Full Year Calendar
Use these links to easily navigate through the calendar below.
| Fall Quarter | Winter Quarter | Spring Quarter | ||||||
| September | October | November | January | February | March | April | May | June |
Fall Quarter
Indigenous Chicago
September 12 to January 4 | Newberry – Trienens Galleries, 60 W Walton St, Chicago, IL 60610
Description: Chicago has long been a historic crossroads for many Indigenous people and remains home to an extensive urban Native community. Yet most Chicagoans are unaware of the city’s history as a home to diverse Indigenous peoples and the vibrant Indigenous communities present today. this exhibition reflects the dynamic and complex aspects of Native life in Chicago from the seventeenth century to the present. View the calendar for this exhibition .
Sponsored by: The Newberry Library
No Rest: The Epidemic of Stolen Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2Spirits
September to December 2024 | Mitchell Museum, 3001 Central Street, Evanston, IL, 60208
Due to overwhelming public interest, the Mitchell Museum is pleased to extend our No Rest: The Epidemic of Stolen Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2Spirits exhibit through 2024. Visitors now have additional time and opportunities to learn more about the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two spirits (MMIWG2S) through this powerful exhibit featuring 35 original works from 12 Indigenous artists.
Sponsored by: Mitchell Museum
Ojibwe Language Circle
September 25, 6:00pm CT | CNAIR House, 515 Clark St, Evanston, IL, 60208
Come hang out and practice Ojibwe in a casual, friendly environment. Food is served. Open to all ages and skill levels. Contact ForrestBruce2024@u.northwestern.edu if you have any questions.
Sponsored by: Indigenous Graduate Student Collective (IGSC), Office of Institutional Diversity & Inclusion (OIDI), Center for Native American & Indigenous Research (CNAIR), One Book One ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ (OBON), Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA), Linguistics Department=
Native American Dance and Regalia
September 28,1:00pm CT | Newberry – Ruggles Hall,60 W Walton St, Chicago, IL 60610
Join us for performances by the Black Hawk Performance Company, introduced by Dorene Wiese, interspersed with a presentation by photographer Sharon Hoogstraten about regalia used by Potawatomi tribes across the nation. Register for this event .
Sponsored by: The Newberry Library
Native American & Indigenous Strategic Plan Kick-Off
October 2, 5:30pm CT | Segal Visitors Center, 1841 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL 60208
This Kick-Off Event will be an excellent opportunity to learn more about the Native American and Indigenous Strategic Plan and how you can be a part of the Jiimaan Journey. Interactive Activities, Giveaways, and Food.
Sponsored by: Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion
Tipi Tales From The Stoop
October 4, 7:30pm CT | Abbott Hall, 710 N. Lakeshore Drive Chicago, IL
Written and performed by Murielle Borst-Tarrant, Directed by Steven Sapp and Mildred Ruiz-Sapp Wirtz Center Chicago. Purchase tickets here:
New York City has always been a gathering and trading place for many Indigenous peoples, where Native Nations intersected from all four directions since time immemorial. It was a place to gather and sometimes to seek refuge during times of conflict and struggle. Borst-Tarrant’s family first came to New York City from Virginia in the late 1800s, bought a house in Brooklyn, and raised four generations. This story is about how they as a family had to keep tradition alive. The survival of genocide, relocation, the boarding school system and the outlaw by the United States Government that they could not practice their cultural traditions. The story is about her family’s triumph of will, dysfunction, and historical trauma through laughter. Her personal tapestry of stories being brought up in Brooklyn in a Mafia run neighborhood when they were the only Natives on the block. And this is just one Tipi Tale of the city. This program is made possible in part through funding from the Astere E. Claeyssens Artist-in-Residence program.
Sponsored by: Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, School of Communication, the Department of Theatre and Dance
Mapping Indigenous Chicago
October 10, 6:00pm CT | Virtual on Zoom
Chicago has long been a historic crossroads for many Indigenous people and remains home to an extensive urban Native community. Yet most Chicagoans are unaware of the city’s history as home to diverse Indigenous peoples and the vibrant Indigenous communities present today. This exhibition reflects the dynamic and complex aspects of Native life in Chicago from the seventeenth century to the present. Free and open to all. Register for this event .
Sponsored by: The Newberry Library
Utilizing The Night Watchman Teaching Guide
October 10, 12:00pm CT | Virtual on Zoom
Register here:
Support your students as they process and make meaning of The Night Watchman, the 2024–25 One Book One ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ selection, by delving into this new ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Teaching Guide! Teaching Guide authors from the Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching and the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion will highlight important themes of the novel and suggest instructional designs, teaching activities, and authentic assessments that can help bring the content to life. Topics will include Indigenous pedagogy, trauma-informed pedagogy, engaged learning, decolonization, language, storytelling, and citizenship.
Sponsored by: Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching and The Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion
ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Night at the Art Institute
October 10, 2:00pm to 8:00pm CT | Art Institute, 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603
All ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ faculty, staff, and student Wildcardholders AND their guests enjoy free admission to the museum. No RSVP needed to attend. Visit the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ welcome desk in Michigan Ave entrance upon arrival for your museum ticket and information about tours.
From 5:30-6:30 PM, there will be an exclusive small group tour centering on themes related to The Night Watchman. Join multidisciplinary artist and lecturer Dulce Diaz for this tour inspired by themes in this year's ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ One Book selection, The Night Watchman. In the past, they are first-come-first-serve or there is a sign-up at the museum desk. No advance reservations to be on the tour available/allowed. For more info, including details about free Ventra passes, .
Sponsored by: Student Organizations & Activities
Indigenous Peoples' Day — Free Admission to the Mitchell Museum
October 14, 10:00am to 5:00pm CT | 3001 Central St., Evanston, IL, 60201
Indigenous Peoples’ Day honors the culture and history of Native people past, present, and future. Join us at the Mitchell Museum to celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of Indigenous cultures with FREE admission to the museum all day. Bring your friends and your family to enrich your understanding of Indigenous histories and cultures and enjoy guided craft activities. The full schedule of events is coming soon! More information .
Sponsored by: Mitchell Museum
Indigenous Peoples’ Day Powwow
October 14, 4:00pm to 8:00pm CT | ETHS Fieldhouse. 1600 Dodge Ave. Evanston, IL, 60208
Join us on October 14th, for the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian’s first-ever community powwow in partnership with Evanston Township High School. The Indigenous Peoples Day Powwow is free and is open to the public. This historic community event celebrates our forthcoming rebranding and honors the achievements of Illinois’s Native community, including the state-wide inclusion of Indigenous histories in public schools and the establishment of the state’s first Indian Reservation for the Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation.
Sponsored by: Mitchell Museum, ETHS
Author Louise Erdrich, in conversation with faculty Co-Chairs Bryan Brayboy and Megan Bang
October 15, 5:00pm CT | Pick Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle, Evanston, IL, 60208
Register here:
Please join us for the One Book keynote with author Louise Erdrich, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for her novel The Night Watchman. One Book faculty Co-Chairs Dean Bryan Brayboy and Professor Megan Bang will join her in conversation. Books will be available for purchase following the keynote conversation. This event is free and open to the public.
Sponsored by: One Book One ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, Office of the Provost, The Block Museum, Center For Native American And Indigenous Research, ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ University Native American and Indigenous Student Alliance, School of Education and Social Policy
One Book Keynote with Louise Erdrich Watch Party
October 15, 5:00pm CT | Thorne Auditorium, ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Pritzker School of Law, 375 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL
Register here:
Join the Chicago Campus for a live stream watch party of the One Book keynote from Evanston. At the event we will provide information and sign-up for OBON book discussion group. Free and open. Must register. Light refreshments will be provided after the viewing.
Sponsored by: Native American Law Students Association, Staff Equity Alliance, The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The Night Watchman: One Book One ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Collection Talk
October 17,12:30pm CT | Virtual on Zoom
RSVP for this event here:
Join Block Museum Academic Curator, Corinne Granof, for a talk considering an artwork from the Block’s collection that reflects on the complexities of oppression, tradition, solidarity, and community, themes central to The Night Watchman.
Sponsored by: Block Museum of Art
Indigenous Artists and the Archives
October 20,6:00pm CT | Hybrid, Zoom and the Newberry Library, 60 W Walton St, Chicago, IL 60610
This program will be held in-person at the Newberry Library and livestreamed on Zoom. The online version of this event will be live captioned. Please register at this link here.
Join Indigenous artists whose works are featured in our “Indigenous Chicago” exhibition as they discuss how their research in the Newberry archives informed their art.
Sponsored by: The Newberry Library
Cara Romero in Conversation: Students Shape the Collection
November 13, 6:00pm CT | Block Museum of Art – Auditorium, 40 Arts Cir Dr, Evanston, IL 60208
Register for this event . Join us in celebrating the Block Museum Student Associates’ acquisition of artist Cara Romero’s photographs, "TV Indians" (2017) and "Amber Morningstar" (2020), both currently on view at the museum! Romero’s nuanced works explore themes of identity and tradition and poke fun at the many ways Indigenous communities have been misrepresented and stereotyped in American culture.
Sponsored by: Block Museum of Art
47th Annual Benefit - Michell Museum
November 16, 6:00pm – 9:00pm CT | Palmhouse, 619 Howard Street, Evanston, IL, 60208
You're Invited to the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian 47th Annual Benefit Time: VIP Reception and Book Signing-5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Gala-6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Guest of Honor: Sean Sherman (Oglala Lakota), award-winning chef, educator, author, and activist. Chef Sean Sherman Founder/Senior Director of Vision. Purchase tickets .
OBON Book Discussion for The Alumnae Board Members
November 18, 10:00am CT | Lake Room of Norris Center, 1999 Campus Dr, Evanston, IL 60208
Book Discussion for Board Members led by board member Elise Barack, a professional book leader.
Sponsor: The Alumnae of ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ University Board
Indigenous People and the Chicago Portage
November 21, 6:00pm CT | Hybrid, Zoom and the Newberry Library, 60 W Walton St, Chicago, IL 60610
This program will be held in-person at Ruggles Hall in the Newberry Library and livestreamed on Zoom. The online version of this event will be live captioned. Please register at this link .
In this edition of “Conversations at the Newberry,” historian John William Nelson discusses researching issues of land use and landscape change, focusing on the Indigenous history of Chicago waterways, with Tribal Historic Preservation Officers Eric Hemenway and Raphael Wahwassuck.
Sponsor: The Newberry Library