Events & News

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Upcoming Events

2026.03.21 10am - History & Nature Hike at Churchill Woods Forest Preserve: Learn the whole story about the beautiful Churchill Woods Forest Preserve while enjoying a hike by a river, and through woods and prairie. Register here.

We will gather in the parking lot just west of the McKee House for a brief orientation about the preserve's history. We will then hike down a hill to the river, then hike along a trail that takes us through oak woodlands and then a prairie. This hike is 2 miles or less, and is modestly streneous. The hike will be led by Forest Preserve Commissioner Jeff Gahris.

2026.03.21 11:30am - Spring Equinox Ceremony: Midwest SOARRING and the NAC&EC will host a Spring Equinox in front of the McKee House in Churchill Woods Forest Preserve. Joseph Standing Bear will conduct the equinox blessing ceremony.

2025 Winter Solstice Ceremony — source: Marilyn Schweitzer

Past 2026 Events

2026.01.09 Volunteer Meeting: Volunteers met for pizza, to hear about the progress of the NAC&EC, and to learn how their talents can help make the project a reality
2026.01.01 First Day Hike: DuPage Forest Preserve Commissioner Jeffrey Gahris lead over 30 people on a New Year's Day hike at Churchill Woods promoting nature as well as the history of the area. Representatives of Midwest SOARRING Foundation and State Representative Diane Blair-Sherlock joined in.

First Day Hike — source: Jeffrey Gahris

2025 Events

2025.12.21 Winter Solstice Ceremony: Midwest SOARRING and the NAC&EC hosted a Winter Solstice Ceremony in front of the McKee House in Churchill Woods Forest Preserve. Joseph Standing Bear conducted the solstice blessing ceremony.
2025.09.19 Volunteer Meeting: Volunteers met for pizza, to hear about the progress of the NAC&EC, and to learn how their talents can help make the project a reality.
2025.07.19 The Negotiator - Billy Caldwell: Susan Kelsey, Director of the film The Negotiator: Billy Caldwell, along with the Glen Ellyn Historical Society and Midwest SOARRING Foundation discussed the history of Chicago area treaties involving Native Americans. Updates on the McKee Preservation Group's progress on the Native American Cultural Environmental Center t Churchill Woods were also presented.
2025.06.21 Summer Solstice Ceremony: Midwest SOARRING and the NAC&EC hosted a Summer Solstice Ceremony in front of the McKee House in Churchill Woods Forest Preserve. Joseph Standing Bear conducted the solstice blessing ceremony after which there were handmade artisan tables, a Native American artifacts table, and a story telling circle too.
2025.04.30 The Patti Vasquez Show: Jeffrey Gahris, DuPage Forest Preserve Commissioner; Kirk Burger, President, McKee Preservation Group; and Steve Thompson, Glen Ellyn Village Trustee discuss efforts to preserve a historical Potawatomi village site. (Interview starts 31 minutes in.)
2025.04.26 “Potawatomi, We Are Still Here”: Over 100 people turned out to meet and list to the Sharon Hoogstraten and Eddie Joe Mitchell at the Glen Ellyn History Center. Sharon Hoogstraten is an author and photographer best known for her portraits of Potawatomi Indians. Eddie Joe Mitchell of the Prairie Band Potawatomi from Mayetta, Kansas spoke of his life experiences, particularly traditional gardening with local plants.
2025.02.22 "What exactly is the McKee House Project?: Plans for the McKee House were discussed at the Glen Ellyn History Center. The meeting featured from McKee Preservation Group, Midwest SOARRING Foundation, and Village of Glen Ellyn.

Thank you Rep. Blair Sherlock! — source:Kirk Burger

Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock secures $300,000 Grant for the NAC&EC

Thanks to State Representative Diane Blair-Sherlock (46th Dist.) advocacy, the State of Illinois has granted $300,000 for this one-of-a-kind educational space benefitting DuPage County for generations to come.

On June 25, 2025 volunteers and members of all the partnering organizations met with her outside the McKee House to offer their thanks.

News Articles

2025.02.06 Patch: Plans For McKee House To Be Discussed At Meeting
2023.09.30 DuPageCounty Chronicle: Landmark agreement clears way for Native American center in Glen Ellyn
2023.09.28 Patch: Native American Cultural And Environmental Center To Fill McKee House
2021.08.21: Chicago Tribune: Relatives rallying for historic house
2018.06.25 Village of Glen Ellyn: Annexation of Churchill Woods Forest Preserve District Properties
2018.03.01 Daily Herald: Glen Ellyn could lease McKee House site sooner than planned
2017.05.17 Shaw Local: Glen Ellyn to lease endangered McKee House
2017.03 Landmarks Illinois: 2017 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois—McKee House
2017.04.06 Daily Herald: DuPage forest preserve's McKee House makes endangered list
2016.10.19 Daily Herald: See McKee House for what it can be
2016.10.16 Daily Herald: McKee House a reminder of resilience
2016.10.12 Daily Herald: Nearly 1,000 sign petition to save McKee House at forest preserve
2016.07.05 Daily Herald: Local Sierra Club says McKee House 'should be torn down'
2013.08.21 Daily Herald: Architect: Mckee House needs fixes before it’s habitable
2013.03.04 Patch: Churchill Woods Buildings Spurring Forest Preserve to Rethink Policy
2011.06.24 Patch: Time Running Out for Historic McKee House

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