Author Jill D. Swenson: Exploring Land, Loss, and Legacy

Free, open to all Set in the Lake of the Woods region of northern Minnesota, Swenson’s memoir brings together family history, personal grief, and questions of land, identity, and belonging. After returning to her mother’s hometown following her death, Swenson begins investigating the region’s history and the experiences of the descendants of Kakaygeesick, an Ojibway spiritual leader. Her research leads to a friendship with Kakaygeesick’s great-grandson and a deeper examination of land allotment, tribal membership, and federal Indian policy. As she explores these histories, Swenson also confronts the losses and family estrangements that have shaped her own life. Both personal and historical in scope, The Land of Everlasting Sky considers how the past continues to influence our understanding of ourselves, our communities, and our relationships to the land. Books will be available for purchase at the event through Drury Lane Books. Jill D. Swenson is the author of The Land of Everlasting Sky: A Memoir of Loss and Legacy on Lake of the Woods. A former journalism educator, she holds graduate degrees from the University of Chicago and has worked in literary editing and consulting. Her writing explores connections between family history, place, and the history of the Lake of the Woods region. She lives in Appleton, Wisconsin.