Blog
Native Truths: Our Futures, Our Stories - Field Museum
Cathy Ndovu, One Book Fellow
January 18, 2025
On Saturday, January 18th, One Book brought a group of Â鶹´«Ã½ undergraduate and graduate students to the Field Museum to see the Native American exhibit Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories. Students explored the exhibit and attended an exclusive Q&A session with some of the museum’s curators, who helped shape it into what it is today.
In May 2022, the exhibit underwent extensive renovation after an advisory council comprised of 11 Native American scholars and museum professionals, in partnership with 125 collaborators representing over 100 Tribes, spent 4½ years rethinking the exhibit's content. The goal of the renovation was to create a space where Native American voices could tell their own stories, a breakaway from the traditional exhibit model where objects and stories are told out of context and rarely through the voices of the communities being represented. The Native Truths exhibit highlights contemporary and historic Native stories of community, sovereignty, repatriation, and resilience.
One highlight of the trip was the variety of multimodal methods available for museum guests to engage with the exhibit. In addition to traditional exhibit objects like clothes and informational plaques, visitors could explore interactive videos, digital games, tactile exhibits, and striking artwork displayed throughout the space. A particularly immersive feature was the life-size replica of a Pawnee Earth Lodge. Inside the lodge, visitors could interact with various objects placed throughout the space, offering a hands-on understanding of the practices and objects used in Pawnee culture. This combination of sensory and interactive elements made the exhibit both educational and engaging for a wide range of audiences.
The Night Watchman: Online Collection Talk
Vivian Bui, One Book Fellow
January 16, 2025
On Thursday, January 16th, members of the Block Museum’s staff, Teagan Harris, the Woven Being Terra Engagement Fellow, and Marisa Cruz Branco, the Terra Curatorial Fellow hosted a virtual talk considering an artwork from the Block’s collection that reflects on the complexities of oppression, tradition, solidarity, and community—themes central to the 2024-25 One Book One Â鶹´«Ã½ selection, The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich.
In this thoughtful reflection on Shan Goshorn’s Cherokee Burden Basket: A Song for Balance (2012), Harris explores how the artwork uses the medium of paper to carry powerful messages about the historical and ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous women. The basket’s intricate patterns are imbued with layers of meaning, representing issues such as the legacy of forced assimilation, the violence against Native women, and the historical trauma inflicted through policies like the boarding schools that sought to "kill the Indian to save the man." Each color and splint in the basket’s design symbolically carries these burdens, from the Treaty of New Echota to the statistics of missing and murdered Indigenous women, providing a visual record of enduring pain and resilience.
Yet, within this weighty artwork, Harris also highlights a quieter form of hope. The inside of the basket, hidden from view unless one holds it, contains Cherokee songs and prayers for balance—an intentional reminder of healing amidst the hurt. Through this duality of visible and hidden meanings, Goshorn’s basket becomes not just an object of cultural and historical significance, but also a reclaiming of agency, using art as a tool to challenge and disrupt the stereotypes and violence that have historically marginalized Indigenous peoples. Harris beautifully ties the power of the basket back to broader Indigenous storytelling traditions, noting that while paper has often been used to disenfranchise, in the hands of artists like Goshorn and Andrea Carlson, it becomes a vessel for resistance and renewal.
I was really struck by how the duality of the artwork—how it both shows violence and hope—invites a deeper understanding of the complexities of Indigenous experiences. The basket is not just a record of trauma, but also a site of resistance and healing. The visible patterns and splints tell stories of oppression, but the hidden prayers for balance offer a reminder that there is power in Indigenous resilience, in cultural survival, and in the reclamation of what was taken. This contrast is a powerful reflection of the ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous communities, where pain is never the whole story, and the potential for healing and transformation always exists beneath the surface. By intertwining these narratives of suffering and hope, Goshorn’s artwork creates a space for contemplation, empathy, and ultimately, a call to action—asking viewers to not only acknowledge the burdens carried by Indigenous peoples, but also to witness the strength and wisdom that has allowed them to endure and thrive.
The Block’s collection is available online for the 2023-2024 academic year, and I encourage everyone to take a look at the pieces they have selected.
Heartland Transformed: Race, Power, and Resistance in the Midwest
Naomi Kales, One Book Fellow
November 14, 2024
On Thursday, November 15, One Book hosted its first Dittmar Dinner of the year – a talk with History Professor Doug Kiel, a citizen of the Oneida tribe. Attendees were university faculty, students, and community members alike, all of whom were able to listen to Kiel’s presentation and reflect with their tables. The talk and discussion focused on the Midwest – the different stereotypes surrounding the region, such as the “Heartland of America,” the “flyover region,” and the concept of “Midwest Nice.” Professor Kiel discussed the exclusionary nature of broad regional history, criticizing one-size-fits-all studies of the Midwest. Kiel contemplated the erasure of many Indigenous histories in the Midwest, and how that connects to the culture and stereotypes of the region. Participants collaborated to discuss different topics and questions surrounding the Midwest and its histories of race, power, and resistance. The Night Watchman is based on Midwestern Indigenous history, and Professor Kiel’s talk delved into many topics featured in this year’s One Book selection. There will be one additional Dittmar Dinner this year.
Cara Romero in Conversation: Students Shape the Collection
Miranda Campbell, One Book Ambassador
November 14, 2024
On November 14th, The Block Museum celebrated the Block Museum Student Associates 2023-2024 acquisition of Cara Romero’s photographs with a talk with the artist. Romero’s pieces TV Indians (2017) and Amber Morningstar (2020) fall in line with the acquisitions theme of using humor as an artistic strategy as she explores the nuances of identity, tradition, and pokes fun at how Indigenous communities have been misrepresented in modern American culture.
The event opened with remarks from Meena Sharma, a student associate of The Block, who introduced the purpose of the acquisition and the artist herself. This was followed by Romero explaining her own journey as an artist and her experiences as a part of the Chemehuevi tribe and growing up on the Chemehuevi Valley Indian Reservation in San Bernardino, California. Romero showed her pieces throughout her career as a fine art photographer and discussed her philosophy behind her work: to represent contemporary native populations and express complex ideas of native people that are not often discussed in modern America. She gave insight into the difficulties and joys of creating her art, going into detail about the process of creating the acquired pieces and her series “First American Girl”. Which frames women from various tribes in traditional regalia surrounded by cultural accessories from their community, in reference to the commercial American Girl Dolls. This is just one example of her work which uplifts the resilience of Indigenous traditions and reframing them in a contemporary context.
Following this presentation, Romero sat down with Aaron Golding, Co-Chair of the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative Education Committee and Sr. Program Administrator in the School of Education and Social Policy. They discussed Romero’s experience with collaboration in her work, her creative process, and where she finds inspiration. To wrap up the evening, there was a brief Q&A where members of the audience could ask Romero questions about her work and life.
Both of Romero’s pieces that were acquired by The Block are currently on display for any member of the community to visit. She will also be having her first major solo exhibition, titled Panûpünüwügai (Living Light), displayed at the Hood Museum beginning in January 2025, which will display the past decade of her work and present a thematic examination of Romero’s images.
By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land – Rebecca Nagle and Bryan McKinley Jones Brayboy, Ph.D. (Lumbee)
Vivian Bui, One Book Fellow
November 11, 2024
On November 11, 2024, award-winning journalist and Cherokee Nation citizen Rebecca Nagle joined Dean Bryan McKinley Jones Brayboy (Lumbee) for a conversation about her new book, By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land. Using an investigative approach, Nagle traces the forced removal of Native Americans to treaty lands and learns how a murder on those lands in the 1990s led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling that reinforced Native rights to that land.
During the discussion, Nagle explained how, in some cases, crimes have historically played a role in advancing Native sovereignty. In this case, a Muscogee citizen was sentenced to death by the state of Oklahoma for murdering another Muscogee citizen on tribal land. The defendant’s attorneys argued that Oklahoma lacked jurisdiction to execute him, as the murder happened on a reservation. The state countered that the reservation no longer existed. After a series of appeals, the case reached the Supreme Court: Nagle explained that, by the time a case involving a tribe reaches the appeal stage, tribal leaders ask themselves, “Are we going to let the courts decide for us? Or get involved?”
Dean Brayboy reflected on how, once a tribe is involved in the legal process, it becomes easier for them to assert their sovereignty. He also commented on the unique role that crime has played in this process, noting that it is a “unique aspect of American law” that progress often depends on such legal cases involving Native sovereignty.
This point really stood out to me because it highlights a stark contradiction in the way Native sovereignty is often recognized in the U.S. legal system. The idea that a crime must occur on Native land for Native people to receive any form of justice or recognition of their land rights feels deeply ironic. In this case, the legal battle over the murder on tribal land wasn’t just about a crime; it was about whether the state had the right to exercise authority on land that was supposed to be under tribal jurisdiction. This reliance on crime as a trigger for advancing Native sovereignty underscores a troubling reality: that justice for Native communities is often framed within the context of legal disputes involving criminal acts, rather than being a proactive recognition of their inherent rights to self-determination and land. It's a reminder of how much work remains to be done in fully realizing Native sovereignty, where land rights and justice should not be contingent upon the occurrence of a crime. I plan on reading By the Fire We Carry to learn more about Native sovereignty and this Supreme Court ruling.
2024 One Book Keynote with Louise Erdrich in conversation with Bryan Brayboy and Megan Bang — Evanston Campus
Naomi Kales, One Book Fellow
October 18, 2024
On Tuesday, October 18, One Book hosted its largest event of the year – its keynote with author Louise Erdrich. The keynote was moderated by the One Book co-chairs for the 2024-2045 school year, SESP Dean Bryan Brayboy and SESP Professor and director of CNAIR Megan Bang. Before Erdrich spoke, the event opened with remarks from One Book director Nancy Cuniff, President Michael Schill, and Provost Kathleen Hagerty. Hagerty congratulated this year’s One Book Essay Contest winner, Mintesinot Sturm, and honorable mentions. Members of the Â鶹´«Ã½ community performed a traditional welcome song as the entire packed auditorium stood and listened to the drumbeats and singing.
Those attending the event had the pleasure of hearing from the Pulitzer prize-winning, incredibly well-spoken, and inspirational Louise Erdrich. She spoke about her grandfather, the man who inspired the night watchman Thomas Wazhashk in the novel, and about his letter-writing to fight termination. With a combination of wit, intelligence, and history, Erdrich discussed her grandfather’s legacy and the deep personal connection she has to The Night Watchman. She discussed how the novel was an amalgamation of true stories, both inside and outside of her tribe. Erdrich taught attendees how communities can band together to create change at the 20th annual One Book keynote.
For a full list of photos taken during the event, visit .
Mitchell Museum and Evanston Township High School Indigenous People's Day Powwow
Catherine Ndovu, One Book Fellow
October 14, 2024
On October 14th, Evanston Township High School held its first community powwow to commemorate Indigenous Peoples Day. For those who haven’t experienced a powwow, it’s a lively celebration of Indigenous culture featuring vibrant music, intricate religious and celebratory dances, and delicious food. The food was a highlight, with the Indian taco—a delight made with taco ingredients served on fried bread—standing out. The fried bread with powdered sugar was my personal favorite, showcasing a simple yet deeply flavorful dish that many attendees enjoyed.
The event brought together multiple Native nations, most from the Chicagoland area but some from further in the Midwest and East Coast. Some of the groups represented include the Hochunk, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Turtle Mountain Band. One of the most captivating moments of the powwow was the Turtle Mountain Band's dance, a spiritual dance believed to be one of the oldest dances on the continent, dating back over 10,000 years. Accompanied by rhythmic drumming and heartfelt singing, the dance honored ancient traditions in a contemporary setting.
Alongside the performances, vendors sold everything from jewelry and clothing to books and educational materials, adding a layer of community engagement. I interviewed one powwow attendee who said they attended this event to celebrate their Ojibwe heritage. They described the event as a reclamation of culture, recognizing the loss felt by previous generations who were prohibited from having these gatherings because U.S. law had banned public powwows until the 1950s. The interviewee said that the powwow left them with a deep sense of gratitude and a renewed connection to their Indigenous heritage. They encourage everyone to attend powwows their community hosts to learn more about and pay homage to Indigenous peoples and the land they live on and protect.
Â鶹´«Ã½ Night at the Art Institute
Hunter Bachrach, One Book Fellow
October 10, 2024
There’s something awe-inspiring about the way fragments of a story can be arranged into a much larger and beautiful saga, spanning further than the pieces themselves. Last Thursday on October 10th, the Art Institute of Chicago invited Â鶹´«Ã½ to explore a custom curation of Indigenous art and artifacts dating centuries back. Each year, the Institute assembles a special collection of pieces to tell a story relating to the communities and topics our One Book selection puts into conversation. Our guide, Dulce Diaz, showed us how much thought went into this curation, bringing us through Indigenous history as she talked about the novel’s highlights on the importance of oral history, remembering tradition, and preserving culture.
Diaz had us all pause for a moment and look at the tipi curtain shown in the second picture. We thought about the pattern of the warriors, the colors of their horses, their headpieces, and connected it to the paratextual understanding we hold of the materials and geography of this piece. It’s quite special to be able to see a story visually detailed over 150 years ago in a modern context.
The Art Institute didn’t always have this piece, though. Diaz told us about the ever-growing collection of Indigenous art, and how some of these stories haven’t been brought to Chicago until as recently as this year. Every day, the museum is being given new tapestries, vessels, curtains, clothes, tools and more that help us complete the history being passed down for countless generations. As more and more pieces enter the museum’s domain, the stories will continue to evolve and grow alongside our appreciation of the foundational role Indigenous art history has played in this country. All of these pieces, and many more, are on display at the Art Institute, with free admission for Â鶹´«Ã½ students who bring their wildcards.
The Night Watchman Student Book Discussion
Vivian Bui, One Book Fellow
August 22, 2024
On August 22, 2024, One Book hosted its first event of the year: a thought-provoking student book discussion that brought together incoming and transfer students to explore complex themes surrounding identity, community, and resilience. In small groups, each led by a One Book Ambassador or Fellow, students used prepared questions to think about this year’s selection, Louise Erdrich's The Night Watchman. Students considered the experiences of Native American communities as shown in the novel, sparking engaging conversations about the power of language, cultural estrangement, and the implications of governmental policies. We tackled questions about the significance of writing for characters like Thomas, who finds meaning in both official documents and personal correspondence, emphasizing how these writings serve as a means of connection and expression. We also explored the character Patrice's critique of simplistic views on spirituality, provoking reflections on the deeper understandings of existence and identity.
The discussion was enriched by examining pivotal themes such as the community's relationship with boxing and its representation of struggle and resilience, as well as the role of the jewelry-making factory in shaping women's economic opportunities. Participants also discussed the novel's unique structure and its impact on storytelling, allowing for a multifaceted view of real-life challenges faced by Native American communities. The event highlighted the importance of literature as a lens through which to view and discuss contemporary social issues, encouraging students to engage with the material on both personal and communal levels. It also modeled a typical discussion section to prepare students for future classes. The One Book team looks forward to continuing these discussions throughout the school year.
