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Festivals, Fairs & Special Events, Museums, Galleries & Exhibitions
Commemorative Day | Native American Heritage Month
For thousands of years, the place now known as Chicago was a thriving center of Indigenous life. Potawatomi people lived on and took care of the land until they were forced out by non-Native settlers. The Ojibwe, Odawa, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Miami, Mascouten, Sac and Fox, Kickapoo, Ho-Chunk, Menomonee, and tribes whose names have been lost due to genocide also lived, gathered, and traded in this region.
Chicago today still owes much to the Indigenous peoples of this land. In fact, the city’s name comes from “Checagou,” likely derived by French traders from the word “Zhegagoynak.” In Potawatomi, “zhegagosh” means “wild onion” and “nak” means “the place of.
In commemoration of Native American Heritage Month, we invite you to join us for activities celebrating Native histories and the Indigenous peoples who continue to thrive in our city. Learn about the ongoing work Native American organizations and individuals do in Chicago and how they use the arts as a tool to share their cultures and to promote social change.
Included with general admission.
Image: ST-30003011-0003, Chicago Sun-Times collection, Chicago History Museum
Learn more about the area
Venue
Tours & Attractions, Special Interest Tours, Museums, Museums, Galleries & Exhibitions
Chicago History Museum
Explore the history of Chicago and United States through permanent and temporary exhibitions drawn from more than 20 million items in the Chicago History Museum’s…
Neighborhood
Lincoln Park
One of the city’s most picturesque areas, you’ll find boutiques, museums, dining, a zoo, and plenty of waterfront.
Learn more about the area
Venue
Tours & Attractions, Special Interest Tours, Museums, Museums, Galleries & Exhibitions
Chicago History Museum
Explore the history of Chicago and United States through permanent and temporary exhibitions drawn from more than 20 million items in the Chicago History Museum’s…
Neighborhood
Lincoln Park
One of the city’s most picturesque areas, you’ll find boutiques, museums, dining, a zoo, and plenty of waterfront.