From press release, flier

The 15th Annual Honor the Mounds Gathering will be Saturday, Aug. 14, at Beattie Park, 400 block of North Main St., downtown Rockford. The all-day event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with drumming, dances, speakers and living history events hosted by the Native American Awareness Committee.

The Mounds of Beattie Park are Rockford’s oldest historical site, located on what was the original homestead and land of the Beattie family from 1845 through 1921. While the family lived there, Native American peoples were welcome to use it as a site to practice their rituals and ceremonial rites in the area between the current walk path and the Rock River. This area was left in a natural state and spared from development.

When the sisters died in 1921, the land was generously donated to the Rockford Park District with the stipulation that the mounds and trees be preserved and kept a place of peace and solitude for relaxation, contemplation and meditation. This is a valuable lesson of the stewardship of the land, as the Beattie family showed the honor and respect to the Native American culture. The estimated value of the land and residence at that time was about $60,000.

Archaeologists believe the mounds were constructed between 600-800 A.D. (about 1,400-1,700 years ago). There are several unique qualities about the site of Native American mounds, which were used for thousands of years, and to this day, to honor harmony and balance between Mother Earth and nature.

Three particular types of mounds were constructed by the Native peoples of the Woodland Culture: conical or round, linear (long and straight) and effigy mounds (in the form of an animal). These types of Woodland Culture mound are found in Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota, eastern Iowa, Michigan and the top two tiers of counties in Illinois.

Saturday’s event will begin with the pipe ceremony by Terri “Standing Buffalo” Reynolds” (Lakota) and lighting of the Sacred Fire by Dennis “White Bear” Dillard (Cherokee, Lakota, Eastern Delaware). He will be assisted by Doug “Little Flaming Owl” Schandelmier. Introductions will be given by Mac “Spotted Horse” MacVenn (Iroquois, Eastern Delaware). Dick Rundall of Rock Valley College will speak about Native American spirituality and the Medicine Wheel as it relates to the unity of all people. Other speakers will also be part of the program.

Special dances will be given, including several intertribals in which spectators are invited to participate. Vendors will offer Native American-oriented items for sale, and people may sample Native American food. This celebration of Native American culture  is free to the public and is a family-friendly community event. Donations are always welcome.

From the Aug. 11-17, 2010 issue