SPRING BAY – A special War of 1812 ceremony to honor Chief Black Partridge, a 19th Century Peoria Lake Potawatomi chieftain, will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, October 6th, at the Black Partridge Marker on Rt. 26 north of Spring Bay. It is next to the Duck Inn Restaurant.

The ceremony is sponsored by the Woodford County Historical Society, in cooperation with the Illinois War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission and several Native American organizations from Central Illinois. WCHS member Christal Dagit is the chairperson of the event.

This will be the first honoring of a Native American in Illinois for his service in the War of 1812.
Black Partridge, a resident of what is now Woodford County, was very friendly to early American settlers and was a longtime advocate of peaceful relations with the United States. He and his brother Waubonsie both attempted to protect settlers during the Fort Dearborn Massacre when they were unsuccessful in preventing the attack in August of 1812.
Ironically, in October 1812, the Americans launched an expedition against the Native villages in the Peoria area. Led by Governor Edwards and Colonel William Russell, they attacked and destroyed Potawatomi and Kickapoo villages, including Black Partridge’s.
A much-used park in Metamora, Woodford’s Partridge Township and Black Partridge Woods, a state park in Cook County, are all named for him.
The Program is as follows:
Welcome by Jim Fyke, President of the Woodford County Historical Society
Introduction and explanation of Resolution creating November as Native American History Month
Tribute Song by Jo Lakota
Talk by Dr. Michael Wiant of Dickson Mounds
Presentation of Wreath by Illinois Sons of 1812
Gun Salute
Veterans’ Song by Spirit of the Rainbow drum
Talk by Adam Danner, of Four Directions Healing Foundation
Pipe Filling Song
Pipe Ceremony
For more information, contact Christal Dagit at 309-840-0177.