Influencing 1776: How the Great Lakes Anishnaabek Helped Shape American History by Eric Hemenway


Monday, October 19, 2026
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Allendale Campus, Health Campus
Alumni, Community, Faculty, Staff, Students


The Great Lakes tribal nations were instrumental in the eventual creation of the United States, through decades of warfare. From the French and Indian War to the War of 1812, Anishnaabek forces from Michigan fought a series of wars to protect their rights and homelands. These actions taken by these Anishnaabek warriors not only helped shape America but the fate of their respective nations. The event will be held on the Allendale Campus in the Russel H. Kirkhof Center room 2270. The talk will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a light, catered lunch at 12:00 p.m.

Eric Hemenway is a member of America250MI, Michigan’s official State Committee for the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding. He has done extensive public history work regarding Indigenous people in the Great Lakes. This has included creating exhibits, document collection and preservation, writing educational publications and curricula, and working with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. 

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Location Information


Russel H. Kirkhof Center

Room 2270

Download parking map for the Allendale Campus

Download parking map for the Health Campus


Contact Information


[email protected] 

(616) 331-8099


Tags

academic america250 brooks food history indigenoushistory int100201 kutsche localhistory


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This event was added to the calendar by Ryan Moore (moorer4@gvsu.edu) on Friday, July 24, 2026 and was last updated on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 8:36 a.m.