA Adults/Young Adults Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World Gorton Center Film
28 Lake Forest Library Adults Indigenous Art Lake Forest Library Presentation
30 LF-LB History Center Adults/Young Adults "The Indigenous History and Evolution of Lacrosse" LF-LB History Center Presentation
OCTOBER        
4 Lake Forest Library Adults An Evening with Stephen Graham Jones Lake Forest Library Author Talk
9 Lake Forest Library Adults Nonfiction at Night: Killers of the Flower Moon Lake Forest Library/Zoom Book Discussion
12 Lake Forest Library Adults Mystery Book Group: Girl Gone Missing Lake Forest Library/Zoom Book Discussion
16 Lake Forest Library Adults The  Poetry Group: special guest poet LeAnne Howe Zoom Book Discussion
19 Lake Forest Library Young Adults/Adults A Conversation with Diane Wilson, Mdewakanton descendant, author of The Seed Keeper Hughes Theater, Gorton Center Panel Discussion
20 Lake Forest Library Young Adults/Adults A Morning Chat with Diane Wilson, Mdewakanton descendant, author of The Seed Keeper Lake Forest Library Discussion
20  LF-LB History Center Adults Private Group Tour at Kenosha Public Museum Kenosha Public Museum Private Group Tour
NOVEMBER        
10 Gorton Center and Elawa Farm Adults/Young Adults Gather Gorton Center Film
18 Lake Forest Library Teens Teen Breakfast & Books: The Marrow Thieves Lake Forest Library Book Discussion
Date Host Age Decription Location Type
JUNE        
2-12 Lake Forest Library Families Self-Guided Storywalk of Thunder Boy Jr. Lake Forest Library front lawn Self-Guided Book
17 LF-LB History Center Young Adults/Adults IL Humanities NEA Big Read: Indigenous Stories Book LF-LB History Center Book Discussion
21 Lake Forest Library Adults Braiding Sweetgrass: A Conversation with Robin Wall Kimmerer Lake Forest Library Zoom Book Discussion
JULY        
1 LF-LB History Center Young Adults/Adults IL Humanities NEA Big Read: Indigenous Stories Book LF-LB History Center Book Discussion
15 LF-LB History Center Young Adults/Adults IL Humanities NEA Big Read: Indigenous Stories Book LF-LB History Center Book Discussion
27 LF-LB History Center Young Adults/Adults Private Tour of Native Truths Private Tour of Native Truths  The Field Museum Private Group Tour
AUGUST        
11 LFOLA All ages Conservation Cocktails: Susan Kelsey, author and documentary film producer presents, "Connecting to the Land: The Billy Caldwell Story" Lake Forest Open Lands Mellody Farm Nature Preserve Film/Discussion
15 LF-LB History Center Young Adults/Adults Private Tour of the McNickle Center  The Newberry Library Private Group Tour
SEPTEMBER        
21 Lake Forest Library Adults/Young Adults Afternoons with Judy Levin: The Seed Keeper Lake Forest Library Book Discussion
23 Lake Forest Library Adults/Young Adults Create a Dream Catcher with Kim Sigafus Lake Forest Library Presentation/Activity
28 Lake Forest Library Adults Indigenous Art Lake Forest Library Presentation
OCTOBER        
4 Lake Forest Library Adults An Evening with Stephen Graham Jones Lake Forest Library Author Talk
9 Lake Forest Library Adults Nonfiction at Night: Killers of the Flower Moon Lake Forest Library/Zoom Book Discussion
12 Lake Forest Library Adults Mystery Book Group: Girl Gone Missing Lake Forest Library/Zoom Book Discussion
16 Lake Forest Library Adults The  Poetry Group: special guest poet LeAnne Howe Zoom Book Discussion
19 Lake Forest Library Young Adults/Adults A Conversation with Diane Wilson, Mdewakanton descendant, author of The Seed Keeper Hughes Theater, Gorton Center Panel Discussion
20 Lake Forest Library Young Adults/Adults A Morning Chat with Diane Wilson, Mdewakanton descendant, author of The Seed Keeper Lake Forest Library Discussion
NOVEMBER        
18 Lake Forest Library Teens Teen Breakfast & Books: The Marrow Thieves Lake Forest Library Book Discussion
Date Host Age Decription Location Type
MARCH        
8 Gorton Center All ages 3:00 pm: "Reel Injun" OR 7:00 pm: "Reel Injun" Gorton Center Film
13 Lake Forest Library Adults "We Had a Little Real Estate Problem: The Unheralded Story of Native Americans & Comedy" Lake Forest Library Book discussion
16 Lake Forest Library Young Adults/Adults Afternoons with Judy Levin: "An Indian Among  Los Indigenas: a native Travel Memoir" Lake Forest Library Book discussion
21 LFOLA/LF-LB History Center All ages Indigenous Connections to the Land: Indian Burial Grounds & New Discoveries LF-LB History Center Discussion/presentation
29 Gorton Center All ages 3:00 pm: "Alaskan Nets" OR 7:00 pm: "Alaskan Nets" Gorton Center Film
APRIL        
8 Lake Forest Library All ages Explore Ojibwa History & Culture Lake Forest Library Discussion/presentation
14 Lake Forest and Lake Bluff Libraries Teens/Adults An Evening with Author Ursula Pike LF-LB History Center Book discussion
15 Lake Forest Library Adults "More Than Memory: Using Research to Enhance Your Memoir" with Ursula Pike Lake Forest Library Memoir writing
19 Gorton Center All ages Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire Gorton Center Film/Discussion
20 Lake Forest Library Adults Afternoons with Judy Levin: "Braiding Sweetgrass" Lake Forest Library Book discussion
28 Lake Forest Library Young Adults/Adults "Wind River" Lake Forest Library Film
MAY        
6 Lake Forest Library Ages 8-12 "I Can Make This Promise" Lake Forest Library Book Discussion
JUNE        
2-12 Lake Forest Library Families Self-Guided Storywalk of Thunder Boy Jr. Lake Forest Library front lawn Self-Guided Book
17 LF-LB History Center Young Adults/Adults IL Humanities NEA Big Read: Indigenous Stories Book LF-LB History Center Book Discussion
21 Lake Forest Library Adults Braiding Sweetgrass: A Conversation with Robin Wall Kimmerer Lake Forest Library Zoom Book Discussion
JULY        
1 LF-LB History Center Young Adults/Adults IL Humanities NEA Big Read: Indigenous Stories Book LF-LB History Center Book Discussion
15 LF-LB History Center Young Adults/Adults IL Humanities NEA Big Read: Indigenous Stories Book LF-LB History Center Book Discussion
27 LF-LB History Center Young Adults/Adults Private Tour of Native Truths Private Tour of Native Truths  The Field Museum Private Group Tour
AUGUST        
11 LFOLA All ages Conservation Cocktails: Susan Kelsey, author and documentary film producer presents, "Connecting to the Land: The Billy Caldwell Story" Lake Forest Open Lands Mellody Farm Nature Preserve Film/Discussion
15 LF-LB History Center Young Adults/Adults Private Tour of the McNickle Center  The Newberry Library Private Group Tour
SEPTEMBER        
21 Lake Forest Library Adults/Young Adults Afternoons with Judy Levin: The Seed Keeper Lake Forest Library Book Discussion
29 Lake Forest Library Adults/Young Adults Friday Feature Film - Wind River Lake Forest Library Film
30 Lake Forest Library Grades 3-5 Christine Day, a member of the Upper Skagit Tribe discusses I Can Make This Promise Lake Forest Library Book Discussion
OCTOBER        
16 Lake Forest LIbrary Adults The  Poetry Group and Indigenous poets Lake Forest Library Reading/Discussion
19-20 Lake Forest Library Young Adults/Adults Diane Wilson, Mdewakanton descendant, author of The Seed Keeper Lake Forest Library Book Discussion
NOVEMBER        
17 Lake Forest Library Young Adults/Adults Friday Featrue Film - Dances with Wolves Lake Forest Library Film 
DECEMBER        
29 Lake Forest Library Young Adults/Adults Friday Featrue Film - Powwow Highway Lake Forest Library Film
Date Host Age Decription Location Type
MARCH        
8 Gorton Center All ages 3:00 pm: "Reel Injun" OR 7:00 pm: "Reel Injun" Gorton Center Film
13 Lake Forest Library Adults "We Had a Little Real Estate Problem: The Unheralded Story of Native Americans & Comedy" Lake Forest Library Book discussion
16 Lake Forest Library Young Adults/Adults Afternoons with Judy Levin: "An Indian Among  Los Indigenas: a native Travel Memoir" Lake Forest Library Book discussion
21 LFOLA/LF-LB History Center All ages Indigenous Connections to the Land: Indian Burial Grounds & New Discoveries LF-LB History Center Discussion/presentation
29 Gorton Center All ages 3:00 pm: "Alaskan Nets" OR 7:00 pm: "Alaskan Nets" Gorton Center Film
APRIL        
8 Lake Forest Library All ages Explore Ojibwa History & Culture Lake Forest Library Discussion/presentation
14 Lake Forest and Lake Bluff Libraries Teens/Adults An Evening with Author Ursula Pike LF-LB History Center Book discussion
15 Lake Forest Library Adults "More Than Memory: Using Research to Enhance Your Memoir" with Ursula Pike Lake Forest Library Memoir writing
19 Gorton Center All ages Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire Gorton Center Film/Discussion
20 Lake Forest Library Adults Afternoons with Judy Levin: "Braiding Sweetgrass" Lake Forest Library Book discussion
28 Lake Forest Library Young Adults/Adults "Wind River" Lake Forest Library Film
MAY        
6 Lake Forest Library Ages 8-12 "I Can Make This Promise" Lake Forest Library Book Discussion
Date Host Age Decription Location Type
JANUARY        
17 City of Lake Forest All ages Proclamation of Native Voices City Councel Chambers Event
19 LFOLA/LF-LB History Center All ages Indigenous Connections to the Land: Indian Trail Marker Trees LF-LB History Center Discussion/presentation
21 Lake Forest Library Grades 3-5 Youth Book Club: "Code Talker" Lake Forest Library Book discussion
21 Gorton Center All ages 3:00 pm: "Native Voices: Keep Talking" OR 7:00 pm: "Native Voices: Keep Talking" Gorton Center Film
27 Lake Forest Library Young Adults/ Adults "Native America" Lake Forest Library Film
FEBRUARY        
Various Lake Forest Library Young Adults/Adults Read Between the Ravines Lead Up Events Lake Forest Library One Book Two Community Book Ravines
8 LFOLA/LF-LB History Center All ages Indigenous Connections to the Land: Chicagoland Archaeology and Native American Past LF-LB History Center Discussion/presentation
9 Lake Forest Library Young Adults/Adults Teen Book Group: "Firekeeper's Daughter" Lake Forest Library Book discussion
16 Lake Forest Library Adults Afternoons with Judy Levin: "A Path Lit by Lightning" Lake Forest Library Book discussion
MARCH        
POST-
PONED		 LFOLA/LF-LB History Center All ages Indigenous Connections to the Land: Indian Burial Grounds & New Discoveries LF-LB History Center Discussion/presentation
8 Gorton Center All ages 3:00 pm: "Reel Injun" OR 7:00 pm: "Reel Injun" Gorton Center Film
13 Lake Forest Library Adults "We Had a Little Real Estate Problem: The Unheralded Story of Native Americans & Comedy" Lake Forest Library Book discussion
16 Lake Forest Library Young Adults/Adults Afternoons with Judy Levin: "An Indian Among  Los Indigenas: a native Travel Memoir" Lake Forest Library Book discussion
29 Gorton Center All ages 3:00 pm: "Alaskan Nets" OR 7:00 pm: "Alaskan Nets" Gorton Center Film
APRIL        
8 Lake Forest Library All ages Explore Ojibwa History & Culture Lake Forest Library Discussion/presentation
14 Lake Forest and Lake Bluff Libraries Teens/Adults An Evening with Author Ursula Pike LF-LB History Center Book discussion
15 Lake Forest Library Adults "More Than Memory: Using Research to Enhance Your Memoir" with Ursula Pike Lake Forest Library Memoir writing
20 Lake Forest Library Adults Afternoons with Judy Levin: "Braiding Sweetgrass" Lake Forest Library Book discussion
20 Gorton Center All ages Film TBA Gorton Center Film
28 Lake Forest Library Young Adults/Adults "Wind River" Lake Forest Library Film
MAY        
6 Lake Forest Library Ages 8-12 "I Can Make This Promise" Lake Forest Library Book Discussion