Black Hawk descendant to speak at Apple River Fort

[Larry Koschkee]

Chief George Thurman, direct descendant of Black Hawk and Principal Chief of the Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma, will speak at 1000 am on Friday, July 31st. Mr. Thurman will highlight a touring exhibit on the heritage of the Sac and Fox Indians which is on display until August 16th.

For more information click on this link:

www.galenagazette.com/main.asp?SectionID=142&SubSectionID=344&ArticleID=14038&TM=35510.77

[Larry Koschkee]

The weather was perfect...a perfect day the last of July. It seems when representatives of the Sac and Fox nation visit Illinois or Wisconsin recently they bring great weather. I can recall some beautiful days a few years ago when several people joined the Sac and Fox on a motor trip following Black Hawk's trail through present day Wisconsin. Again in 2007, the 175th anniversary of the BHW was observed at Wisconsin Heights battle field near the Wisconsin River and the weather was blue bird skies and moderate temperatures.

Principal Chief George Thurman was the keynote speaker at the Apple River Fort. The man delivered a very robust speech with a "Unity" theme. One portion of the speech touched on the Sac and Fox position that the Black Hawk War was not a war, rather it started as a homecoming and turned into an evasive military action. The speech was not without a sprinkling of humor. Mr. Thurman had toured the Apple River Fort earlier and noted there were no musket ball holes or arrows imbeded in the palisades and block house and suggested his entourage obtain some weaponary and put a few rounds of ammunition into the fort in the interest of authenticity.

Chief Thurman had a ceremonial staff crafted the first year of his presidency and where ever he presides over The Nation's business it is placed in a stand leaning forward. Chief Thurman has made the "forward" theme his signature and believes in becoming partners with communities and organizations outside of the Sac and Fox Nation. He emphasized that when the Sac and Fox partner with others good things happen for all sides.
With that thought in mind he left the dignitaries and attendees with a promise more than a wish...that the Sac and Fox will someday return to their homeland in Illinois. We were all left to speculate on what that meant.

Chief Thurman and his entourage were on to Prairie du Chien for two days and I am quite sure the people there will be schooled in Sac and Fox unity with others and its forward message.

Larry Koschkee