The First Blue Islanders
November recognizes Native American Heritage Month, a tribute to the ancestry and traditions of the first Americans. The history of the earliest inhabitants of what we now call Chicagoland is defined by scholars as the Blue Island culture. From 1300-1600 CE Blue Island culture thrived across southeastern Cook County.
These “Blue Island Indians” lived in the prairie grasslands and marshes that spread out south and east of Blue Island, which had transformed the ancient clay lakebed of glacial Lake Chicago, as well as the wooded moraines of Palos. Archaeologists have identified Blue Island culture sites based on projectiles and pottery styles. Game was abundant. Settlements consisted of rectangular houses made of saplings set in the ground, bent and tied at the top and covered with woven mats. While scholars disagree about the tribal affiliation of these early Blue Islanders, many believe they represented the Winnebago.
In 1600 it has been estimated that 20,000 Indians lived along southern Lake Michigan, what is now known as the Calumet Region. At this time many were Illinois. Following losses in wars with the Iroquois, they were succeeded by Miami, Kickapoo, and finally Potawatomi peoples. Joining the Potawatomi were Ottawas and Ojibwas. Europeans first arrive in Chicago in 1673. In 1833, 6000 Potawatomis assembled in Chicago, where they were pressured to cede their remaining lands in Illinois. By 1835, the year of Blue Island’s Yankee settlement, the first community of Chicago Potawatomis emigrated west of the Mississippi.
Canoe & Kayak the Cal-Sag!
Ever look at the Cal-Sag and think… wow, wish I could take a trip down there, if only I had a kayak or a canoe…
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22 - CAL-SAG CHANNEL PADDLING TOUR!
Jason Berry will be leading a GUIDED TOUR of Blue Island’s waterfront by kayak or canoe. Tour departs from Fay’s Point at 12:30pm and returns by 4pm. $10/person. Limit 25 boats. Bring your own boat or rent a single or tandem kayak (recommended) or canoe from Chicago River Canoe & Kayak. EMAIL MIKE SIOLA ASAP TO RESERVE! Send an e-mail to msiola@csu.edu with the subject “Calumet Heritage Conference” and include the information requested on the registration form (name address, phone, whether you want to rent a kayak or canoe). Register via paypal.
Points of Interest include: Little Calumet River; Fay’s Point / Confluence; Blue Island Locks; Division and Chatham bridges; MWRD SEPA station; Western Ave / Rock Island bridge; Stony Creek / Calumet Feeder; former gas plant site; rail bridges (5 bridges)
