NOTICE: Those interested in attending the performance following the panel discussion are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs - only a limited amount of outdoor seating will be available.
Iowa Environmental Historian, Kevin Mason, to host Cody Seaboy and Alfred Seaboy, members of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and descendants of Inkpaduta, for a panel discussion at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory’s Mahan Hall on Tuesday, August 11th at 3:30pm. The conversation will surround personal stories shared by Cody and Alfred concerning their ancestry and connection to Inkpaduta and the Wahpekute, one of several tribes of the Dakota or Oceti Sakowin. Attendees are given the opportunity to listen to a moderated conversation between Kevin, Cody, Alfred and others before a performance of traditional song and dance following the panel discussion. Attendees are expected to be welcoming and show respect when conducting themselves.
The Iowa Great Lakes has long been revered as a site of cultural and spiritual significance to various indigenous groups including the Dakota. The Wahpekute Dakota, including Inkpaduta’s band and relatives, summered near the Iowa Great Lakes as part of their seasonal lifeway, traveling north every spring by way of the Little Sioux River. Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, sits on the west shore above Little Millers Bay - some of the only undeveloped shoreline on West Lake Okoboji.
This is a listening centered event - an opportunity to respectfully listen, engage and reflect.
Kevin Mason is a rural and environmental historian of the American Midwest, with a particular focus on how human interaction with both natural and built environments shapes society over time. Mason’s work bridges scholarly research and public engagement, combining traditional academic writing with accessible, community-centered projects.
Mason’s most recent book, Retracing the Dragoon Trail in Iowa: Environmental Transformation along the Des Moines River, was published by the trade imprint of Michigan State University Press in Spring 2026. Mason is also the creator and director of Notes on Iowa. This digital history initiative invites audiences to explore Iowa’s past through multimedia storytelling, including video, essays, and archival imagery. Service is a core part of Mason’s professional mission. Mason currently serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the State Historical Society of Iowa, sit on the Board of Directors for Humanities Iowa, and collaborate with museums and nonprofit organizations across the state to promote historical education and preservation.
Dr. Kevin Mason