About
Chicago is, and always has been, an Indigenous place. As Neshnabé (Potawatomi, Odawa, Ojibwe), Illinois Confederation (Peoria, Kaskaskia, and others), Myaamia, Wea, Sauk, Meskwaki, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Kickapoo, and Mascouten homelands, the Chicago area has long been a historic crossroads for many Indigenous peoples and continues to be home to an extensive urban Native community.
Indigenous Chicago is a multifaceted project that explores these histories by centering Indigenous voices, laying bare stories of settler-colonial harm, and gesturing toward Indigenous futures. Indigenous Chicago is a living project and archive that will continue to be added to in collaboration with Native communities. If you see an error on this site or would like to provide additional research leads, please contact us directly.
The project began with community conversations about misrepresentations of Chicago Indigenous history and the invisibility that Native people in Chicago continue to feel. In January 2020, the Newberry Library partnered with the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative (CAICC) to gather community members and discuss the possibility of a centralized resource that would educate Native and non-Native communities alike about the Indigenous past, present, and future of Chicago.
Community members were enthusiastic about an “Indigenous Chicago project.” On that day, they identified six goals for the initiative:
- Make the invisible visible
- Situate Chicago as a Native place since time immemorial
- Serve a broad, multi-generational audience
- Grow a community archiving practice that crosses multiple organizations
- Support the growth of CAICC
- And above all, advance the priorities of the Chicago Native community
During the meeting, community members also identified five project components to carry out the goals: an exhibition, a website with digital mapping and walking tours, educational curriculum, new oral histories with community members, and a series of public programs.
Later that year, the project’s co-directors solicited community input to assemble an Advisory Group for the project. The Advisory Group includes Native community members from Chicago, representatives from tribes whose ancestral homelands include what is now the city of Chicago, and Indigenous scholars.
The Advisory Group is split into five subcommittees, each of which supported the creation of one of the five project components (exhibition, website, curriculum, oral histories, and programming). The committees have been meeting regularly since 2020, sometimes as frequently as biweekly, and together, the co-directors and committees have co-created the various components of the Indigenous Chicago project. Throughout the process, community members have provided feedback on project components through periodic gatherings for visiting, brainstorming, and providing feedback on materials.
From the community meals and listening sessions, it was clear that the community wants this project to have a broad historical scope. Therefore, the Indigenous Chicago project highlights Indigenous connections to Chicago that pre-date European contact; 17th, 18th, and 19th century stories that emphasize how Chicago has always been a Native place; and Native leaders and organizations in Chicago throughout the 19th and 20th century whose stories show that Native people are STILL HERE, and they have created a contemporary community of their own.
Our Team
Rose Miron, Director, D’Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies, Newberry Library
Meredith McCoy (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe descent), Assistant Professor of History and American Studies, Carleton College
Analú María López (Huachichil/Xi’úi), Ayer Librarian and Assistant Curator of American Indian and Indigenous Studies, Newberry Library
Blaire Morseau (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi), Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Michigan State University
Elizabeth Ellis (Peoria Nation of Oklahoma), Associate Professor of History, Princeton University
Burgundy Fletcher (Peoria Nation of Oklahoma), Historic Preservation Specialist, Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma
Mishuana Goeman (Tonawanda Band of Seneca), Professor of Indigenous Studies, University
Eric Hemenway (Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa), Director of Repatriation and Archives, Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa
George Ironstrack (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma), Assistant Director, Myaamia Center at Miami University
Doug Kiel (Oneida), Associate Professor of History, Northwestern University
Dallas Hunt (Swan River First Nation), Assistant Professor or English Language and Literatures, University of British Columbia
Clovia Malatare (Oglala Lakota), Elder, Chicago Native Community
Jennifer Michals (Potawatomi and Kickapoo), Research Project Coordinator, Manoomin Collective, Northwestern University
Kelli Mosteller (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), Executive Director and CEO, First Americans Museum
R. Blake Norton, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Bimadoshka Pucan (Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation/Saugeen Ojibway First Nation), Tribal Representative Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation/Saugeen Ojibway First Nation and Assistant Professor of Indigenous Studies, University of Waterloo
Beatriz Reyes (Diné/Tepehuán), Assistant Professor of Instruction, Global Health Studies, Northwestern University
Cindy Soto (Sicangu Lakota), Program Administrator, Spencer Foundation
Dave Spencer (Mississippi Chata and Diné), Executive Director, Chicago American Indian Center
Darlene St. Clair (Mdewakantunwan Dakota), St. Cloud State University
Cyndee Starr (Omaha Tribe of Nebraska and Odawa/Potawatomi of Wikwemikong First Nation), Cultural Coordinator, American Indian Health Services Chicago
Josee Starr (Arikara, Omaha, Odawa), Director of Operations, Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
Sunshine Thomas-Bear (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska), Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
Colin Wesaw (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi), Tribal Council Member, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi
Raphael Wahwassuck (Prairie Band of Potawatomi), Tribal Council Member, Prairie Band of Potawatomi
Dorene Wiese (White Earth Ojibwe), Executive Director, American Indian Association of Illinois and Native American Educational Services College Archives c
Michael Witgen (Red Cliff Ojibwe), Professor of History, Columbia University
Logan York (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma), Tribal Historic Preservation Office, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma
Haku Blaisdell (Kanaka Maoli), Associate Director of Outreach and Strategy, D’Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies, Newberry Library
Teagan Dreyer (Choctaw), Ph.D Candidate, Department of History, Oklahoma State University
Joshua Friedlein (Cherokee Nation), Tribal Wildfire Specialist, Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota
Dylan Nelson, Ph.D Candidate, Department of American Studies, Harvard University
Anthony Stamilio, Ph. D Candidate, Department of History, Loyola University
Kabl Wilkerson (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), Ph.D Candidate, Department of History, Harvard University
Rene Ramirez (Juañeno Band of Mission Indians, unenrolled), Ph.D Candidate, Department of Philosophy, Loyola University
Jaqueline Lopez, Ph.D. Student, Department of History, Northwestern University
Sarah Jimenez (M’chigeeng First Nation), Program Coordinator, D’Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies, Newberry Library
Sheridan Shenkin, Program Assistant, Division of Research & Education, Newberry Library
We would also like to thank the following individuals, who contributed their knowledge and expertise in early stages of the project: Les Begay (Diné), Francine Spang-Willis (Northern Cheyenne), Debra Yepa-Pappan (Jemez Pueblo), Mike Zimmerman (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi), Monica Rickert-Bolter (Prairie Band of Potawatomi), Melodi Serna (Oneida and Turtle Mountain Ojibwe), Angelina Serna (Oneida and Turtle Mountain Ojibwe), David Morales (Fort McDowell Yavapai), Chantay Moore (Diné), and Shawn Canning Jr. (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate).
Credits
Curators: Analú María López (Huachichil/Xi’iui), Rose Miron, Doug Kiel (Oneida), Dave Spencer (Diné/Mississippi Chata)
Exhibition Prep Specialist: Barb Korbel
Conservation Department: Kimberly Nichols, Gabriel Hamer, Alex Lorenz
Exhibition Specialists: Patrick Kepley, Nico Marabella
Director of Exhibitions: Sarah Boyd Alvarez
Research Assistants: Haku Blaisdell (Kanaka Maoli), Teagan Dreyer (Choctaw), Joshua Friedlein (Cherokee Nation), Dylan Nelson, Anthony Stamilio, Kabl Wilkerson (Citizen Potawatomi Nation)
Digitization Specialists: Catherine Gass, Nicolas White, Jennifer Wolfe
Graphic Designers: M.N. Kennedy, Andrea Villasenor, Anjeni Del Real (Ojibwe, Santee Sioux, and Blackfeet)
Translators: Georgina Valverde, Gerardo Garcia Ramos
Gallery Preparators: Chris Cermak, Pete Diernberger, Mike Mitchell, Jason Ulane
Filmmakers for “What Chicago Means to Us”: Casey Brown (Ho-Chunk) and Julia Pello
Video and Audio producers: Truth and Documentary
Audio Tour Narrators: Analú María López (Huachichil/Xi’iui), Rose Miron, Doug Kiel (Oneida), Dave Spencer (Diné/Mississippi Chata), Meredith McCoy (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe descent), Nico Marabella
Comic Book Catalog: Haku Blaisdell (Kanaka Maoli), Rose Miron, and Analú María López (Huachichil/Xi’iui) with Doug Kiel (Oneida) and Dave Spencer (Diné/Mississippi Chata)
Advisory Subcommittee chairs: Rose Miron and Analú María López (Huachichil/Xi’iui)
Advisory Group Subcommittee members: Mavis Neconish (Menominee/Forest County Potawatomi), Eric Hemenway (Little Traverse Bay Band Odawa), George Ironstrack (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma), Cyndee Fox-Starr (Omaha and Odawa/Potawatomi), Michael Witgen (Red Cliff Ojibwe), and R. Blake Norton (Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Citizen Potawatomi Nation).
Website design and content: Haku Blaisdell (Kanaka Maoli) and Rose Miron
Native Place Names Map: Joshua Friedlein (Cherokee Nation) and Rose Miron
Indigenous Travel Routes Map: Dylan Nelson
Village Sites Map: Kabl Wilkerson (Citizen Potawatomi Nation)
Treaty Map: Kabl Wilkerson (Citizen Potawatomi Nation)
Removal Map: Kabl Wilkerson (Citizen Potawatomi Nation)
Landscape Change Map: Joshua Friedlein (Cherokee Nation)
Relocation Map: Teagan Dreyer (Choctaw)
Iconography Map: Joshua Friedlein (Cherokee Nation), Rene Ramirez (Juañeno Band of Mission Indians, unenrolled) and Rose Miron
Urban Archive Map: Rose Miron, Teagan Dreyer (Choctaw), Joshua Friedlein (Cherokee Nation), Dylan Nelson, Anthony Stamilio, Kabl Wilkerson (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), Rene Ramirez (Juañeno Band of Mission Indians, unenrolled), and Jaqueline Lopez
Tour Guide Resource: Anthony Stamilio
Advisory Subcommittee chairs: Rose Miron and Analú María López (Huachichil/Xi’iui)
Advisory Group Subcommittee members: Elizabeth Ellis (Peoria Nation of Oklahoma), Burgundy Fletcher (Peoria Nation of Oklahoma), Mishuana Goeman (Tonawanda Band of Seneca), Eric Hemenway (Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa), George Ironstrack (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma), Doug Kiel (Oneida), Dallas Hunt (Swan River First Nation), Kelli Mosteller (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), Bimadoshka Pucan (Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation/Saugeen Ojibway First Nation), Josee Starr (Arikara, Omaha, Odawa), Raphael Wahwassuck (Prairie Band of Potawatomi)
Curriculum Writers: Meredith McCoy (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe descent) and Rose Miron
Research Assistance: Teagan Dreyer (Choctaw), Joshua Friedlein (Cherokee Nation), Dylan Nelson, Anthony Stamilio, Kabl Wilkerson (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), Rene Ramirez (Juañeno Band of Mission Indians, unenrolled), and Jaqueline Lopez
Advisory Group Subcommittee chairs: Meredith McCoy (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe descent) and Rose Miron
Advisory Group Subcommittee members: Elizabeth Ellis (Peoria Nation of Oklahoma), Burgundy Fletcher (Peoria Nation of Oklahoma), Clovia Malatare, Jennifer Michals (Potawatomi and Kickapoo), R. Blake Norton, Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Beatriz Reyes (Diné/Tepehuán), Darlene St. Clair (Mdewakantunwan Dakota), Sunshine Thomas-Bear (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska), Raphael Wahwassuck (Prairie Band of Potawatomi), Logan York (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma)
Teacher Pilot Program Participants: Emily Blanchard, Lyn Comer-Jaworski, Louis Mercer, Christina O’Leary, Marisol Pulido, Noe Serrano, Meghan Thomas, Steve Schwartz
Additional Support provided by: Kara Johnson, Sophia Croll, Josee Starr (Arikara, Omaha, Odawa), (George Ironstrack (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma), Dave Beck, Asif Wilson, Pam Silas (Menominee and Oneida), and the CAICC Education Committee
Advisory Group Subcommittee chairs: Blaire Morseau (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi) and Meredith McCoy (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe descent)
Advisory Group Subcommittee members: Clovia Malatare, Bimadoshka Pucan (Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation/Saugeen Ojibway First Nation), Cindy Soto (Sicangu Lakota), Cyndee Starr (Omaha Tribe of Nebraska and Odawa/Potawatomi of Wikwemikong First Nation), Colin Wesaw (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi), Dorene Wiese (White Earth Ojibwe)
Additional Support provided by: Haku Blaisdell (Kanaka Maoli), Rene Ramirez (Juañeno Band of Mission Indians, unenrolled), Jaqueline Lopez, Casey Brown (Ho-Chunk), Julia Pello, and American Indian Health Services Center
Advisory Group Subcommittee chair: Rose Miron
Advisory Group Subcommittee members: Kelli Mosteller (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), Dave Spencer (Mississippi Chata and Diné), Dorene Wiese (White Earth Ojibwe), Michael Witgen (Red Cliff Ojibwe)
Additional Support provided by: Karen Christianson, Liv Koreman, and Kara Philoon
Supporters
The Indigenous Chicago project is generously supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, The Field Foundation of Illinois, The Whiting Foundation, The Research for Indigenous Social Action and Equity Center at the University of Michigan, and Carleton College.
Planning for Indigenous Chicago was generously supported by the Mellon Foundation.
Indigenous Chicago is part of Art Design Chicago, a citywide collaboration initiated by the Terra Foundation for American Art that highlights the city’s artistic heritage and creative communities.
Rights and Access
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