12 Days of West Chicago Artifacts: Indigenous Peoples
12 Days of West Chicago Artifacts
As part of our 12 Days of WeGo History series, we’re celebrating the stories behind some of the most meaningful pieces in our collection. With nearly 40,000 artifacts to choose from, we couldn’t possibly pick just 12, so each day we are sharing a themed group that helps tell the story of West Chicago.
This year’s series is also in conjunction with our preparation for the 250th anniversary of the United States by highlighting local history in a national context.
Long before West Chicago existed, this land was home to many Indigenous Nations whose histories span thousands of years. As we reflect on the 250th anniversary of the United States, it’s essential to recognize that America’s story begins long before 1776, with the original stewards of this land. West Chicago sits on the ancestral homelands of the Kickapoo, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Potawatomi, Myaamia, Ho-Chunk/Winnebago, and Ogala Sioux peoples.
Today’s featured artifacts represents just a small part of the long and ongoing history of Indigenous peoples in this area. Native people have shaped and cared for this region for millennia, and many still call it home. In fact, Chicago is home to one of the largest urban Indigenous populations in the U.S.
Projectile points from the Manville Farm, now known as Kress Creek Farms Park, on Joliet Street south of Roosevelt Road
To learn more about the history and contributions of Native communities, we invite you to explore the Newberry Library’s rich digital collections: newberry.org/collection.
