Youth from the Absentee Shawnee Tribe in the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois. Photo from Southern Illinois University
Nearly a dozen young members of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma visited their ancestral homeland in Illinois. The tribe lived in Illinois before being forced to move to Indian Territory. Youth said they were gratified to learn more about the connection to their history. “It makes me very interested about it,” Andee Ellis, 15, told The Southern Illinoisan. “I’ve always been curious about my tribe, and this has taken it to another level.” The trip was a collaboration between the tribe, Southern Illinois University and the Shawnee National Forest. Tribal members visited sites in and near the forest during the visit last week. Get the Story:
Absentee Shawnee Tribe members visit Southern Illinois (The Southern Illinoisan 7/13)
Young members of Shawnee Tribe visit national forest sites (The Anna Gazette-Democrat 7/13)
Native American students to tour forest sites (Southern Illinois University 7/6)
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