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* Wikipedia entry on Starved Rock State Park…
Before European contact, the area was home to Native Americans, particularly the Kaskaskia who lived in the Grand Village of the Illinois across the river. Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette were the first Europeans recorded as exploring the region, and by 1683, the French had established Fort St. Louis on the large sandstone butte overlooking the river, they called Le Rocher (the Rock). Later after the French had moved on, according to a local legend, a group of Native Americans of the Illinois Confederation (also called Illiniwek or Illini) pursued by the Ottawa and Potawatomi fled to the butte in the late 18th century. In the legend, around 1769 the Ottawa and Potawatomi besieged the butte until all of the Illiniwek had starved, and the butte became known as “Starved Rock”.
* Tom Collins on Friday…
Shaw Local News Network was told Tuesday of a tourist-centered meeting in which it was suggested Starved Rock could be renamed on the same grounds that have led sports teams to abandon mascots that are offensive to Native Americans.
No local sources confirmed any details of the report. But when the IDNR was reached for comment, the agency issued a statement acknowledging that park names could be reconsidered, including Starved Rock.
“The state of Illinois has a responsibility to listen to concerns and recommendations from Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities that have current and ancestral ties to Illinois,” the agency said in a statement issued Friday afternoon. “They have repeatedly told us the names of some of our state parks and sites are harmful to their ancestors’ remembrance and perpetuate false narratives to the public. Starved Rock is one example of many.
“At the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, we believe place names have power. In the future, the state, in consultation with Tribal leaders and Illinois residents, will explore more appropriate names for some of our parks and sites.
“This serves multiple purposes. Place names will better reflect sites’ natural attributes and histories rather than the painful and often inaccurate colonial narratives they currently represent. These efforts will take time to happen, but we want to start having these conversations.”
* Tom Collins today…
Some Native American activists were surprised, too. Two said the Illinois Department of Natural Resources did not seek tribal input before last week’s statement that IDNR is considering name changes at units including Starved Rock State Park.
“I have talked to numerous natives and tribal leaders who know nothing about this statement by the IDNR,” said Ted Trujillo, a member of the Passamaquoddy tribe.
“This has not come across my radar,” said Madalene Big Bear, a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and a Pokagon cultural keeper. “I would have caught wind of this before (Sunday) night.” […]
Big Bear was solidly against renaming Starved Rock, an effort she termed “misdirected.” She said that while name changes are warranted in cases such as Indian Head – “Just straight offensive” – the name Starved Rock is derived from oral histories that are worth preserving and commemorating.
“Most of the American representation in regards to us portrays a false narrative,” she said. “Starved Rock in particular is one of the only instances where the English name reflects our own history.”
I’ve asked IDNR for comment and will let you know if I hear back.
*** UPDATE *** From IDNR…
“No decisions involving Native American matters are entertained without input and official consultation with Tribal partners. This broader issue was flagged for IDNR by our Tribal partners who have been expressing their concerns about troubling place names for certain IDNR sites to department leadership for years. Current IDNR leadership takes these concerns seriously and is willing to open discussions with tribes and community members.
“To be clear, there are no immediate plans for any name changes at Starved Rock or any other site. Conversations and proposals will occur over time, and IDNR will make every effort to ensure various constituencies are represented at the table, including tribes, community members, state lawmakers, local businesses, and others.”
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 12:19 pm
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Comment by Boone's is Back Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 12:41 pm
Unless I am wrong, the “starved rock” story is purely fiction, right? I believe that is what a plaque says at the site. So here we have a fictional story serving as the basis of the naming of a park. We should start with that knowledge.
Since this is a fictional story, the name is clear evidence of the appropriation of Native identity, history and culture, in order to name a state park. I would want to know who initially chose that name, and whether the indigenous people of that area (the Potawatomi) were initially involved in the establishment of the park’s name. At the very least, such information would be informative to the debate.
Second, since Native culture was appropriated in the past, I would suggest these citizens have a right to participate in the debate over whether or not the name is kept, and should be given more than an equal say. I suggest the latter, since it is their identity, their name, and their culture that is being consider for elimination regardless of how the name was initially established.
Comment by H-W Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 12:45 pm
Having just read the Wiki story, I would amend my previous statement to suggest representatives from each Native nation - the Illiniwek, Ottawa, and Potawatomi - be involved, and given the ultimate right to decide, since it is their story that was created and appropriated.
Comment by H-W Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 12:49 pm
To me this smells of a campaign by conservatives to add controversy where there wasn’t any, in order to tangle up re-naming efforts across the board. The fact that the legitimate Native Americans representatives were never consulted seems to point to someone trying to roll a conspiracy out to get people mad about legitimate re-namings.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 12:51 pm
==and given the ultimate right to decide==
I would take input but they should not get the ultimate right to decide.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 12:57 pm
As President Calvin Cooledge once said, “the business of America is business.” Let’s just sell the naming rights to the highest bidder… AT&T Rock, Exxon Rock, Pfizer Rock… Rolling Rock Rock. This is America, we have neither the time, desire, decency or intellect to understand our history and heritage. /s
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 1:01 pm
The Illinois State Museum is part of DNR and has a world class staff of anthropologists, cultural historians, and other professionals; some of whom are native American. Why didn’t they reach out for advice from their staff; folks who are hip deep in consultations every day?
Comment by Sangamo Girl Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 1:09 pm
I like it @Ducky. I like “The Rock” Rock better though
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 1:11 pm
–Some Native American activists–
This seems like a red flag to me.
This article quotes two activists. Surely there are more than two. The two quoted are from tribes in Michigan and Maine respectively. I’m not sure why tribes not native to Illinois or the tribes who lived here are relevant, other than to put forth the “nobody told us” line. Why would a tribe in Maine and not the Illinois region be consulted?
It’s not like this is a time-critical issue, so it would have made more sense for the author of this to wait to hear from local and relevant tribal leaders. Instead, the boilerplate “did not respond in time” is just thrown in there.
I’d prefer to see the rest of the details, which seem like they were left out of this story so someone could meet a deadline.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 1:17 pm
@Ducky - Too bad WLUP is out of business. “The Rock” presented by the Loop. Lorelei could do the commercials!
Comment by Paddyrollingstone Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 1:20 pm
=Rolling Rock Rock. =
Gets my vote.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 1:22 pm
@ Demoralized
In a prior post that has not yet appeared (I may have hit the wrong button), I gave a broader context for why I reached that conclusion the Illiniwek, Ottawa and Potawatomi should have authority. It is their story that was appropriated first.
Suffice to say we both can agree that since the naming was the telling of their story (albeit fiction), they have a right to be included in the decision-making process.
Comment by H-W Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 1:26 pm
“Let’s just sell the naming rights to the highest bidder … .”
[Sarcasm font on] Highest Bidder? Will never be named Reinsdorf Rock … .
Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 1:32 pm
@H-W
I respect your views. I really do. I’m just at a different place than you on issues such as these.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 1:34 pm
Some legitimate tribes are strongly against removing and renaming. Some politicians seem to be in a hurry to rename things before the actual tribes are allowed to discuss and vote on any renaming.
Comment by Dupage Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 1:40 pm
“No local sources confirmed any details of the report.”
Lemme get this straight. DNR responds to a comment request about an unsubstantiated “tourist-centered meeting” (whatever that means) saying DNR is taking input from Tribal Nations on renaming state parks, including Starved Rock. Yet, relevant Tribes had no knowledge of possibly renaming Starved Rock, which they do not support, including the Pokagon Potawatomi whose ancestors likely could have been at Starved Rock in 1769. Hilarious.
If DNR wants to “start having these conversations,” it would probably help to include the actual Tribes in those discussions…
Comment by Panther Pride Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 1:43 pm
“Starved Rock in particular is one of the only instances where the English name reflects our own history.”
And that’s more than enough for me.
Comment by Nick Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 2:01 pm
==telling of their story (albeit fiction)==
Is it their story? The story only came around after European contact.
I can tell you after deeper looking into local ‘landmarks’ and how vastly different actual recorded events were from what the locals have been telling as the story of the indigenous inhabitants, I question every single Native American related story involving or after European contact. Large mounds were simply leveled by settlers near when I currently live, and hardly a single person here now knows about that.
The core of the story requires the Illiniwek being so unfamiliar with their own land, they were able to be rounded up by foreign tribes from the Northeast onto a outcropping the Illiniwek would have long known of the existence of - just doesn’t make sense. It’s possible, but along with the complete lack of any evidence this event happened puts too many question marks on the legend.
The in-thing in those days was to dehumanize natives to excuse the land-grabbing and other atrocious behavior of the settlers. We had ‘god’ on our side, and they were just uncivilized beings who just happened to be there. It would have made sense for settlers to spread a legend the local tribes were too weak to defend themselves on their own land - for what should be obvious reasons.
I don’t doubt some tribes have been telling this story too, coincidentally only the tribes who appear victorious, and only after European contact. I do question the accuracy and intent of the spreading of this legend during it’s time.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 2:03 pm
Changing the name of Starved Rock seems like a parody of something the JBP admin would put out. A throwback to his goofy bathroom moment, of sorts.
Comment by SWSider Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 2:12 pm
Honest question, does the state of Illinois have a department of Indian Affairs? I know it exists at the federal level, but I googled and came up empty.
Comment by ChrisB Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 2:43 pm
Good to see the IDNR get out in front of the story. Thanks for digging deeper, Rich. It made a difference, I am sure.
Comment by H-W Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 2:44 pm
== To me this smells of a campaign by conservatives to add controversy where there wasn’t any, in order to tangle up re-naming efforts across the board.==
If no evidence at all exists to substantiate this “smell” then another conspiracy theory has entered our already wonderful political discourse.
Comment by Lakefront Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 2:55 pm
===in order to tangle up re-naming efforts across the board===
You’re the conspiracy theorist here. IDNR: “They have repeatedly told us the names of some of our state parks and sites are harmful to their ancestors’ remembrance and perpetuate false narratives to the public. Starved Rock is one example of many.”
Try reading the post.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 3:06 pm
It seems that the IDNR responded to a comment, activists took it as an imminent action instead of just an openness, and IDNR wants to engage with the First Nations to find appropriate names in cases where names may be offensive with Starved Rock possibly or possibly not offensive.
Other than jumping to conclusions a bit by activists, this seems like the way things should be done.
It’s a bit tougher in Illinois as relevant tribes were removed from the land completely, but there’s nothing wrong with looking at place names and seeing if they fit current understanding and standards. Often times names are far more tangential to the actual history and either new or restored names are more appropriate. It’s like we might actually learn more as time goes on or something.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 3:12 pm
@ Demoralized
Of course we at different places on these issues. Heck, one time I even got mad at you. /s
Seriously though, that is why these forums exist right? To hammer out differences on policy so that policy makers might understand the differences.
PS - my original post came through afterward. It probably offended the algorithm for posts by being too long and needed review.
Comment by H-W Thursday, Apr 11, 24 @ 3:25 pm
Whoever is responsible for these two statements at DNR needs to stop being in government communications.
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Apr 12, 24 @ 12:06 am
===start having these conversations===
The Pritzker administration has been quite good at ignoring input from stakeholders and then blaming them when they’re shocked they weren’t consulted.
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Apr 12, 24 @ 12:08 am
Candy nailed it. This administration listens to everyone……..who agrees with them. Regardless of the immediacy to even have this on the table and no one reached out to any tribal leaders? Wow
Comment by Eire17 Friday, Apr 12, 24 @ 5:47 am