Indigenous Chicago
This exhibit frames Chicago as an enduring Native place through archival materials, maps, photographs, contemporary art, and storytelling. It covers five centuries of rich Indigenous history centered around Indigenous voices.
Featuring artwork by
- Jason Wesaw – Pokagon Band of Potawatomi
- Jim Terry – Ho-Chunk
- Camille Billie – Oneida/Diné
- Casey Brown (Ho-Chunk) & Julia Pello
Chicago has long been home to and a historic crossroads for many Indigenous people and remains home to an extensive urban Native community. Yet most Chicagoans are unaware of the city’s history as a home to diverse Indigenous peoples and the vibrant Indigenous communities present today.
Part of a multifaceted initiative developed in partnership between the Newberry, advisors from the Chicago Native community, and representatives from tribal nations with historic connections to Chicago, Indigenous Chicago reflects the dynamic and complex aspects of Native life in Chicago from the seventeenth century to the present. The exhibition draws largely on the Newberry’s collection while also showcasing new work by contemporary Native artists.
After a three month run at the Newberry Library in 2024, the exhibition began the process of moving here to the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum where it will proudly remain for the next few years.
Click to learn more about the exhibition and Newberry Library’s Indigenous Chicago project:
