Our history as a museum began in 1893, and the Field’s collection, research, and community partners continue to tell a story about nature and culture that is vast and complex. The ways we tell stories are always evolving and are enriched by what we learn from listening to many different voices.
We are committed to bringing Native American voices to the forefront through Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories. As part of an ongoing effort to celebrate and tell the histories and contemporary experiences of Native American people, we also recognize the Native American presence on the land where our building is located.
The Field Museum acknowledges that it was built on the traditional homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: The Potawatomi, Odawa, and Ojibwe Nations, as well as the Ho’Chunk, Meskwaki, Sauk, and Miami Nations. The Museum recognizes that the region we now call Chicago was the traditional homeland of many Indigenous nations, and remains home to diverse Native people today. The land we walk was and remains Native land.
We Are All on Native Land
To learn more about the custom of land acknowledgments, what to consider when writing one, and other actions you can take, watch this online conversation with Debra Yepa-Pappan (Jemez Pueblo/Korean), Heather Miller (Wyandotte), Felicia Garcia (Samala Chumash), and Meranda Roberts (Yerington Paiute/Chicana).
Have questions, comments, or are interested in learning more? Contact Michelle Brownlee at mbrownlee@fieldmuseum.org.