CHICAGO — Monday is Indigenous Peoples Day, and with Chicago’s deep Indigenous roots, it’s the perfect place to take in cultural celebrations and educational opportunities to honor Native ancestors.
From the Field Museum to the Riverwalk, here are seven ways to participate in this important holiday.
Comunidad Kichwa Runa Dance And Music Celebration
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday
Field Museum, 1400 S. DuSable Lakeshore Drive
Spend the late morning learning about the culture of the Indigenous Kitchwa people Comunidad Kichwa Runa. The group will showcase traditional Kitchwa dress, dance and music, as well as children’s activities. The event is free, as is admission to the Field Museum that day.
Danza Azteca – Nahui Ollin Huehuecoyotl Prayer Dance Performance
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday
Field Museum, 1400 S. DuSable Lakeshore Drive
Stay for the next performance, which features the Danza Azteca – Nahui Ollin Huehuecoyotl, an ancient prayer dance.
Discussion On The Language Of Settler Colonialism With Dr. Edward Anthony Polanco
7-8:30 p.m. Monday
Northeastern Illinois University, Pedroso Center B-159
Building “B” at Catalpa and St. Louis avenues in North Park
Join Dr. Edward Anthony Polanco, a former long-term fellow at Newberry Library, for a discussion on settler colonialism in Latin America. Polcano is of Kuskatan heritage and a scholar of Mesoamerica.
The 5th Annual Indigenous Peoples Day Chicago Art And Music Festival
5-10 p.m. Sunday-Monday
Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave.
Head to Chop Shop for the 5th annual Indigenous Peoples Day Art and Music Festival. Activities include musical and cultural performances, craft demonstrations and interactive workshops. The event is free, but reserving tickets online is recommended.
Indigenous Peoples Day Music Series
3-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Friday, 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Saturday, 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Sunday, 2-4 p.m. Monday
The Northman Beer & Cider Garden, 233 E. Riverwalk
Enjoy a free live music series along the river celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day. See performances by Denise La Grassa, Alpine Thunder, The Rolling Clones and more.
Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration And Conversation
5:30-7:30 Thursday
DePaul Art Museum, 935 W. Fullerton Ave.
Stop by the DePaul Art Museum for an insightful conversation about land acknowledgments and displacement led by artists Le’Ana Asher and Chris Pappan and students Angelina Alvarez and Salise Sepulveda from the DePaul Native American & Indigenous Student Association. The event is free, but spots can be reserved online.
Learn And Research For Free With Special Collections And Exhibits
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday
Field Museum, 1400 S. DuSable Lakeshore Drive
Monday is a free day at the museum, making it the perfect opportunity to check out the “Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories” exhibit. The collection was a collaboration between Indigenous communities across the United States.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St.
Visit the Newberry Library to peruse the Edward E. Ayer collection in the library’s D’Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies, which features one of the world’s largest collections of books and documents on Indigenous history. The library also holds numerous other books, maps and resources that tell the stories of Native people.
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