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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNITION OF THE NAME CHANGE OF THE MITCHELL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN TO GICHIGAMIIN INDIGENOUS NATIONS MUSEUM
WHEREAS, The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian announced its rebranding as the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum, marking a transformative milestone in its 47-year history; and
WHEREAS, the name "Gichigamiin," meaning "Great Lakes" in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe), a central Algonquin language spoken by the Anishinaabe people, was thoughtfully selected in collaboration with local Indigenous communities. Pronounced /GI-CHE-GAH-MEAN/, the name authentically represents the region and the cultures the museum celebrates; and
WHEREAS, the land that the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum occupies today is the unceded, ancestral homelands of the Council of Three Fires: the Anishinaabeg (Ojibwe), Odawak (Odawa), and Bodéwadmik (Potawatomi) Nations; and
WHEREAS, with over four decades of dedication showcasing the Indigenous histories of the U.S. and Canada, the museum had long been a respected institution. However, as times evolved, so did the need for its identity to reflect deeper, more focused values; and
WHEREAS, Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum’s new identity reflects the museum’s evolution into a majority Native-led institution dedicated to honoring the rich histories, cultures, and languages of Indigenous communities across Chicago and the Tribal Nations of the Great Lakes region; and
WHEREAS, Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum will be home the stories and traditions of Chicago's diverse Native community and the Indigenous Nations of the Great Lakes serving as a unique venue and vital resource for education, appreciation, and connection, inviting all to experience the depth and richness of the people who have occupied this land since time immemorial; and
WHEREAS, to further its mission of amplifying Native voices and narratives, the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum will launch two exciting programs:“Living Stories: Contemporary Woodland Native American Art,” a new exhibition opening January 27, 2025 and The Indigenous Gardening and Foodways Initiative, featuring an expanded native garden, a teaching kitchen, and a related exhibit launching in spring 2025; and
WHEREAS, by embracing an Indigenous name, the museum honors the remarkable resilience of the generations before us who courageously faced assimilation efforts aimed at silencing their voices and traditions. The Museum’s rebranding marks a significant step toward healing and celebrating the Indigenous histories of the Great Lakes region and the vibrant cultures that continue to thrive today; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of Cook County that the Board does hereby formally recognize the renaming of Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum’s and then significance of this essential step in reclaiming and revitalizing Indigenous languages and cultures; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body, and a suitable copy of the same be tendered to the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum.
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