Land Acknowledgement

The Helen Plum Library acknowledges that many indigenous groups once lived on the land where the Library now resides. The Library invites all to learn their histories, cultures, and peoples. 

The Helen Plum Library acknowledges that many indigenous groups once lived on the land where the Library now resides. The Library invites all to learn their histories, cultures, and peoples. 

“History is not about time—it’s about place.”^[1] The Helen Plum Library stands on land that was called by different names. The name the Myaamia give the area where Chicago now stands is Šikaakonki, the Chicago River is called Šikaakwa Siipiiwi, and Lake Michigan is referred to as Kihcikami.^[2] In Anishinaabemowin, the area is called Gaa-zhigaagwanzhikaag or just Zhigaagong, Ininwewi-gichigami is the name for Lake Michigan, and the name for the DuPage River is Zaagiinying-ziibi or River at the Lesser Outlet.^[3] The Hoocąk call Chicago Gųųšge Honąk (Skunk Trail) and Lake Michigan Teešišik (Bad Lake).^[4] These names for Chicago refer to the smell of wild leeks the area once had. These are just a few names within the many languages of the indigenous groups that once lived on this land where the Library now stands. 

Archaeologists have found indigenous artifacts in DuPage County that date up to 12,000 years ago.^[5] The first European to come to what is now DuPage County was the missionary Jacques Marquette in 1673.^[6] This began a period of contact in the area between the French and indigenous tribes including the Peoria, the Kaskaskia, and others.^[7] Later, the DuPage area would be occupied by British forces and new indigenous groups moving into the area which included the Bodwéwadmi, Kiikapoi, and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ.^[8] The War of 1812 brought the end of British occupation in Illinois^[9] and began a new era of aggressive western expansion by the United States. This also brought forth a period of broken treaties on the part of the U.S. when dealing with indigenous tribes. With native lands being stolen in Illinois by the American government and its settlers, violence escalated and then culminated with the Black Hawk War in 1832.  

oθaakiiwaki‧hina‧ki (Sauk) chief, Blackhawk, led his people back to his land which had been taken from him. This following battles between his people and the U.S. ended with Blackhawk’s defeat and exile. Cession 148^[10] in 1825 (and others), the Indian Removal Act in 1830^[7], and the Chicago Treaty of 1833 led to the removal of all indigenous groups that remained in Illinois.^[11] This included the large Bodwéwadmi village in what is now called Churchill Woods in Lombard and Glen Ellyn.^[11] The Bodwéwadmi were forced West to reservations in Oklahoma and Kansas, the Kiikapoi to Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas, the Myaamia to Oklahoma, the Hoocąk to Nebraska, Wisconsin, and the Peoria (along with the Kaskaskia) to Oklahoma.^[7] With some of the best fertile land in the world now available, white settlers came in and claimed it as their own. This was done across the country and in Lombard as well. 

Things remained like this for over 100 years until Indigenous Americans began relocating from the reservations to large cities, Chicago being one of them.^[12] This was due to not only federal policies but also it was part of larger demographic shifts in the U.S.^[13] One of these policies that had major consequences for indigenous peoples was the Termination Act in 1953. This removed tribes from under the wardship of the United States government.^[13] Public Law 959 was passed in 1956, which officially began the relocation of indigenous peoples to major cities.^[13] Housing and jobs were promised to these people, but often these promises were not honored.^[12]  

The results of the federal policies enacted in the first half of the twentieth century were catastrophic. By 1970, 40% of indigenous people lived below the poverty level and their unemployment rate was ten times the national average.^[13] Also, discrimination from authorities was very severe throughout the country. Out of these conditions rose the American Indian Movement (AIM), the National Indian Youth Council, and the Red Power Movement. The efforts of the groups allowed indigenous people to finally feel proud of who they were.^[13] 

More recently, in 2016, protests over the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) erupted near the Standing Rock Reservation. While the protesters were peaceful, the security forces were not, and many protesters were injured during the harrowing ten months. The pipeline was completed eventually, but the protest was successful in that it showed the country and the world what the struggle has been for indigenous groups.^[13]

Sue Wilsey
Director, Strategic Communications & Marketing

swilsey@helenplum.org

(630) 656-6902