Evanston museum marks its Oct. 1 reopening with an immersive children's experience, a journey through five centuries of Native Chicago history and an Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration Oct. 12
CHICAGO and EVANSTON, Ill., Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum, formerly the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, will reopen Thursday, Oct. 1, following renovations. It will debut "The Gifts of Our World," a permanent, hands-on exhibition for children ages 3 to 10, and present "Indigenous Chicago," which traces more than 500 years of Native history in the region and will be on view for three years. The museum will host a free public celebration on Indigenous Peoples' Day, Monday, Oct. 12.
"These exhibitions invite visitors of every age to see Chicago and the Great Lakes through a Native lens and to learn from histories that are still being written," said Kim Vigue (Menominee/Oneida), Executive Director of the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum. "We are grateful to our partners at the Newberry Library and Kohl Children's Museum for making this possible."
The Gifts of Our World
The exhibition is one of three created through "Developing Respectful Citizens in a Diverse Country," a project led by Kohl Children's Museum with the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum and the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago. The project was made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Set within a wraparound mural of a Great Lakes forest that incorporates traditional woodland motifs and designs created by Menominee Nation youth artists, the exhibition features 14 interactive stations, including a weather wall where visitors activate the sun, moon, wind and rain; a puzzle that can only be completed by trading pieces with others; and chalkboard surfaces for writing or drawing what they are thankful for. One station introduces the Seven Grandfather teachings of the Anishinaabe people.
"The open-ended experiences in 'The Gifts of Our World' invite visitors to play, learn, and reflect on the gifts all around us," said Stephanie Bynum, Vice President of Programs at Kohl Children's Museum. "Through the exhibit design process with the Gichigamiin staff, I learned so much and deepened my appreciation and respect for the natural world. The Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum is a very special place."
Indigenous Chicago at Gichigamiin
First shown at the Newberry Library in 2024, "Indigenous Chicago" draws on the Newberry's Ayer Indigenous Studies Collection and new work by Native artists to center Indigenous voices, examine the effects of settler colonialism and imagine Indigenous futures. Commissioned pieces include regalia by Camille "Katahtu'ntha" Billie (Oneida and Diné), a graphic novel by Jim Terry (Ho-Chunk) and teaching blankets by Jason Wesaw (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi).
The exhibition also explores the histories of the Potawatomi, Odawa, Ojibwe, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Myaamia, Wea, Sauk, Meskwaki, Ho-Chunk, Kickapoo and Mascouten peoples, whose homelands include Chicago, and of the urban Native community that calls the city home today.
"The 'Indigenous Chicago' project was created through five years of collaboration among the Newberry Library, Tribal nations, and members of the Chicago Native community," said Astrida Orle Tantillo, President and Librarian, Newberry Library. "We are thrilled to see the life of the project extended at the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum. The installation of the 'Indigenous Chicago' exhibition at Gichigamiin, a Native-led museum, aligns with the project's central goals to center Indigenous voices and stories."
The "Indigenous Chicago" exhibition was developed in partnership among the Newberry Library, advisors from the Chicago Native community, and representatives from Tribal nations with historic connections to Chicago. The Newberry's D'Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies led its development with a 25-member advisory council that also included Indigenous scholars. Free digital maps, walking tours, high school curricula and oral histories are available at www.indigenous-chicago.org.
Chicago's Legacy Hula - The Kaona
Following the reopening, the museum will present "Chicago's Legacy Hula - The Koana, The Hidden Stories and Historical Events of Hawaiians in Chicago," for a limited time. Developed by Aloha Center Chicago and the Field Museum, where it was previously on view, and co-curated by Native Hawaiian community members, the exhibition honors four Kumu Hula, or master teachers, who carried Hula forward as a living tradition in Chicago.
Visit
The museum is located at 3001 Central St. in Evanston. Details about the free Oct. 12 celebration, along with hours and admission, will be posted at www.gichigamiin-museum.org.
About the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum
The Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum in Evanston, Ill., celebrates and shares the cultures of Native communities, especially those from the Great Lakes region. Formerly called the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, it has been an essential resource since 1977. The museum aims to amplify Native voices and improve public understanding and respect for Indigenous knowledge, history, and contemporary contributions. The Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum promotes awareness and appreciation of Indigenous cultures through engaging educational programs, advocacy initiatives, and community involvement.
About the Newberry
The Newberry Library is an independent research library located in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood that has been free and open to the public since 1887. The Newberry curates curiosity for all by inspiring research and learning in the humanities and encouraging conversations about ideas that matter to diverse audiences. Our mission is rooted in a growing and accessible collection of rare and historical materials that spans millennia of human experience. To learn more, visit www.newberry.org.
About Kohl Children's Museum
Kohl Children's Museum offers 17 interactive, hands-on exhibits for children ages birth to 8. Its exhibits and programs are aligned to the Illinois State Learning Standards, follow the principles of universal design, and are designed to nurture a love of learning. Located in Glenview, the museum welcomes approximately 300,000 visitors per year through daily admission, field trips, and special events. Visit www.kohlchildrensmuseum.org for more information.
About Aloha Center Chicago
Established in 2015, Aloha Center Chicago is a multimedia cultural resource center dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Native Hawaiian and South Pacific traditional arts. Its programs include Hula, music, language preservation, genealogy, culinary arts and the study of Native plants. Since 2024, the center has partnered with the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum, sharing the museum's annex at 3009 Central St. in Evanston. Learn more at www.gichigamiin-museum.org/discover-resources/alohacenterchicago/.
Media Contact
Kelli Packer, Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum, 1 3095071418, [email protected], www.gichigamiin-museum.org
SOURCE Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum
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