Chicago Politics

Native American Heritage Month Celebration 11.14.24

Description

Mayor Johnson, city officials and community leaders take part in a Native American Heritage Month Celebration at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Transcript

2:27 You may be seated. This is the Blackhawk Performance Company, the oldest dance company in Chicago. And we just want to thank you all for inviting us here this evening. We're from many different nations, many different ages. We have a lot of elders with us. We're really fortunate to have that. We have children from our Chicago public schools. So we're going to just do a couple dances for you. They only gave us 10 minutes, so we're going to try to move pretty quick here. We're going to do an exhibition.

2:59 I probably forgot to say my name. My name is Dr. Doreen Weesey, and I'm from White Earth, Minnesota. Dr. Doreen Weesey. My Indian name is White Wing Woman. So now we're going to do two exhibitions. The first one will be of the men dancing, and then we'll do the women. Two songs for you. They're so exciting, aren't they?

4:46 Let's give them a round of applause for the men dancers. All right, now we're going to give an exhibition of the women dancers. Today we have fancy shawl, we have jingle, we have women's traditional. yeah, we have women's buckskin. We have a lot of different styles here represented today. So with that, I'm going to give it over to Sergio, who's our singer today, Sergio Ceron, and he's going to give you a women's dance.

5:16 Great job. Thank you so much.

6:42 Let's give it up for the Blackhawk Performance Company and Sergio Ceron. Thank you, thank you. Can you hear me? Hello. My name is Cindy Foxtar. I'm a lifelong member of our Native community of Chicago.

7:21 I'm an enrolled member of the Omaha tribe of Nebraska, and I'm also Odawa Potawatomi from northern Ontario. I'm a first-generation born Native American. Both my parents were both born on the reservations and went to boarding and residential schools and then relocated to the Chicago area back in the 1950s. I currently work at American Indian Health Service of Chicago,

7:52 and I am the cultural coordinator for our cultural programming over there. American Indian Health is one of many Native organizations to provide services, especially for the Native American community. Just take a moment and imagine that the land that we're standing on today, at this very moment, all throughout the country was Native land,

8:23 Indigenous land, Native American land. Imagine the sight of birch bark lodges, fires burning, and the smell of food, cooking, and preparing medicines. Canoes being the main source of transportation with all of our precious lakes and rivers on the shore of Lake Michigan. The area known as Chicago has always been one of this country's treasures.

8:56 the islands, the lakes, and all of the waterways and wildlife running free. Creator chose a prime location for the Potawatomi, Zodawas, Ojibwe, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Miami, Weah, Sauk, Meskwaki, the Fox people, and the Ho-Chunk Nation as well as many other tribes during their travels. I thank Mayor Johnson for holding this event, and also to our donors, Amazon, Ferreira Candy, Globetrotters, Engineering, McDonald's, Millennium Foundation, People's Gas, and Allstate, and Walgreens, for acknowledging modern-day Native America.

9:49 We are still here, not just in November, but all year round. I want to thank... I want to thank Miigwech to our caterers, Katapadan Kitchen, and the Black Hawk Dance Performance Company for preserving and celebrating our traditions. We acknowledge our ancestors that were here before us, the generation here today and future generations to come.

10:22 We realize the value and importance of what the Creator has given to us. We need to take a step back and realize how blessed we are to have clean water and everything our Mother Earth gives us. We need to realize being rich is not in material goods, but in having good clean water, good food sources, affordable housing, and just plain enjoying each and every day that the Creator gave us.

10:54 We need to protect our Mother Earth. Reflecting on each day, we lived a good day. Be thankful and miigwech for this opportunity. And now I'd like to introduce Ms. Marnie Smiley. She is the facilitator of Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative, CAKE.

11:33 Hello, everyone. Woo, much better. I'll just lean into this. I am Marnie Smiley. I am from the Otoe, Missouri tribe, and as our good friend Cindy here said, the facilitator for CAKE, which is one of the largest voices for the Chicago Native community. It is an absolute honor to stand here today among so many passionate and dedicated community members as we gather to celebrate the Native American Heritage Month. This month is a time to honor the culture, contributions, and history of Native American

12:07 communities and to reflect on the journey and work that has us all in this room today. We have faced a lot of challenges, but we have been very resilient. Today, we are privileged to have a leader among us who has shown support and has taken strides towards recognizing and uplifting the Native community in Chicago. So it will be my honor to introduce the mayor of our fine city, Mr. Johnson. Mr. Mayor, we thank you. We thank you.

12:37 I'll let you finish your delicious food, so you have another minute. We thank you for being up here with us and acknowledging the significance of this month and the vibrant presence of the Native American community within our city. Your support today is an important gesture, and it speaks to your willingness to engage and celebrate the diverse cultures that make Chicago one of the best cities in this planet. However, there are essential things to recognize that while we appreciate all this fantastic involvement,

13:09 there is always going to be work to be done. And to truly bridge those gaps that exist between City Hall and this fine community, we've got things to pay attention to. For instance, the resolution for Indigenous Peoples Day, or what's happening with the restoration of the Chicago Public Schools American Indian Education Program. The truth is, for too long, the voices of Native people have been marginalized or pushed to the sidelines,

13:40 and it's our responsibility as leaders, both our Native leaders and of our community leaders, this is a two-way street for everyone. We are here to work in partnership and in solidarity, and to ensure that all this narrative continues to change. We stand at a pivotal moment when symbolic pedestrians must continue to evolve into concrete, actionable changes. Chicago has the potential to lead by example, setting a new standard for how a major city supports and collaborates with its Native community, and between partnerships, cultivated voices, and making sure we're continuing to be at the table for any kind of budget talks that are happening within the city.

14:21 We look forward to seeing more inclusive policies and greater representation that reflects the rich heritage of the Native people who have called this land home for centuries. As we celebrate tonight, let us all hold ourselves, ourselves, our native selves, and our leaders accountable for making sure that it isn't just one month of recognition, but the start of sustainable action, listening, and collaboration. So, with that in mind, please join me in welcoming a leader who will help continue this important work and partner with us in building a future that fully honors.

15:00 the past and invest in the present and the future of the Native community. Welcome, Mr. May. Thank you, Marnie, for that introduction. You all, give it up for Marnie Smiley. She brings so much energy, you know, to the work of Chicago. It is so great for us to come together to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. This is such a critical moment in our world's history,

15:31 as we do know that there are threats to our existence in so many ways. But one of the things that I do appreciate is the resiliency and the love and the full expression of what I believe love has to imbide is how we take care of one another and how we use our natural resources to take care of one another. And there's no better example of how we express that in its fullness than through the culture of Native Americans.

16:05 Can we just celebrate our Native American siblings just one more time with a nice round of applause? I do want to recognize a few people that are here today. Again, Marnie Smiley from the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative. Cindy Starr from the American Indian Health Service of Chicago. the Native American Engagement Council, of course, all of the performers who are here tonight.

16:37 Weren't those performances just absolutely exhilarating and lovely? So we have a few Alders who are following me around. Now, if they follow me to my home, I'm going to have to, you know, send some people after them. But we have Alders Byron Sigcho Lopez of the 25th Ward is here. Alderman Conway from the 34th Ward is here.

17:09 Did I miss anyone? I think those are all the alders. What's going on, Glenn? Choose Chicago. Y'all give it up for Glenn from Choose Chicago. Glenn is already ready to celebrate. You can tell he's ready for the weekend. I don't know if all those buttons are buttoned up all the way on his shirt. So Glenn is ready to party as we celebrate Native American Heritage Month. But we have so many city leaders that are here with us here today. See our deputy mayor for immigrant, migrant, and refugee rights.

17:40 Deputy Mayor Ponce de Leon. Could you just wave so people can see? So thank you all. I think we have everyone. Oh, no, we have our board chair interim director. Yes, for CHA. Could you please stand and give a nice wave? Okay. I see we have some people from our Chicago Fire Department leadership is here today, too.

18:11 So, look, thank you all for being here. Can you give them a nice round of applause? So Chicago is the traditional homelands of the Ananisha Bay, or Council of the Three Fires, and many other nations. Our roots as a welcoming city go back to centuries ago, when, of course, our beloved Potawatomi sister, Kiti Wahawa, and welcomed John Baptiste Point de Sable with open arms. That tremendous love story is a story that we get to tell for generations to come.

18:44 and for our name, even Chicago, comes from the Algonquin Nation. Chicago is the city that it is today because of our great diversity and the mixture of culture, traditions, and heritage. It is in this spirit that D-CASE has established a cultural healing grant program which uplifts organizations that celebrate and elevate cultural heritage. This month, I am so proud that with the support and the help of so many people that we are going to recognize the Cultural Heritage Grant to the American Indian Center.

19:21 Since its founding in 1953, the American Indian Center has worked to advocate for and support Natives in our city while also helping them connect with their culture and, of course, their history. So please join me in recognizing the American Indian Center.

20:21 You know, the way we celebrate culture in this city really requires intentionality and great leadership. And since this woman has taken over D-Case, we have seen an incredible expansion of so many opportunities for people. Could you all please help me celebrate our Commissioner of D-Case, Clint A. Hedspeth? And because of our commitment to culture and heritage, my administration is also focused on equity and justice.

21:01 And our chief equity officer, director, is also here. Everybody has so many titles. I'm not sure if she's the deputy officer or director, but she's in charge of making sure that we show up for people who have been marginalized for generations, and that's Carla Kupte. Carla, could you just wave? All right. I think we have expressed, you know, a Chicago home to the third largest urban Native community in the country and the largest in the Midwest with a Native American community representing over 150 tribes.

21:35 These vibrant communities have added to the cultural diversity and vibrancy of our city in the realms of art and music and business and finance, education, social services, science and medicine. These contributions can be seen and felt all over our city. We see these contributions throughout our city with the opening of the First Nations Garden in Albany Park and the O'Hare Airport video installation that showcases Native American grass dance

22:06 and Chicago footwork for those who are passing through our city. We see them through public art displays and galleries such as the Native Art Gallery in the South Loop, Chicago's only Native artist-led fine arts gallery. And we see them through historic Native American trails that are now Chicago streets such as Archer, Clark, Lincoln, Milwaukee, Ridge, Vincennes, just to name a few.

22:39 As we also celebrate Veterans Day this month, we must also honor and celebrate the Native Americans who have bravely served in the U.S. military. During World War I and World War II, Native cold talkers used their language to transmit secure messages that confused the enemy, saving countless lives and helping us secure victory. Today, Native Americans serve in the military at higher rates than any other demographic in the country,

23:14 and to this day, 32 Native American soldiers have earned the Medal of Honor for their courage and service in our country. And that is why, thank you, that's right, that is why it is so important that we come together to remember and honor our Native American roots and celebrate the contributions of Native peoples. And we have to do this for generations to come. We are the city that honors and celebrates our diverse communities, and we are always working to ensure that each and every community is seen, heard, valued, and included.

23:54 To show this commitment, in 2021, Chicago adopted a formal land acknowledgment resolution to ensure that the legacy and history of the Native peoples in Chicago is always remembered. So as we celebrate this November, let us learn from one another. Let's celebrate our shared heritage and embrace the cultural richness that defines what I call the soul of Chicago. The Native people that come before us and the Native people who continue to enrich our city today have truly made Chicago what it is today.

24:27 And that is why I'm so honored to have this opportunity, that we have this opportunity together to provide full recognition of Native American Heritage Month. And to continue this recognition, I'm proud to present again this proclamation proclaiming November as Native American Heritage Month.

25:11 Thank you all again. Let's continue to celebrate. God bless you all. God bless the greatest city in the world, the city of Chicago. Okay, folks. Thank you very much for all of the work here and for everyone in this room.

25:43 So we are going to thank the mayor for all of your words and for this fantastic proclamation, and we're looking forward to just our continued effort here. We're going to take one last photo, and we're going to have everyone who would like to be in that photo. I think that's just off to the left here. Is that the plan? That's a question. Okay, great. So with that being said, I'm going to just wrap this up for everyone here,

26:13 and thank you so much to our community, both Native community and the city community. It's good that we can have everyone in this room, and we're very appreciative to continue this working together with everyone. Have a good night.

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