A new temporary exhibit opening this month at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon blends art, history and cultural identity to tell the story of the Potawatomi people – past and present.

“Dancing for Our Tribe: Potawatomi Tradition in the New Millennium,” a photographic exhibit by Citizen Potawatomi Nation member Sharon Hoogstraten, will be on display from Friday, July 25, through Saturday, Aug. 23.

The exhibit is presented in partnership with the Three Rivers Public Library District and is free and open to all during Four Rivers visitor center hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.

Hoogstraten, a Chicago-based photographer and author, spent more than a decade traveling across the country to document present-day members of her tribe wearing traditional regalia. The resulting portraits, more than 150 in all, offer a visual record of cultural continuity and personal expression. Her subjects include elders, children and veterans, photographed against woodland backdrops or landscapes tied to Potawatomi relocation.

“This legacy Potawatomi portrait collection is for our future seven generations and for the artful education of those who presume Great Lakes Native America to be a vanquished race,” Hoogstraten said. “ ... In ‘Dancing for Our Tribe,’ I portray a fresh reality of the descendants: People who live in a world of sewing machines, synthetic fabrics, military service, favorite sports teams, high-resolution digital cameras and a new millennium. They have merged loss, optimism and contemporary life by creating a riveting celebration of continued existence – loudly declaring, ‘WE ARE STILL HERE.’”

The exhibit’s launch coincides with the second printing of Hoogstraten’s book of the same name, published by the University of Oklahoma Press. The 304-page volume weaves portraits with personal stories and handwritten messages from participants, creating what Hoogstraten calls “a compelling visual record, a permanent archive for our place on the timeline of Potawatomi and American history.”

Three Rivers Public Library District staff member Renee Kasperkiewicz-Lake began exploring the idea for the exhibit following the passage of Illinois House Bill 1633, which requires Native American history to be included in all public school American history or government classes starting in the 2024-25 school year. Organizing the exhibit was a way to support local teachers and educate members of the public, she said. 

“We know that the Potawatomi people lived here: our street names are reflective of Potawatomi words; Chief Shabbona is believed to have been born within the boundaries of Will or Kankakee counties and is buried within a few miles of our Channahon and Minooka Libraries in Grundy County,” said Kasperkiewicz-Lake. “Our local history is important and the people who lived here are an integral part of it.”

Lisa Moe, the library's adult services manager, said the partnership with Four Rivers allows the library district to bring a culturally significant project to the wider community.

"My hope for what people get out of this exhibit is seeing that Native American peoples are still here, despite governmental genocide, broken treaties, and forced removal," Moe said. "This is not 'ancient history.' Their cultures survive and are reflected in the regalia worn by the Potawatomi subjects of Sharon’s photos. I see these images as a celebration of heritage and life."

Hoogstraten will attend an opening reception and a Meet the Artist: 'Dancing for our Tribe' program from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, July 25. She also will give a presentation about her work during a program titled A Deeper Look: 'Dancing for our Tribe' from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14. Both programs are free and for all ages. Registration is required for the Deeper Look program.