By Cameron Wacker
“The Negotiator: Billy Caldwell” is a documentary film about Billy Caldwell, son of Mohawk woman Rising Sun and British Army Captain William Caldwell. Caldwell, also known as Chief Sauganash, helped negotiate a land sale in northwest Illinois of 5,000,000 acres, ultimately resulting in the removal of all Native American Tribes from Illinois. Susan Kelsey’s legacy film “The Negotiator: Billy Caldwell” explores Caldwell’s role in the land sale and relocation of Native Americans, and gives a voice to local tribes she met along her path.
“I would love people to feel activated, to learn more about the land they live on, more about Native American history in this area, and more about their connection with Mother Earth.”
Susan Kelsey, current Lake Forest resident, is 30 years into her exploration of Chicago’s history and relationship with Native Americans. During her historical journey, Kelsey’s curiosity led her to one of Chicago’s most influential historical figures: Billy Caldwell. Little did Kelsey know, her fledgling interest in Caldwell would change the course of her life.
Kelsey first moved to Lake Forest 20 years ago, where her interest in writing and filmmaking was piqued.
“I wondered why Lake Forest was founded so far north of Chicago,” said Kelsey. “I wondered why the city was laid out with curved streets on the east side, a quaint business district and why there were so many historical sites in Lake Forest, 30 miles north of Chicago.”
Kelsey’s captivation with Lake Forest’s history led her to Art Miller and Shirley Paddock, two local historians. The three quickly got to work together, writing three books about Lake Forest. As Kelsey’s passion for writing grew, she decided to write her own book about Billy Caldwell.
Kelsey previously lived in Sauganash, a Chicago suburb named after Caldwell. During her years there, Kelsey’s curiosity about the neighborhood and Native American history prior to the founding of Chicago led her to embark on her own journey, where she retraced the footsteps of Caldwell.
“What I discovered over the past 30 years of following Caldwell’s trail from Fort Niagara, New York, through Canada, Detroit, Chicago, Council Bluffs, Iowa and lastly, to Mayetta, Kansas was really a self-discovery about myself,” said Kelsey. “Traveling and meeting with people, learning about other peoples’ lives, the history of this country and turning it into a documentary where people could feel and experience what I have learned, has allowed me to live, grow and learn about the world we call home.”
Susan Kelsey gets together with Tony Wahweotten, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Tribal Council Member, Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Chairperson and Raphael J. Wahwassuck, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Council Member.
After the publication of her book “Billy Caldwell: Chicago and the Great Lakes Trail” Kelsey was prepared to spearhead a new media: a documentary film.
The legacy film “The Negotiator: Billy Caldwell” was finished this summer. The documentary has been submitted to numerous film festivals, telling the story of Billy Caldwell and his contributions to the sale and relocation of Native Americans from Illinois.
“What I love about documentary filmmaking is the multi-level creativity aspect,” said Kelsey. “I love the research, I love filming the interviews, I love working with my editor to piece the story puzzle together, and I loved recording Native American musicians for the film.”
Moving forward, Kelsey hopes that viewers take on a new perspective of the world watching the documentary film.
“I would love people to feel more compassion toward one another and to learn about respect for the land we live on and the precious Great Lakes.”
To learn more about “The Negotiator: Billy Caldwell” and find upcoming showings, please visit www.TheBillyCaldwellMovie.com.
Editor’s Note: This piece is reprinted from Lake Forest Love. Classic Chicago Magazine was fortunate to have Cameron Wacker as writer and summer intern and is delighted that she will continue to write for the magazine from the University of Wisconsin.
