Plains Tribes and the Homestead Act

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Beatrice, Nebraska – Homestead National Historical Park’s virtual Winter Festival Performance Series concludes with a presentation by Nancy Gillis on Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 2:00 pm. Gillis’s program will cover the impact the Homestead Act had on the many tribes who inhabited the immense tract of land known as The Great Plains.  Gillis will examine why and how these changes occurred on the Plains for the tribes by looking at changes in foods, clothing, housing, family structure, gender roles, land control, and strategic relationships.  Our YouTube page can be located by visiting https://www.youtube.com/homesteadnationalhistoricalpark. 

Nancy Gillis is the former Executive Director of the John Neihardt State Historic Site. Of Cherokee and Choctaw heritage, Gillis moved to Winnebago, Nebraska in 1987 to work with the Winnebago people.  She stays active in various civic organizations, currently or previously serving on the board of the Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte Hospital Board, State of Nebraska Historical Preservation Office, Nebraska Folklife Network, Atlas of Winnebago, and the Walthill Village Planning Commission. 

“This program will explore the impact of the Homestead Act on the cultural traditions of those who lived on the land prior to its passing.” said Mark Engler, Superintendent at Homestead National Historical Park. 

The Winter Festival of Prairie Cultures is possible due to the generous support of Humanities Nebraska and the Friends of Homestead. 

Remember, Homestead National Historical Park has an exciting schedule of events planned for 2021. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (HomesteadNHP) and Facebook (Homestead National Historical Park). 

www.nps.gov 

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for the 423 parks in the National Park System and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.