Five months after the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum changed its name to better represent the community it serves, it has seen a spike in attendance and community engagement, Kim Vigue, the museum’s executive director, said.
Formerly known as the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, the institute on Central Street changed its name in November 2024. “Gichigamiin” translates to Great Lakes in Ojibwe — the language of the people native to the northern plains region of North America.
While the museum currently highlights Indigenous communities native to the United States and Canada broadly, it hopes to transition to focus more specifically on Chicago and the broader Great Lakes region, Vigue said.
“We went through nine months of focus groups and interviews and surveys with the Native community, our membership, and the broader Evanston and Chicago community,” said Vigue, who is of Menominee and Oneida descent.
Vigue said the museum started a free admissions day initiative a couple of years ago and found it to be a successful way of attracting more visitors. With the support of its donors, the Gichigamiin Museum now hosts a monthly free admission day, which includes a pop-up market where local Indigenous vendors can sell goods.
Since the museum began hosting pop-up markets and changed its name, attendance has increased by more than 50%, and tours have increased by almost 90%, Vigue said.
“People love (the pop-up markets) because they can come to the museum and they can shop and they can meet local Native artists,” Vigue said. “It’s sort of like a win-win.
The Gichigamiin Museum hosted its April free admission day and pop-up market on Friday.
Evanston resident Benjamin Labit, who went to the museum that day, said he’d wanted to visit for some time. He wanted to learn more about the area’s history and heard about the Gichigamiin Museum on an Evanston events mailing list.
“I’ve been meaning to come for a while, and then I saw that it was free admission,” Labit said. “Since I’m off work today, I’m here.”
Maritza Garcia, who is of Choctaw descent, said she comes to the museum every month as a vendor. She creates jewelry and pet sweaters inspired by tribes from the North and Midwest.
Garcia said she appreciates the turnout every month and enjoys being able to put herself and her artwork out there.
“It means a lot to us,” she said. “A lot of people don’t know that we’re still here, and it’s just an educational purpose to show what we make now: contemporary work.”
Sergio Ceron, who said he is of Otomi-Pame descent, also sells his products at the Gichigamiin Museum’s Indigenous artist pop-up event every month. He creates stickers, paints and works with beads.
Ceron said events like the pop-up market allow him to make money by doing what he loves. But, he said the best part of the pop-up is that it allows him to connect with other Native people.
“It’s always nice to sit with other artists and talk about art,” Ceron said.
The museum will host its next free admission day and pop-up market May 7.
Email: [email protected]
Related Stories:
— Photographer Cara Romero explores Indigenous heritage through pop culture references
— Indigenous Peoples’ Day Powwow brings together both native and non-native community
