Indigenous Resources

Native American & Indigenous Booklists

Books for Children
Books for Teens
Fiction Books for Adults
Memoirs for Adults
Search for other resources at Evanston Public Library on Native Americans and Indigenous peoples

Online Resources and Local Places to Visit

An Indigenous History of the Upper Great Lakes Region

Session 1 | Session 2

This mini-course, taught by Prof. Patty Loew, Director of Northwestern’s Center for Native American & Indigenous Research, focuses on the history of our region from the perspective of First Peoples.

Project READY Module 6: Indigeneity & Colonialism

A good primer on both the history and the present lives of indigenous peoples in the United States.

Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum

Formerly known as the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Evanston’s own Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum concentrates on celebrating the rich histories and cultures of the Native communities within Chicago and the Tribal Nations of the Great Lakes region (/Gi-che-gammeen/ – means Great Lakes). It promotes public understanding of cultural diversity through first voice perspectives.

Northwestern University’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR)

Links to programming, resources and scholarship on Native American and Indigenous issues.

American Indian Center of Chicago (AIC)

The mission of the American Indian Center of Chicago (AIC) is to promote fellowship among Indian people of all Tribes living in metropolitan Chicago and to create bonds of understanding and communication between Indians and non-Indians in this city; to advance the general welfare of American Indians into the metropolitan community life; to foster the economic advancement of Indian people; to sustain cultural, artistic, and avocational pursuits; and to perpetuate Indian cultural values.

WTTW: Chicago’s Native American Community

A series of articles and videos about the Chicago area’s Native American communities.

Indigenous Tour of Northwestern

A tour that can be completed online or while walking the Northwestern campus, which makes indigenous connections to campus visible through writing, photos, video, maps, and links to additional online resources.

First Nations Garden (Albany Park) – Cross Streets: Wilson Avenue and Pulaski Road

First Nations Garden (Wiinso, Wiikonge Otishinikaaso) was established in the Spring of 2019 due to community organizing led by Chi-Nations Youth Council with support from Alderman Carlos Rosa of the 35th Ward. Currently, Chi-Nations is working closely with Neighborspace to ensure a more sustainable future for the garden.

The Northwest Portage Walking Museum (NWPWM)

A project that aims to shed light on the natural environment and cultural history of Chicago, a city that is home to the third-largest urban Native American population in the United States.

The Field Museum: Native Truths exhibition

The Field Museum invites you to connect with diverse Native stories and the individuals who share them. Dive deeply into current issues, like threats to Native land and the rights of tribal nations to govern themselves. Celebrate the thriving, modern cultures of today’s Native communities.