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One of our sister organizations, Midwest Save Our Ancestors Remains & Resources Indigenous Network Group Foundation (Midwest SOARRING Foundation), recently received a gracious gift. Here are excerpts from a news story about it.
From the "LifeTimes", October 2003
The Land Reverts to the Past
by C. F. Marley
"Because of one woman's generosity and her strong feelings about animals and the land, acreage near Carlinville will soon become a tribal meeting place for Native American Indians in Illinois.*
"The land has been called a 'gem of forest, prairie and beautiful lake' by the Midwest SOARRING Foundation, the group to whom the land is being given...."**
"Mrs. Wilhelm, a widow who is giving the land '(52 acres of rolling hills, trees and a pond)' from an estate, says that she admires American Indian tribes for their respect of the land and reverence toward living things.... 'I wanted the land and wild animals to be treated as the Creator intended,' she said. 'I am sure this is what it and they will get from the Indian foundation.'"***
"As a token of appreciation, the foundation, as represented by its president, Joseph Standing Bear Schranz, and board member Ivan Medicine Hair Dozier, presented Mrs. Wilhelm with an (inscribed) ceremonial Circle of Life blanket:
"In honor of all tribal elders, the wisdom-keepers who are charged with handling down teachings and spiritual direction to the children, to better understand their responsibilities to the universe and the Creator.
"The land is ideally located to serve as a cultural meeting place, says Mrs. Wilhelm. It is a few miles west of Interstate 66 and north of Illinois 108. In donating the land, Mrs. Wilhelm specified that it not be used for gambling and not be sold. Eventually, the grounds will be open for public celebrations and rituals of American Indian origin."
*Carlinville is about 45 miles south-southwest of Springfield, Illinois. It is the Macoupin County county seat.
**Midwest SOARRING, Save the Prairie Society and The Franzosenbusch Heritage Project co-operate in some activities on and around the Wolf Road Prairie and the Franzosenbusch Prairie House. Midwest SOARRING maintains a Native American native plants garden immediately east of the House.
***A representative of Midwest SOARRING says the foundation a village will be built to widen the knowledge of native plants and their uses and to trades seed among the 23 tribes participating in their foundation. Tribes in the consortium include:
10/10/2003