Native American Summit 2024
Schedule: February 22, 2024
Members of the Native American community in Chicago will come together with lawmakers during the Native American Summit 2024. The summit serves as a platform for discussions, addressing important matters, and fostering collaboration between the community and legislative representatives.
8th Annual Urban Native Education Conference
Schedule: March 23, 2024
The Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative (CAICC) is pleased to announce the 8th Annual Urban Native Education Conference on March 22-23, 2024. We are excited to host this year’s conference at the University of Illinois – Chicago with the support of the Native American Support Program. This conference is free and open to the public.
Inaugural Celebratory Dinner
Schedule: March 22, 2024
Acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of Native advocates at our inaugural dinner, honoring their dedication to justice and well-being. Join us in recognizing and appreciating these individuals who, through their resilience and dedication, enrich our communities.
Recent Achievements Unveiled
HB1633 – Native American Curriculum
This bill was developed and championed by the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative (CAICC) in conjunction with Representative Maurice West (D-24). It is a multi-faceted piece of legislation…
SB1446 – School Dress Code Policy
The genesis of this bill started when a community high school student was denied receipt of his diploma because he was wearing cultural items and attire that were gifts from his father and grandfather…
HB3413 – Human Remains Protection Act
For decades, Illinois has failed to return Native American remains and belongings to their communities despite a federal law mandating states to do so. Illinois has the second-largest collection…
Awards
Congratulations to
Mary Smith
Mary was recently awarded as one of the Notable Women in STEM for 2023
Education
Illinois students will be required to learn about Native American history
By Peter Medlin Published August 1, 2023 at 5:30 AM CDT
HB5617 Hearing Schedule
Prohibit a School from using a Native Name, Logo, or Mascot
If this is your first time submitting a witness slip, follow the easy steps here.
Committees
Dedicated to furthering diverse causes and the greater well-being
Education
To provide, advocate and support an inter-tribal urban system of education, through networks of Native American Programs and other providers to increase academic and career success.
Arts & Culture
To nurture and promote creative and economic development of Native arts and culture in the Chicago area by gathering and sharing relevant information, providing and publicizing events.
Political Action
Advocacy and political action to establish a Statewide Native American Commission and get Native American representation on various relevant statewide commissions.
Media & Outreach
To create and support information sharing within & outside the CAICC community to expand the media communication and coverage of community issues and concerns.
Our Activities
Events
Events for February
27th
Indigenous Portraits Unbound
Drumming and Dancing – Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 7pm
YOUR NATIVE HERITAGE
Events for February
29th
Indigenous Portraits Unbound
Drumming and Dancing – Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 7pm
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Who We Are
The members of the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative (CAICC) are dedicated to furthering diverse causes and the greater well-being of American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and First Nations people in the Chicago area. We seek to maximize effectiveness by creating a forum for fostering mutual aid, political support, positive public recognition, strategic alliances, collaborations, and partnerships.
CAICC convenes organizational leaders and members of the Chicago American Indian community for dialogue, advocacy, and planning with the goal of empowering CAICC to better address the issues and needs of the American Indian community.
Land Acknowledgement
Chicago is the traditional homeland of the Council of the Three Fires: The Odawa, Ojibwe and Potawatomi Nations. Many other Tribes like the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox also called this area home. Located at the intersection of several great waterways, the land naturally became a site of travel and healing for many Tribes. American Indians continue to call this area home and now Chicago is home to the sixth-largest Urban American Indian community that still practices their heritage, traditions and care for the land and waterways.
Today, Chicago continues to be a place that calls many people from diverse backgrounds to live and gather here. Despite the many changes the city has experienced, our American Indian community sees the importance of the land and this place that has always been a city home to many diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
CHICAGO HAS ALWAYS BEEN INDIAN COUNTRY
from Dorene Wiese on Vimeo