How to use transit to celebrate Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month
October 31, 2022
October 31, 2022
November is Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate native and Indigenous people and their history and culture. The RTA has curated a list of activities around the region you can access via CTA, Metra, or Pace.
The Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative is hosting a Native American Artisan & Craft Fair to support Great Lakes Native American artists. Stop by and shop pottery, textiles, children’s books, and more. This event is free and open to the public.
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on November 5 and 6
Where: West Lake Forest Train Station, 911 Telegraph Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045
How to get there:
Spend Sunday afternoon watching five short films by Indigenous Filmmakers of the Americas. The First Nations Film and Video Festival showcases works by Native American directors of all skill levels and provides a venue for their works that promote Native American first-voice and self-representation in film and media. Hosted by several venues across Chicago and beyond, the festival has become a major showcase for Native American films that sometimes screen nowhere else.
When: 2-3:45 p.m. on November 6
Where: Edgewater Chicago Public Library, 6000 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660
How to get there:
Kids 5 and younger and their families are invited to join Librarian Daylily and staff from The Field Museum for story time celebrating Native American Heritage Month and honoring the many Indigenous nations that have called and still call Chicago home. Join virtually or in person from Pawnee Earth Lodge, part of the Museum's new permanent exhibit, Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories. Admission to the Field Museum is free to Illinois residents on this date.
When: 10-10:45 a.m. on November 9
Where: The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
How to get there:
The Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative invites you to come out to the 26th Annual Harvest Pow Wow, where you can enjoy crafts, food, music, and Native American dancing and drumming. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors 62 and older, $7 for children 3-12, and free for children younger than 3. Purchase tickets online for a discounted price or call 773-585-8613.
When: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on November 12 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on November 13
Where: DuPage County Fair Grounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton, IL 60187
How to get there:
Visit Beverly Library on the South Side of Chicago to enjoy the musical storytelling of Mama Edie, an African Native American who will guide you through the Indigenous history of her ancestry. Enjoy multicultural instruments and dolls and be ready to become part of the story yourself. The event is free, but registration is encouraged.
When: 11 a.m.-noon on November 18
Where: Beverly Chicago Public Library, 1962 W. 95th St., Chicago, IL 60643
How to get there:
Children ages 3-13 are invited to make their own pottery, but all ages are welcome to learn about Native American pottery making at this northwest side library event.
When: 4-5 p.m. on November 22
Where: Roden Chicago Public Library, 6083 N. Northwest Highway, Chicago, IL 60631
How to get there:
Even if you don’t swing by The Field Museum for any events celebrating the month, you can visit the museum’s permanent exhibit Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories any time. You’ll experience stories told by Native people—through words, music, dance, and art—of self-determination, resilience, continuity, and the future.
Where: The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
How to get there:
The American Indian Center Gallery provides a vehicle for artistic expression by cultivating and exhibiting historical and contemporary Native histories in Chicago. Visit all month long and beyond to learn about and celebrate Indigenous culture.
Where: 3401 W. Ainslie St., Chicago, IL 60625
How to get there:
This Evanston museum is one of only a handful across the country that focus exclusively on the art, history, and culture of Native American and First Nation peoples from throughout the United States and Canada. It promotes public understanding of cultural diversity through first voice perspectives, meaning the perspectives of Indigenous people themselves.
Where: 3001 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201
How to get there:
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