Speakers Series presents American Indian Traditions: Black Elk's Legacy

WHAT: University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents American Indian Traditions: Black Elk's Legacy. The featured speaker for this event is Aaron Black Elk DeSersa, a member of the Lakota Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, living on Pine Ridge Reservation.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium on the lower level of Brookens Library at UIS

(The event will be available via live webcast and video on demand at http://www.uis.edu/technology/uislive.html)

DETAILS: DeSersa is the great-grandson of Nicholas Black Elk and holder of the Black Elk family pipe, signifying him as the religious leader or spiritual conscience of the family.

He will describe for us the unique contribution his great-grandfather and family have made to our culture. In carrying on their traditional way of life, and in educating others about "walking in a sacred manner", or continuously honoring your beliefs in your life and your work, the Black Elk DeSersa family embody a unique world view. The American Indian perspective of the connectedness of all people, and indeed all living things, means that their orientation to life is different from that of most Americans.

Aaron will share some family, tribal and American history, and will describe some of the ongoing results of his great-grandfather's teachings. Such an authentic voice from one of the best known, historic American Indian families is a rare opportunity for the Springfield community.

For more information and a list of other speakers series events visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries or contact Kimberly Craig at 217/206-6245 or craig.kimberly@uis.edu.