Land Acknowledgment

The Field Museum commits to honor and respect this history and heritage in the fulfillment of our Mission, Strategic Objectives, and Core Values. The Museum is built on the traditional homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi Nations. Many other Native Nations, including the Ho-Chunk, Miami, Meskwaki, and Sac, have also known this area as home. The Museum recognizes that the region we now call Chicago was and is an important hub of trade, worship, and community for many Indigenous Nations, and continues to be home to diverse Native peoples today. We acknowledge this ongoing relationship and the significant contributions of Native peoples to the development and endurance of this region. The land we walk remains Native land.

A woman, Maritza Garcia, wearing a light blue dress and a headdress with a feather, performs a dance in front of onlookers at the land acknowledgment ceremony.

Statement of Commitment to Native American Communities

The Field Museum acknowledges its responsibility as a steward of Native American cultural heritage. We affirm our commitment to building and sustaining respectful, reciprocal relationships with Native Nations and Indigenous Communities. This commitment is rooted in the recognition of Indigenous sovereignty, cultural continuity, and the right of Native peoples to speak for themselves about their histories, traditions, and futures.

The Museum is dedicated to:

Honoring Tribal sovereignty and adhering to federal and tribal laws and protocols, including the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA);
Engaging Native Nations and communities as partners and leaders in decisions that affect them, especially in the areas of collections care, repatriation, exhibitions interpretation, and research;
Creating inclusive spaces for Native voices, ensuring that Native knowledge, worldviews, and expertise inform all aspects of our work relating to Native Nations and communities;
Supporting the Native American Advisory Committee as a vital body guiding the Museum’s efforts toward accountability, transparency, and equity in our relationships with Native communities; and
Investing in long-term partnerships, capacity building, and ethical stewardship practices that reflect our shared goals for cultural preservation, education, and healing.

We Are All on Native Land

As part of our ongoing effort to celebrate and share the histories and contemporary experiences of Native American people, we bring Native voices to the forefront through Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories.

Have questions or comments?

Interested in learning more? Contact JD Chancellor, Tribal Liaison.