"Area Native Americans During the War of 1812 Era"

"Area Native Americans During the War of 1812 Era"

presented by

Roger Laybourn

Monday, November 14, 2011

VCPL Rooms A, B & C

Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

Most Americans are ignorant of the original peoples of the North American continent due to a lack of a good education on the subject.  Roger Laybourn has made it his life’s work to break down the prejudiced and stereotypical ideas that have plagued Native Americans for generations, especially those concerning the peoples of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley regions of the continent.  Most people living in these regions are unaware of the rich history and  cultures that these regions once had and still have to this day.

Roger Laybourn was born and has lived the majority of his life in Southern Indiana, currently residing in Loogootee, IN.  He is of Native American (Patawatomi) and French descent and has been active in the Native American United Metis Tribe, a sovereign nation of mixed-blood indigenous people.  Roger currently holds the positions of Band Chief of the Buffalo Spirit Band of the United Metis Tribe, as well as Tribal Historian and Cultural Consultant.  He is also Lodge Elder of the Wabanoh Medicine Lodge, a Native American Spiritual Society.

Over the years Roger has studied Museum work, Art and History at Vincennes University and Art at Indiana University.  He has worked in museums including the Evansville Museum of Art and Science in Evansville, IN, the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, IN, the Old French House in Vincennes, IN, and is currently working at Grouseland, the William Henry Harrison Mansion in Vincennes, IN, as a Docent and Historian.  He is also a member and Native American Consultant of the War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission for the City of Vincennes and the state of Indiana and is involved in reenactment and living history events as a Native re-enactor.