Native American Heritage Month, celebrated each year in November, is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and affiliated Island communities and ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation.
Native American Heritage Month
Want to learn more about Native history in and around Arlington Heights? Check out the growing Local Indigenous History Collection in the library's Shackley Room. The purpose of this collection is to provide representative research for Native peoples researching their ancestry and both modern and historical perspectives on Indigenous heritage to the whole community.
Throughout November the library is partnering with Trickster Cultural Center, a registered nonprofit 501c3 Native American and community arts center that also serves Native American Veterans and their needs. Trickster Cultural Center was established on March 5, 2005 to create a unique contemporary view of Native arts, cultural education and awareness. Today it is the first Native American owned and operated arts institution in the state of Illinois.
For more information about historical and contemporary Native American Heritage, the library recommends the following institutions and resources in Illinois, online and throughout the U.S.
The Chicago metropolitan area is the traditional homelands of the Winnebago, Ho’Chunk, Jiwere (Otoe), Nutachi (Missouria), and Baxoje (Iowas); Kiash Matchitiwuk (Menominee); Meshkwahkîha (Meskwaki); Asâkîwaki (Sauk); Myaamiaki (Miami), Waayaahtanwaki (Wea), and Peeyankihšiaki (Piankashaw); Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo); Inoka (Illini Confederacy); Anishinaabeg (Ojibwe), Odawak (Odawa) and Bodéwadmik (Potawatomi).