Peoria Riverkeeper

Go Illini! 🪶 🏈

Had to share ours too! North of Peoria.

We met with Representative Budzinski's office today to advocate for strong Farm Bill Conservation programs, Wetland Protections, and Conservation Compliance.

One of the most critical issues facing our tributaries and rivers here in Illinois is soil erosion.

Since the 1900's, we've lost around 90 percent of the Illinois River riverbed volume from sedimentation, most of which is due to the erosion of the creeks and streams that feed into it.

We've lost over 90 percent of our wetlands- with 72 percent of the acreage lost since 1980. Of the remaining Wetlands, 90 percent are not under federal protection.

If action isn't taken soon, we are in danger of losing our wildlife, our creeks, streams, and our river. We must protect our wetlands, and incentivize farmers for conservation plans that reduce erosion and pollution. Contact your state representative today and tell them you support a Strong Farm Bill!

For the first time in over a hundred years… salmon are swimming freely through the upper Klamath Basin. Think about that. Generations of these fish tried—and failed—to return home. Because four massive dams blocked the Klamath River, cutting them off from their ancestral spawning grounds. Entire ecosystems changed. Indigenous tribes lost a sacred part of their lives. 🐟🌊

But in 2024, those dams were torn down. And nature didn’t hesitate. The moment the river opened, salmon surged upstream—no maps, no training—just instinct older than memory. Biologists tracking them watched in disbelief as the fish crossed hundreds of miles, reclaiming waters no living salmon had ever seen.
It’s more than migration. It’s restoration. A reminder that sometimes, healing doesn’t come from invention, but from undoing what we once thought was progress. 🔎

Because when you give nature a chance… it remembers where to go. 🍃

From chorus frogs to great blue herons, wetlands are alive with biodiversity, each species playing a vital role in keeping our ecosystems balanced and our communities safe. 🎥 Watch how Illinois’ wetlands sustain life and protect our environment: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2rwuIgOwxLs

These rich habitats filter our water, store floodwaters, and protect endangered species, but after federal protections were rolled back, Illinois’ wetlands are more vulnerable than ever.

💧 Let’s make sure these vibrant ecosystems have a future.
👉 Tell Gov. Pritzker to protect Illinois wetlands today: https://act.ilenviro.org/a/wetlands-petition-2025-issue

What if the Peoria Tribe called Peoria home again? What if economic partnership went beyond the museum? After once being forcibly removed from this land, we believe it’s time for them to come home. We believe the people of the city of Peoria are ready to make this happen.

https://www.25newsnow.com/2025/10/16/peoria-tribe-indians-oklahoma-riverfront-museum-announce-renewed-economic-partnership/?fbclid=IwdGRjcANgRbRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHq3PgfYwVtTtyTs5JTM87T0apij8G4Imkw2Xs98-8oAZCGXmuRMosksgPbSd_aem_XORrdSRmOqBEhw5LBifBUw

Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, Riverfront Museum announce renewed economic partnership The Peoria Riverfront Museum and Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma have announced a renewed economic partnership.

Tonight, the Murray Baker Bridge will be lit in honor of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The four colors lighting up the bridge represent the 4 arrows in the emblem pictured, a reference to the tribes that make up the Peoria Tribe: the Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, and Piankashaw.

Today, and every day, we recognize and respect the enduring presence, resilience, and cultural contributions of Indigenous peoples and we honor the First Peoples of this region and their continuing role in shaping our shared future.

On the website for the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma , the emblem pictured is described as follows:
"The general outline of the emblem is an arrowhead bearing four crossed arrows. Each of the arrows represents one of the four tribes making up the tribe now known as Peoria.

The red background symbolizes the tribe’s past – the trickery, the tears, the hardships, and the heartaches that our ancestors endured. The large arrowhead of natural color represents our present generation – a promise that we will work, as individuals, and as a tribe, to cherish and preserve our heritage and customs. The arrowhead points downward, indicating peace. We will live in peace, but we will not be suppressed.
The turquoise arrow of the Piankashaws represents our native soil.
The red arrow of the Peorias represents the sun.
The blue arrow of the Weas represents the blue waters.
The green arrow of the Kaskaskias represents the green of the grass and the trees.

May our tribe never forget that these are gifts from the Great Spirit.

The crossing of the arrows represents our promise to future generations that by banding together our spirit cannot be broken and our heritage and customs will never be forgotten.

Alice Giles Burgess, a tribal citizen, designed this emblem. It was presented to the Peoria Tribal Business Committee and approved by them on January 29, 1983. It was presented to the tribal membership at the Annual Meeting in March 1983."

To learn more about the history of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma visit https://bit.ly/3KP6imc