Molding the Church: The Relationship Between Indigenous Communities and the Episcopal Church, 1890-1941

Join Ph.D. student Jessi Simmons for a presentation on her dissertation research examining Episcopal communities of Indigenous and settler families in the Dakotas, American Northwest and Alaska from 1890 to 1941. Discover how Indigenous communities shaped church life to reflect their own cultures and values while participating in national mission campaigns and global relief efforts during times of crisis, including World War I.

Molding the Church: The Relationship Between Indigenous Communities and the Episcopal Church, 1890-1941
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
Time: 5:30 pm AKST
Location: Gruening 401
Zoom Option: https://alaska.zoom.us/j/81394424579 Please contact Mary Ludwig with any questions at mkludwig@alaska.edu

About Jessi Simmons: Jessi Simmons is a PhD student studying Native American and religious history. She focuses her research on the Northern Midwest and has presented papers on topics ranging from Bishop William Hobart Hare's legacy in South Dakota to the impact of the Spanish Flu on university women at Sioux Falls College. Her current work focuses on the relationship between the Episcopal Church and the Sovereign Nations of South Dakota between 1900 and 1920. She recieved her undergraduate degree in History, English, and Theology from the University of Sioux Falls in 2019.