In The Company Of Our Relatives Panel Discussion

Join us on September 16 for a powerful day of reflection, storytelling, and dialogue during two special panel discussions centered on the Richard Pohrt Jr. Collection and the official release day of the groundbreaking Native-led publication, In the Company of Our Relatives. This new book brings together personal stories that explore deep-rooted relationships, cultural reconnections, and the enduring legacy of the Indigenous makers whose artistry continues to inspire today.

Thanks to a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art acquired the Richard Pohrt Jr. Collection in 2018. This extraordinary collection features cultural belongings from tribal nations of the Great Lakes region. These works embody the innovation, beauty, and profound knowledge of Indigenous artists whose creativity was shaped by the land and lifeways of their ancestors.

In the Company of Our Relatives is not a traditional academic study. Instead, it is a vibrant tapestry of voices from Native descendants of the original makers, offering reflections that are deeply personal and rooted in oral traditions. Each essay was edited with care not to revise, but to honor and preserve the integrity of each contributor’s voice. Together, these stories offer a rare and intimate glimpse into the living relationships between Indigenous people and their ancestral belongings.

This project began with prayer and intention, guided by the understanding that these belongings are not mere artifacts. They are relatives—vessels of gikendaasowin (knowledge) and expressions of Anishinaabe Indendamowin (ways of living). They testify to the resilience, brilliance, and creativity of the Ancestors, and to the power of memory, story, and connection that lives on through their descendants.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear from the contributors themselves and engage in a meaningful conversation about cultural memory, reclamation, and the vital role of Indigenous storytelling.

Panel One: 11 am – 12 pm, including collector Richard Pohrt Jr., Monica Raphael (Anishinaabe/Sicangu Lakota) Hoback Curator of Great Lakes Native Art Cultures and Community Engagement for the Eiteljorg Museum, and some of the contributors

Panel Two: 1 pm – 2 pm, including Monica Raphael (Anishinaabe/Sicangu Lakota) Hoback Curator of Great Lakes Native Art Cultures and Community Engagement for the Eiteljorg Museum and some of the contributors

A book signing will take place following the second panel discussion.

Clowes Sculpture Court