January 18, 2026 — Thunderbird Festival Kite‑Flying Event

What happened at this year’s kite‑flying ceremony tells a larger story about resistance, remembrance, and the determination of our community. 

We began the day intending to gather at Black Hawk State Park and the Singing Bird Sanctuary—places deeply connected to the history of the Sac and Fox Nation, to Black Hawk, to Singing Bird, and to the memory of the people whose lives were taken through displacement, warfare, and genocide carried out by the United States government. Our plan was simple and sacred: to fly kites in honor of the Thunderbird, to share stories, and to observe the New Moon, a Jewish tradition that we weave together with Apache and Indigenous teachings. This blending of traditions is at the heart of who we are as Nefesh Min Lozen. 

But when we arrived, we found the entrances barricaded. Rock Island police blocked access to the park and denied entry to everyone. Their message was unmistakable: they intended to stop our gathering, our remembrance, and our community‑building. They sought to interrupt a ceremony rooted in honoring the Sac and Fox Nation, acknowledging the massacre at Bad Axe, and uplifting the stories of Black Hawk and Singing Bird. 

Yet they did not succeed. 

The inner circle of Nefesh refused to allow the Rock Island government to another quiet victory. Within minutes, we regrouped and relocated the Thunderbird Festival to Moline Library Park. There, under open sky, we flew our kites, shared stories of the Sac and Fox people, spoke of the Thunderbird, and honored our patron warrior Black Hawk. The spirit of the ceremony remained intact if anything; it grew stronger in defiance of the attempt to silence it. 

After the ceremony, we gathered at a local restaurant, shared tacos, and enjoyed one another’s company. The warmth of community carried the evening, turning what could have been a day of frustration into a day of resilience and joy. 

This was a successful turnout. I can feel the community forming slowly, surely, and with real strength. The foundation is already here, and it is only growing.