Preserving the Homelands — Native Nations During the Revolution

As part of The Henry Ford's Celebration of Indigenous History programming, Curator of Political and Civic Engagement at The Henry Ford, Heather Bruegl (Oneida/Stockbridge-Munsee), and Director of Historic Interpretation and Audience Engagement at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, Brandon Dillard (Cherokee Nation), will discuss an often overlooked history.

Indigenous nations don't always come to mind when Americans think about the Revolutionary period, but Native nations played pivotal roles during the war and in the lead-up to it. Sovereign nations sought to protect their homelands in different ways, some as allies of American settlers, others as allies of the British, and others tried to remain neutral.

Drawing from research from author Heather Bruegl's book, Native to This Land: A History of Indigenous Rights in North America, learn how Indigenous nations shaped the Revolution and the new United States, and how this history continues to influence America today.

A brief audience Q&A will follow the discussion.

Heather Bruegl is a citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and first-line descendent Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican. She is a graduate of Madonna University in Michigan and holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in U.S. history. Her research encompasses numerous topics related to American history, including early Colonial and Revolutionary history, presidential history, civil rights and social justice movements, the legacies of colonization and Indigeneity, the history of American Boarding Schools, and the issues of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Heather has presented her work at academic institutions, including the University of Michigan, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Bard College, Vassar College and Brooklyn Law School.

Heather is a frequent conference lecturer on topics ranging from intergenerational racism and trauma to the fight for clean water in the Native community. She has been invited to share her research on Indigenous history, including policy and activism, museum equity, and Land Back initiatives, for institutions such as the Tate Modern in London and the Brooklyn Public Library. Heather opened and spoke at the Women's March Anniversary in Lansing, Michigan, in January 2018 and at the first-ever Indigenous Peoples March in Washington, D.C., in January 2019. In 2019, 2020 and 2021, Heather spoke at the Crazy Horse Memorial and Museum in Custer, South Dakota, as part of its Talking Circle Series.

Heather is a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where she studies First Nations Education. Her dissertation research focuses on the importance of telling the truth in history in museums and cultural institutions. Heather is also a public historian and activist who works with institutions and organizations for Indigenous sovereignty and collective liberation.

Brandon Dillard is Director of Historic Interpretation and Audience Engagement at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, a presidential historic house museum and site of plantation slavery where he's worked since 2010. Brandon holds a B.A. in philosophy from Georgia State University, where he studied Indigenous perspectives and the intersections of culture and politics, and an M.A. in anthropology from the University of Virginia, where he focused on public memory.

Brandon is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Racial identity, political power and representation in collective memory have always been at the core of his work. He has spent his career elevating marginalized narratives in public history. At Monticello, his work primarily focuses on the interpretation of slavery and enslaved people, the legacies of colonization, and the importance of personal connection when discussing complex and contested aspects of the past.

The event is free to the public, but registration is required as seats are limited. Registration opens September 18.

There is a maximum of six registrants per entry. Registrants will receive confirmation and event reminders via email. Please show these confirmations upon entry to the event.

Registration will close if capacity is reached.

Doors to Anderson Theater will open at 1:30 p.m. The program will begin at 2 p.m. and will be followed by a brief Q&A.

This is a free public event; museum admission is not required.

Free parking is available in the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation lot off Oakwood Boulevard near the museum Welcome Center. The Clocktower entrance on the brick circle drive may be used for pickup/drop-off for guests needing special assistance.

Please note that parts of Oakwood Boulevard may be impacted by construction. Be prepared for traffic delays or detours. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The Henry Ford is committed to making our events accessible to everyone.

• Anderson Theater's main floor is fully accessible. The second-floor balcony is accessible via stairs only.
• This event will be ASL interpreted.

If you require an additional accommodation or service to fully participate, please contact our accessibility team via email at accessibility@thehenryford.org.

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