Ojibwe Calendar
By Nick Hockings -
Ojibwe Elder
Past Events >
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
For up to date calendar events join the Midwest SOARRING Foundation email newsletter list click here.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
SOARRING NATIVE AMERICAN DRUM MAKING CLASS
Sunday, December 13, 2026 - Noon-3pm
Midwest SOARRING Native American Cultural Center
133 W 13th St.
Lockport, IL 60441
Instructor: Dawn Wrobel, Dawn's Drums
Come learn how to make a native drum for drum circles. Each participants can select a drum size. These sizes include a 12 inch diameter at $150, 14 inch at $225 and 15 inch at $250. Choices for drum heads include either a horse, elk, deer or bison. Everyone will receive an elk head unless you specify something different during the sign up. If you would like to have the drum skin dyed there is an additional $10 fee, drum head and laces dyed, $15 fee.
Participants should wear clothing they can get dirty with glue, dye or other stains that may occur. Bring an old towel or other piece of cloth as a matt and to use to transport the drum home. The cloth should be large enough to wrap around the drum. If you wish to paint your drum, Dawn will demonstrate how to do this and maintain both the colors and images. in which one paints a drum to maintain the colors and images.
Register by December 3, 2026 so that Dawn has time to prepare your drum https://www.journeying-with-dawn.com/. Look for "Featured Events", click on "see details" to register and select your preferred drum.
SOARRING VOLUNTEER HOLIDAY PARTY & ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
Saturday, December 12, 2026 - 4pm-9pm
Pilcher Park Nature Center
2501 Highland Park Drive
Joliet, IL.60432
RSVP by December 9, 2026 at midwestsoarring.org/php/eventreg.php?eid=26
This gathering is a celebration of the community we build by the work we do. Bring a hand made ornament and a story to share for our Spirit Tree and a side dish or desert to share. Main entrees, rolls, and beverages will be provided.
The annual members meeting will be held at 4pm. This will be followed by a candlelit walk at 5pm, and a 6pm dinner and fellowship. At 7pm we will take turns decorating the Christmas tree with your special ornament. Bring your own handmade ornament or borrow one of ours. We will take turns sharing the special meaning of each ornament and then hang them on our tree. The tree will stay decorated until after the holidays, on display at the Nature Center.
This event is free and open to all 2024 Midwest SOARRING volunteers and current members. Memberships can be renewed at the event. You can also renew online at https://www.midwestsoarring.org/joinup.php. No cost to paid members and volunteers, otherwise $10 per person. This is a drug and alcohol free event.
Treaty Rights 101
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2026 at 10am
Zoom Presentation
Presenter: Jenny Van Sickle
In this zoom presentation, Jenny Van Sickle, Outreach Specialist at GLIFWC (Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission), provides a general overview of off-reservation Ojibwe treaty rights. GLIFWC staff serve 11 Ojibwe tribes in support of property rights reserved in treaty negotiations during the mid 1800's. Commonly known as treaty rights, tribal hunting, fishing, and gathering includes public lands and waters in a region called the Ceded Territory of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. GLIFWC staff assists our member tribes in implementing natural resources assessments and harvest seasons. We also work with partner agencies, organizations and the public on cooperative natural resources enhancement and stewardship. Our work and reactions are rooted in science and traditional ecological knowledge to best serve the next seven generations across the 1836, 1837, 1842 and 1854 Treaty Ceded Territories.
Jenny Van Sickle is the Outreach Specialist at the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission. Van Sickle is Tlingit (Kiks.adi) Athabascan and was born and raised in Sitka, Alaska. She has been with GLIFWC since 2021. Van Sickle graduated with honors from the University of Maine-Augusta where she earned her Associate of Science in Mental Health & Human Service and went on to complete her Bachelor of Science in Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Superior summa cum laude. Van Sickle’s education and outreach work with GLIFWC is focused on Treaty Rights, Act 31, professional development to support educators, students, and communities across Ceded Territory.
Register to receive the zoom link at midwestsoarring.org/php/eventreg.php?eid=25.
SOARRING CROCHET CLASS
Sunday, November 15, 2026 - Noon-3pm
Midwest SOARRING Native American Cultural Center
133 W 13th St.
Lockport, IL 60441
Instructor: Marsha Williams
Midwest SOARRING Foundation is offering a continuing series of arts programs that promote different styles of beading and hand made clothing design. Learn how to crochet an attractive earband for the upcoming cold weather. Class size limited to six students. All others will be placed on a waiting list. Fee $25.00 payable by cash or check to be collected prior to the class.
Register at midwestsoarring.org/php/eventreg.php?eid=24.
SOARRING NATIVE AMERICAN BASIC EARRING CLASS
Sunday, October 4, 2026 - 1-3pm
Midwest SOARRING Native American Cultural Center
133 W 13th St.
Lockport, IL 60441
Instructor: Sarina Kih Golan Dyol, Citizen of Chiricahua Apache Tiano Nation
All are welcome to learn how to bead a basic and colorful Native American earring with Sarina Kih Golan Dyol. Registration $25 and includes instruction and materials. Bring a friend or family member.
Register by calling Joseph Standing Bear Schranz at 773.585.8613. Special gift for all class registrants courtesy of SOARRING.
SINGING BACK THE BUFFALO FILM
Saturday, October 3, 11am
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
340 Main Street
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Joseph Standing Bear Schranz will give the introduction. Singing Back the Buffalo is a Canadian documentary film, directed by Tasha Hubbard and released in 2024. The film profiles indigenous efforts to restore the buffalo to the North American plains ecosystem after the animals were driven to near extinction. The film follows the path of the buffalo during the spring, summer and fall of 2022, across the Northern Plains of Canada and the United States.
This film parallels a similar path for Midwest SOARRING as SOARRING maintained a spirit bison herd in LeRoy, Illinois for a number of years, before gifting them to the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. Many people donated bison over the years to SOARRING's herd. Therefore, the Cherokee Nation received a healthy and genetically diverse herd of bison.
FALL EQUINOX CELEBRATION
Saturday, September 22, 11am
Medicine Wheel Garden
Heritage Village
Lockport, IL
SOARRING invites you to join our Fall Equinox Ceremony at the Medicine Wheel Garden at the Heritage Village in Lockport. Gather around the fire afterwards to participate in a talking circle led by Joseph Standing Bear. Bring water or a beverage to drink. Dress for the weather. Event takes place rain or shine. We look forward to seeing you soon.
SUMMER SOLSTICE CEREMONIES
Sunday, June 21, 2026 11am
MCKee House
Churchill Woods Forest Preserve
1017 St. Charles Road
Glen Ellyn, IL 60138
Saturday, June 20,
Heritage Village
Lockport, IL
SOARRING invites you to join our summer solstice ceremonies led by Joseph Standing Bear Schranz. With the transition of every season, we gather together in ceremony. All are welcome to share in this tradition. Please dress according to the weather. This event will take place rain or shine.
STANDING BEAR MARKET- TRACKSIDE FARMERS MARKET
Saturday, June 20, 2026 9am-1pm
Lockport Historic Train Station
Lockport, IL
Midwest SOARRING invites you to join us at the first Standing Bear Market of 2026 on Saturday, May 23rd in beautiful, historic, downtown Lockport. In addition to vendor booths, there are many "good deals" at the Midwest SOARRING Native American Cultural Center gift shop inside the historic train station. Interested in being a vendor for one or all of the markets? Please call Joseph at 773.585.8613.
VIRTUAL PRESENTATION: REAL STORY OF THE TACONITE
SULFATE LEGACY
Sulfate Pollution from the Minnesota Taconite Industry
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 - 10am CT
Co-sponsored by Midwest SOARRING Foundation
and Tamarack Water Alliance of Minnesota
REGISTER for Zoom link: https://www.midwestsoarring.org/joinup.php?eid=23
Minnesota ranks #1 in the United States for wild rice production, both naturally grown and cultivated Wild rice is very sensitive to sulfide contamination. Anishinaabe seasonally harvest tens of thousands of acres of wild rice in Northeastern Minnesota’s undisturbed watersheds Manoomin is sacred to their way of life.
Pristine water quality must be maintained for wild rice to germinate, grow, and survive. Sulfates bound in glacial/bedrock geology are released when the water is disturbed due to mining, endangering wild rice fields. Many lakes and streams around the Great Lakes have already lost their wild rice. Wild rice is hard to restore once it is gone.
Minnesota’s wild rice sulfate standard limits sulfates to 10 parts per million (ppm or mgL) in wild rice waters. However, this standard is NOT enforced resulting endangering the wild rice beds that are so important to the Ojibwe / Anishinaabe culture and livelyhood.
Story of Taconite Sulfate Legacy is presented by The Mining Guys Chris Baldwin, Mike Maleska, and Andy Baldwin.
The bioaccumulation effects of 50 + years of taconite mining is clearly visible in brown vegetation seen in the aerial photographs taken last June, of all the taconite tailings piles and indicate many years of 'underflow' seepage. The long term 'wishful thinking' policy of sulfate containment and remediation is that there is 'not enough to worry about.' Yet, scientific examination of public sampling data collected monthly for fifty years indicates there is reason to advocate for a moratorium on new mining permits and reexamination of the 1979 regional study.
Chris Baldwin, a retired Mine Engineer, graduate of Colorado School of Mines and currently residing in Hibbing, MN. He was a Mine Manager and engineer for 20 years at Keewatin Taconite, and 4 years at Minorca, and recently, 7 years as Technical Services Superintendent at Haile Gold Mine, a sulfide mine, in South Carolina. He has designed and constructed in both underground and surface mines and helped permit and start up a sulfide gold mine. Now, he makes hand drums and provide drum making workshops to promote community building and water quality awareness in wild rice waters in Minnesota.
Michael Maleska, retired taconite miner, lifelong resident of the rural Hibbing area of NE Minnesota. In 1977 he hired-on at Eveleth Taconite Company as a laborer. He became a member of the United Steelworkers of America, eventually elected to the office of Local Union President - overseeing all union/company activities, retiring in November of 1979. His family has always been very outdoors-oriented: BWCA, harvesting wild rice, fishing, camping, hunting, and planting 10's of 1,000's of trees.
Andy Baldwin, Chris's son grew up in Hibbing, Minnesota. He has an undergrad degree in biology from Montana State University, and a master's in secondary science education from the University of Washington in Tacoma. He's not currently teaching in the classroom, but enjoys teaching guitar lessons and volunteering as a math tutor. Science communication has been his long term passion, and lately that has become more and more important as he applys what he knows about classroom teaching to public outreach in Northern Minnesota.
SPRING EQUINOX CEREMONY
Friday, March 20, 2026 10:30am
MCKee House
Churchill Woods Forest Preserve
1017 St. Charles Road
Glen Ellyn, IL 60138
SOARRING invites you to join our Spring Equinox Ceremony in front of the McKee House in Churchill Woods in Glen Ellyn. With the transition of every season, we gather together in ceremony. All are welcome to share in this tradition. Please dress according to the weather. This event will take place rain or shine.
WINTER SOLTICE CEREMONY
Sunday, December 21, 2025 11:00am
MCKee House
Churchill Woods Forest Preserve
1017 St. Charles Road
Glen Ellyn, IL 60138
SOARRING invites you to join our Winter Solstice Ceremony in front of the McKee House in Churchill Woods in Glen Ellyn. With the transition of every season, we gather together in ceremony. All are welcome to share in this tradition. Please dress according to the weather. This event will take place rain or shine.
SOARRING VOLUNTEER HOLIDAY PARTY & ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING
Saturday December 5, 2025 from 4pm - 9pm
Pilcher Park Nature Center
2501 Highland Park Drive
Joliet, IL.60432
This gathering is a celebration of the community we build by the work we do. Please bring a side dish or desert to share. Main entrees, rolls, and beverages will be provided.
The annual members meeting will be held at 4pm. This will be followed by a candlelit walk at 5pm, and a 6pm dinner and fellowship. At 7pm we will take turns decorating the Christmas tree with your special ornament. Bring your own handmade ornament or borrow one of ours. We will take turns sharing the special meaning of each ornament and then hang them on our tree. The tree will stay decorated until after the holidays, on display at the Nature Center.
This event is free and open to all 2024 Midwest SOARRING volunteers and current members. Memberships can be renewed at the event. You can also renew online at https://www.midwestsoarring.org/joinup.php. No cost to paid members and volunteers, otherwise $10 per person. This is a drug and alcohol free event.
MIDWEST SOARRING 29th ANNUAL HARVEST POW WOW
Saturday, October 11, 11am-9pm
Sunday, October 12, 2025 11am-5pm
DuPage County Fairgrounds
2015 N. Manchester Road,
Wheaton, IL
Join us for the Annual Midwest SOARRING Foundation Harvest Pow Wow. Bring your friends and family-- all are welcome at our family fun event. Our traditional Powwow is a time to celebrate life, renew friendships, and share our Native American culture through dance, drumming, art, and story telling. View the schedule and learn more at: Harvest Powwow.com
Highlights include a canoe exhibit, Incredible Bats & More, Ocelotl-Cihaucoatl Aztec Dancers, Hula 'O' Pua Dancers, Native flute playing, children's crafts, a veteran's honoring and of course plenty of Native American Dancing and Drumming throughout the day.
GRAND ENTRY: Saturday 1pm & 7pm, Sunday 1pm
GATE ADMISSION: Adults $17, Seniors 62+ $12,
Kids 3-12 $7, under 3 free. $30 Adult weekend pass. Discounted tickets available online ($14 Adults, $11 Seniors, Kids $6, weekend pass $26) purchase by
10/04/25 at harvestpowwow.com/tickets.html. Call for
group ticket price 773.585.8613.
Download Harvest Pow Wow Flyer
Download Vendor Application
SOARRING MEDICINE WHEEL GARDEN KEEPERS
Sat. Oct. 4, Thurs. Oct. 16, 2025 4pm-6pm
Heritage Village - Midwest SOARRING's Fire Circle
249 W. Second Street
Lockport, IL.60441
Join us as we tend to the Medicine Wheel garden, deepen our relationship with the land, and learn from one another in a spirit of respect and stewardship.
Our Medicine Wheel Garden is a space designed in the shape of a traditional medicine wheel, with four quadrants representing the four directions, the cycles of life, and our connection to all living things.
Please bring gloves, dress for the weather, and bring provisions to be comfortable (a cushion to sit on, water bottle, snacks, sunscreen, hat.)
FIRESIDE WISDOM: HONORING THE TRUTH OF OUR ELDERS
Wedesday, September 24, 11am-4pm
Elgin Community College
1700 Spartan Dr. - Lakeside Patio B
Elgin, IL 60123
All are welcome to gather around the fire with Midwest SOARRING President Joseph Standing Bear Schranz for timely teachings in this community listening circle.
Experience hand drum and jingle dress dancing by Sergio and Maritza, plus songs and stories from Algonquin/Metís flute player Bill Buchholtz Allison. Baked goods will be provided by previous Midwest SOARRING Princess and baker, Abaigeal Dempsey from Dempsey Cookie House!
FALL EQUINOX CELEBRATION
Saturday, September 21, 11am
Medicine Wheel Garden
Heritage Village
Lockport, IL
SOARRING invites you to join our Fall Equinox Ceremony at the Medicine Wheel Garden at the Heritage Village in Lockport.
MIDWEST SOARRING CULTURAL SHOWCASE
Sunday, September 14, 11am-4pm
Lockport Lincoln Landing
200 W 9th St, Lockport, IL 60441
Enjoy our Native American Cultural Showcase and Sweet Savory Crawl of Lockport. All Welcome. Family friendly event.
- Native American Dancing Performances
- Music & Games
- Kids Circle
- Face Painting
- Storytelling
- Craft & Food Vendors
Event takes place rain or shine. No weapons, drugs, or alcohol. Sorry no pets. Bring lawn chairs, friends, family and neighbors!. Event subject to change.
HEALING CEREMONY AT FIRE CIRCLE
Sunday, June 29, 2025 12pm
Heritage Village Medicine Wheel Garden Circle
249 W. Second Street
Lockport, IL.60441
Led by Midwest SOARRING Foundation President Joseph Standing Bear, this ceremony offers a space for spiritual and emotional healing. All are welcome—whether you are seeking healing for yourself, for a loved one, or simply wish to stand in support of those in need. Together, we will gather in community, reconnect with the medicine of the fire, and lift our prayers for strength, renewal, and wellness.
Please dress for the weather and bring a chair or blanket for your comfort.
SOARRING FIELD TRIP: MINOHSAYAKI 'PAINTED ROBES'- A PEEWAALIA AND MYAAMIA STORY OF RECLAMATION
RESCHEDULED:Saturday, June 28, 2025 Noon
Illinois State Museum
Lockport Gallery
201 W. 10th Street
Lockport, IL.60441
Midwest SOARRING Foundation invites you to join us for a special field trip to the Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery to experience Minohsayaki ‘Painted Robes’: A Peewaalia and Myaamia Story of Reclamation. This exhibit shares the powerful story of collaboration between the Peewaaliaki (Peoria Tribe), Myaamiaki (Miami Tribe), and non-Native scholars as they work together to reclaim the ancestral tradition of hide painting.
Through historical reflection and revitalized artistry, Minohsayaki shines a light on cultural preservation, intergenerational knowledge, and Indigenous resilience.
We will meet at the gallery entrance at 12:00 PM. This event is free and open to all—come learn, witness, and walk with us on this journey of reclamation.
SOARRING WOMEN'S CIRCLE
Saturday, June 28, 2025 2-4pm
Heritage Village Medicine Wheel Garden Circle
249 W. Second Street
Lockport, IL.60441
SOARRING's Women's Circle is open to all women seeking connection, healing, and sisterhood. Our theme is “Return to the Fire – Reconnecting with Nature, Spirit, and Sisterhood,” and we’ll gather in community to reflect, create, and share under the sky.
As part of this first gathering, we’ll also work together to help maintain and tend the fire circle—a physical act of care and stewardship for the land we gather on. Please bring gloves, a shovel if you have one, and wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little dirty. After sprucing up the space, we’ll build a fire together to open our time in ceremony.
We’ll continue with the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, followed by nature-inspired art, empowerment rituals, and a healing circle. Whether it’s your first time or you’ve been with us before, you are welcome here.
Mark your calendars—SOARRING Women’s Circle will meet on the first Saturday of each month moving forward.
MEDICINE WHEEL GARDEN KEEPERS
Saturday, June 7, 2025 4pm
Heritage Village Medicine Wheel Garden Circle
249 W. Second Street
Lockport, IL.60441
Join us as we launch a new community-centered gardening group dedicated to the care and preservation of our Medicine Wheel Garden at Heritage Village. We’ll meet twice a month to tend the garden, deepen our relationship with the land, and learn from one another in a spirit of respect and stewardship.
The Medicine Wheel Garden is designed in the shape of a traditional medicine wheel, with four quadrants representing the four directions, the cycles of life, and our connection to all living things. Two quadrants are planted with sweetgrass and two with prairie sage, both of which hold deep cultural and spiritual significance in Native traditions.
Plant List
- Sweetgrass (Hierochloë odorata) is known as the hair of Mother Earth and is used for purification, healing, and bringing in positive energy.
- Prairie sage (Artemisia ludoviciana) is a powerful medicine used for protection, cleansing, and prayer.
Our first gathering will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 4:00 PM, following the SOARRING Women’s Circle. We’ll begin with an introduction to the garden, share our intentions for this new group, and do some light tending of the space. Please bring gloves, water, and any tools you’d like to use or share. All are welcome—whether you’re a seasoned gardener or simply drawn to caring for this special place.
MEDICINE WHEEL GARDEN KEEPERS
RESCHEDULED: Thursday, May 22, 2025 5-7pm
Heritage Village Medicine Wheel Garden Circle
249 W. Second Street
Lockport, IL.60441
Join us in tending to our Medicine Wheel garden at Heritage Village. All are welcome to plant sweetgrass with us, and learn about our Medicine Wheel project for this year. Everyone will be able to take home some sweetgrass, too. Please bring your hand tools and water bottles, and dress for the weather.
We would be honored to incorporate any native plants you may be interested in donating to this special garden project.
SOARRING INVITATION: THE GREAT LISTENING
January 28, 2025 from 4pm - 9pm
Elgin Community College
Room B180 & Zoom
1700 Spartan Drive
Elgin, IL.60123
Part two of Ancestral & Intercultural Healing with Dr. Lyla June Johnston will feature the famous Diné scholar, musician, and community leader, who brings teachings in this continued community conversation focused on intercultural and intergenerational healing, traditional land stewardship practices, and Indigenous rights.
Feel free to attend via Zoom or in-person.
Past Events >
