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Illinois Culture and History

As a complement to our Miami-Illinois language information, we would like to share our collection of indexed links about the Illini and various aspects of their society. The emphasis of these pages is on American Indians as a living people with a present and future as well as a past. Illinois history is interesting and important, but there are still Illinois people alive today, too, and we try to feature modern writers as well as traditional folklore, contemporary artwork as well as archaeology exhibits, and the issues and struggles of today as well as the tragedies of yesterday. Suggestions for new links are always welcome.

Illinois Tribal and Community Links

Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma:
Official homepage of the Peoria Illinois tribe, with information about tribal leadership, services, and events.

Maps of Illini Lands

Illinois Indian Map

Indiana Indian Map

Iowa Indian Map

Missouri Indian Map:
Tribal maps showing the original territory of the Illini Indians and their neighbors.

Virtual Museum of New France: Southern Algonquians:
Historical maps and articles about the Illini, Shawnee, Potawatomi, and other tribes.

Illinois Lifestyle and Tradition

Illini Confederation: Lords of the Mississippi Valley:
Essays on Illinois history and culture, particularly how intertribal wars affected the Illini.

The Illinois:
Illini culture, history, and archaeology, from the Illinois State Museum.

Illinois Indians:
Illinois history and culture.

Illini Legends::
Collection of Illinois Indian legends and folktales.

Native American Art:
Information, photographs and links about Illinois and other native art.

Midwest Indian Clothing Styles

Indian Head Dress

Native American Clothing

Indian Hairstyles:
Traditional Miami and Illinois costume.

Piasa Bird Legend

Piasa Bird

Piasa Legend

Piasa Bird:
The Illinois "Indian" legend of the Piasa Bird (actually an adventure story written by a white author.)

Native American Religion:
Advice for people researching traditional Illini religion and other American Indian spirituality.

In Whose Honor

Chief Illiniwek: Dignified or Damaging?

Anti-Chief:
Indian opposition to "Chief Illiniwek," the mascot of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Peoria Nation Flag:
Illini flags.

Peoria License Plates:
Oklahoma Peoria license plate.

Illinois History

Illinois History:
Tribal history of the Illinois Indians.

Kaskaskia Indians:
History of the Kaskaskia Illinois in Ohio.

After the French and Indian War:
Historical article on Chief Pontiac, the Illini tribe, and the aftermath of the French and Indian War.

Illinois Genealogy

Ancestor Search:
Online lookup of Illinois and other Indian records through the Archives genealogy service.

Illini Genealogy Forum:
Messageboard for Illini Indian descendants.

Native American Genealogy:
Direction for those seeking Illinois and other American Indian ancestors.

Books for Sale on the Illinois Indians

Handy's Vocabulary of Miami:
Miami dictionary for sale.

The Miami-Illinois Language

Elements of a Miami-Illinois Grammar:
Miami-Illinois linguistics books for sale.

Indian Villages of the Illinois Country:
History/ethnography of the Illinois Nation.

French and Indians of the Illinois River:
19th-century history of the Illinois River Valley. Dated and rather biased, but full of interesting interviews.

Indian Place Names in Illinois:
Handbook of Illini and other Indian placenames in Illinois State.

The Illinois Confederacy of Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Oklahoma:
History and culture of the Illini, written for younger readers.

American Indian Books:
Evolving list of books about Native Americans in general.

Links, References, and Additional Information

   Illinois People:
   Encyclopedia entries about the Illinois Indians.
   Illinois Indians:
   Illini links.

Learn more about the Illini Indian tribe
Go back to American Indian Cultures
Go back to our Native American websites for kids

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