Land Acknowledgment
The Chicago History Museum is situated on ancestral homelands of the Potawatomi people, who cared for the land until 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 as a result of genocide also lived, gathered, and traded in this region. Today, Chicago is home to the largest urban Indigenous population in the Midwest, and they continue to honor this land and its waterways, practice traditions, and celebrate their heritage.
The Chicago History Museum acknowledges the contributions of Indigenous communities and commits to an ongoing collaboration to share a complex and inclusive history.
Ga dnezéthêk shodë kik (The ones who lived here on this land)
Bodéwadmikik shode ėthë ték i “Chicago History Museum.” Bodéwadmik shodë gi dnezwêk mine wgi kowabdanawa odë kė. Winwa gézhé gi Wthebawék, Wdawék, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wémamithêk, Mshkodeniyêk, Zagiyêk, Mskwakiyêk, Winbyégoyêk, Mnomniyêk, Gigaboyêk, minė gé Gété Neshnabék shodë gi byé mawt heshnowêk minė gi dnezwêk. Mégwa shë manék neshnabék dnezwêk shode Zhegagoynak, minė mégwa shna neshnabé bmadzëwêk. Ngëkénmamen Neshnabék ėshtthëgéwat shode Chicago History Museum, mine gé nwi withmiktthéwimdëmen ėwi débwéyathmoyak.
Land acknowledgment translated by Bmejwen / Kyle Malott, Pokagon Band Potawatomi
Reconocimiento de las Tierras
El Chicago History Museum está ubicado en los terrenos ancestrales del pueblo Potawatomi. Ellos habitaban y cuidaban de estos terrenos hasta que fueron expulsados por los pobladores Europeos. Existen varias naciones que han mantenido una historia más larga con esta región por medios del comercio, migración y residencia: los Odawa, Ojibwe, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Miami, Sac y Fox, Kickapoo, Ho-Chunk y Menominee. Hay varios otros pueblos que pertenecen a esta lista, sin embargo, debido al genocidio y el etnocidio como resultado del colonialismo europeo y la expansión de los Estados Unidos, se ha perdido información crucial sobre esta gente Nativa. Actualmente, Chicago es el hogar para una numerosa poblacion indigena que ontinúa la tradición de honrar a esta tierra con sus ríos y celebrar su patrimonio cultural.
El Chicago History Museum reconoce las contribuciones de las comunidades indígenas y está comprometido a seguir colaborando con estas comunidades para compartir su historia compleja e inclusiva.
What are CHM’s commitments?
Over the last two years, CHM has hosted or attended a series of meetings with Indigenous community consultants, artists, researchers, and scholars to help set the museum on a better path for appropriate inclusion of Indigenous history in museum experiences and ongoing collaboration. The Museum realizes and acknowledges that there have been harms of misrepresentation and omission of Indigenous communities within museum exhibitions and programs. Through discussions with community members, the museum understands the need to initiate some key first steps before we begin a more in depth and long-term collaboration with Indigenous communities. Identified first steps include:
As we move through this process, the Museum deeply appreciates and acknowledges the emotional labor and commitment of those who have engaged with us. We commit to an ongoing, reparative approach moving forward.
Access to Culturally Sensitive Indigenous Materials
The Chicago History Museum collects, exhibits, and interprets objects in its collection to benefit present and future generations, while respecting the diversity of human cultures. In this work, CHM emphasizes the inherent value and integrity of Native American cultures, and we are committed to working collaboratively with Native American communities.
Public access to CHM’s collection is essential to our mission. We will strike a balance between safeguarding the collection from harm and encouraging access to it in order to share the rich cultural legacy of Indigenous peoples. However, CHM may restrict public access to culturally sensitive materials if such access offends religious/cultural practices or beliefs of the community to whom the materials belong.
CHM recognizes the obligation to interpret and represent cultural items accurately, sensitively, and respectfully, especially items that are sensitive or sacred. This is especially important when culturally sensitive materials are proposed for exhibition. CHM will have meaningful dialogues with Native peoples to represent their beliefs and viewpoints. We will consult with religious and tribal leaders specifically regarding the care and handling of culturally sensitive materials, as well as the appropriate use of informational discoveries that may result from studies of these objects.
We will strive to promptly respond to inquiries requesting information about these collection materials after consulting with the appropriate Native American tribal authorities and will provide physical access to existing records and documentation.
In addition to this commitment to respecting Native American cultures, communities, and traditions and working with Indigenous communities, CHM also supports the specific objectives of the Duty of Care in accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and is resolved to abide by the framework of its provisions.