Native Americans

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69th Annual Chicago Powwow: October 7 to 9

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69th Annual Chicago Powwow: October 7 to 9

The American Indian Center in Chicago was established in 1953 as the first urban Indian Center in the country to help Native families cope with the transition from reservation to urban life. In partnership the Forest Preserves of Cook County, the AIC will celebrate Native American culture with its 69th annual Powwow.

The Powwow includes native food, dance competitions, art vendors, and more. It will take place rain or shine in Schiller Woods-East, W. Irving Park Rd, west of N. Cumberland Ave, Chicago (view web map) during these hours: Friday, Oct. 7, 5-8:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. All are welcome!

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Filmmaker Q&A with Sanjay Rawal of 'Gather: The Fight to Revitalize Our Native Foodways'

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Filmmaker Q&A with Sanjay Rawal of 'Gather: The Fight to Revitalize Our Native Foodways'

Q: What is the focus of your film?

A: The film looks at colonization and the destruction of food systems, and at those attempting to revive them. It focuses on areas that were colonized post-1870s, west of the Mississippi—places where I could find the essential imagery, the photographic evidence, I needed to tell these stories. The challenge was to hone a very large subject scope into something based in image. Structure is essential in film, as are length considerations, as is, of course, finding the best stories to tell.

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This Land Was Their Land: Forest Preserves Honor Native Americans

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This Land Was Their Land: Forest Preserves Honor Native Americans

Begin with this: Today, nearly 65,000 Native Americans, representing more than 100 tribal nations, live in Chicagoland—making this one of the largest urban Native American populations in the country.

Move on to this: I have lived in Chicagoland for over 30 years, and I only recently learned what I’ve just told you. For this new awareness, I credit the Forest Preserve Foundation’s October symposium, called “Racial Equity and Access to Nature.”