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THE NORTHVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Over 50 Years of Preserving Northville History
The 27th Grievance: Indigenous Nations and the Declaration of Independence
Wed, Nov 18
|Mill Race Historical Village
A single phrase, written by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, shaped the course of the history of the United States.
When and Where?
Nov 18, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Mill Race Historical Village, 215 Griswold St, Northville, MI 48167, USA
About The Event
Considered the most excellent break-up letter of all time, the Declaration of Independence is an indictment against the King of England and the oppression the colonists seemingly felt from him. But as Thomas Jefferson wrote these words, embedded in the 27th grievance against the King, Jefferson writes of the “merciless Indian Savages” and forever painted Indigenous people as the enemy of the country. However, when broken down, the phrase reveals a deeper meaning and exposes the founders as land speculators. Learn what the phrase means and how it has shaped the course of United States history.
Heather Bruegl is a citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and first-line descendent Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican. She is a graduate of Madonna University in Michigan and holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in U.S. History.
This program is generously funded by a DTE Foundation grant.