Heritage Museum hosts program on the Founding Fathers’ attitudes toward Native Americans

ST. JOSEPH, MI – On Tuesday, October 7, at 6:30 pm, the Heritage Museum will present a program entitled, “Patriots and Indians: How the Founding Fathers Engaged Native Americans.” Early attitudes toward Native Americans shaped relations and policies which endure to this day and within the region of southwest Michigan. 

How did George Washington deal with American Indian tribes during his military days and during his time as President? What did Thomas Jefferson think about the diverse groups of tribes across the nation? Dr. Jeff Dennis of Southwestern Michigan College will answer these questions and many more.  Please note that this topic is a change from the originally scheduled program.

Dr. Dennis is a native of southwest Michigan and a full-time instructor at Southwestern Michigan College, received his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame with a dissertation examining the Founding Fathers’ interactions with American Indian tribes. His dissertation is in the process of being published by the University of South Carolina Press with a release date scheduled for spring 2015.

Admission to the program is $5 and free for students and members of the Heritage Museum. The Heritage Museum & Cultural Center is located at 601 Main Street in St. Joseph, Michigan. Our mission is to engage the public in a vibrant organization that promotes historical preservation, education, and research that relates to Benton Harbor, St. Joseph and the surrounding region. Our exhibits through 2014 are “Southwest Michigan in the Civil War,” “In Style: 50 Years of the Heritage Museum’s Fashion Collections,” and “Benton Harbor’s Boat Building Industry.”  Group tours, school, and scout programs are available.   Please call 269-983-1191, visit www.theheritagemcc.org, or find us on Facebook or Twitter for more information.