Join us for an afternoon of family crafts, storytelling, shop at our Artists Alley, enjoy live music, and so much more!
Throughout the event you can visit info booths to learn more about other incredible work being done by our partnering organizations. Visit our Artists Alley to shop at a handful of Native artists booths, enjoy live music, and visit our ongoing exhibits. This event will have something for everyone. Limited parking is available along Central Street and the parking lot behind the museum.
Full event details coming soon!
Schedule of Events
Museum Activities
All day crafts and coloring pages for the kids and families on the 2nd floor.
Join the Evanston Ecology Center for a Critter Visit! Meet live animals up close, as we learn about each animal’s unique adaptations, the senses that they use, the groups they belong to, and the important roles that they play in their habitats.
Cynthia Thomas (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin) will be leading an air-dry clay turtle art workshop for all ages!
Cynthia is a Pottery/Ceramic Artist who earned her Bachelors degree is Art and went on to earn a Masters degree in Secondary Education. In addition to be a successful artist, Cynthia has gained 20 years teaching experience.
Sunny Webster (Oneida) will be leading a workshop on creating resin birchbark earrings.
12pm: Music by Mark Jourdan!
Mark Jourdan (Oneida/Ho-Chunk) is a singer/songwriter based out of Chicago, Illinois. He is a Native American of the Ho-Chunk and Oneida nations. Growing up in Chicago, he spent his summers and weekends traveling the Midwest and Canada and going to Pow Wows with his family. Music has always played a big part of his life and driving across the country with his family made the radio and cassette players as much a part of the family as his siblings. His father took him to see B.B. King when he was 16, where he had his first experience of what it meant to “own a room.” He then took a break from guitar and music to try graphic art with the hopes of becoming an art teacher. Ultimately, he made his way home to music and he couldn’t be happier to have found a place where he can express feeling in a way that his graphic arts were, without him realizing it, leading him to. Today, he chases dreams. He’s catching a few too. “To infinity and beyond…” facebook ; youtube.com
1:00 – 1:30pm Three Sisters Yoga: Move, Nourish, Grow
Join us for a special yoga session inspired by the Three Sisters – corn, beans, and squash – symbolizing growth, connection, and support. This all-levels practice blends mindful movement, breathwork, and reflection to cultivate resilience and community. Come as you are and leave feeling rooted, restored, and connected.
Jenn Michals is an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and a descendant of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. She is a certified yoga (RYT 200) and meditation instructor who creates healing spaces grounded in Indigenous teachings, breath, and gentle movement. Her classes center wellness, connection, and cultural reclamation through mindful practice.
2:00 – 3:00pm Planter Decorating
Join our Garden Manager, Camille, for a planter decorating workshop and take home a native plant alongside info about gardening with native plants!
This workshop is limited to 25 participants and is on a first come first serve basis.
Lanialoha Lee – Pacific Soundz Productions – (Native Hawaiian)
My continuing work as a professional performing artist in music and dance encompassed chanting, vocal work, instrumentation characteristic to both Western and Pacific Island cultural arts, and production. Throughout my career, I’ve taught thousands of `ukulele, hula, and Tahitian drum students, enhancing my curriculum and cultivating a new generation of artists with a refined sensitivity to the culture bridging the Midwest to the islands through shared repertoire. As a Midwest-based Native Hawaiian, I continue to preserve, perpetuate, and protect Pacific Island cultural arts. I hope an appreciation will develop and augment the cultural literacy of those less familiar with the mesmerizing rhythms of music, dance, and poetic text of the South Pacific islands.
All Day – Artist Alley
Located outside the museum in our parking lot, visit info booths, Native artist booths, and Food will be available for sale during the event.
Indigenous Artist booths
Sunset Kwe Designs
We are an Indigenous women owned business creating fun and expressive apparel, bags and accessories mixed with ribbon skirts and beadwork. https://sunset-kwe-designs.square.site/
Meet the author after her story time from 10-11am in the library!
Atika’s Medicine
I’m Not A Costume
Indigenous Foods
Native American Foods and Fox Way Catering
Food will be available for purchase from Fox Way Catering, including: Fry Bread, Indian Tacos, Veggie Tacos, and beverages.
Info Booths
California Indian Manpower Consortium, Inc. – Chicago Branch Office
Burton Snowboards
The City of Evanston has set aside $3 Million for community members to decide how to spend through a process called Participatory Budgeting. Community members can register now to vote during the whole month of September. PB staff and volunteers will be at Family Day to tell people about proposals and help them register to vote.
For more information about this program, please contact: info@gichigamiin.org | (847) 475-0911.
Schedule of Events
Museum Activities
All day crafts and coloring pages for the kids and families on the 2nd floor.
Join the Evanston Ecology Center for a Critter Visit! Meet live animals up close, as we learn about each animal’s unique adaptations, the senses that they use, the groups they belong to, and the important roles that they play in their habitats.
Cynthia Thomas (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin) will be leading an air-dry clay turtle art workshop for all ages!
Cynthia is a Pottery/Ceramic Artist who earned her Bachelors degree is Art and went on to earn a Masters degree in Secondary Education. In addition to be a successful artist, Cynthia has gained 20 years teaching experience.
Sunny Webster (Oneida) will be leading a workshop on creating resin birchbark earrings.
12pm: Music by Mark Jourdan!
Mark Jourdan (Oneida/Ho-Chunk) is a singer/songwriter based out of Chicago, Illinois. He is a Native American of the Ho-Chunk and Oneida nations. Growing up in Chicago, he spent his summers and weekends traveling the Midwest and Canada and going to Pow Wows with his family. Music has always played a big part of his life and driving across the country with his family made the radio and cassette players as much a part of the family as his siblings. His father took him to see B.B. King when he was 16, where he had his first experience of what it meant to “own a room.” He then took a break from guitar and music to try graphic art with the hopes of becoming an art teacher. Ultimately, he made his way home to music and he couldn’t be happier to have found a place where he can express feeling in a way that his graphic arts were, without him realizing it, leading him to. Today, he chases dreams. He’s catching a few too. “To infinity and beyond…” facebook ; youtube.com
1:00 – 1:30pm Three Sisters Yoga: Move, Nourish, Grow
Join us for a special yoga session inspired by the Three Sisters – corn, beans, and squash – symbolizing growth, connection, and support. This all-levels practice blends mindful movement, breathwork, and reflection to cultivate resilience and community. Come as you are and leave feeling rooted, restored, and connected.
Jenn Michals is an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and a descendant of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. She is a certified yoga (RYT 200) and meditation instructor who creates healing spaces grounded in Indigenous teachings, breath, and gentle movement. Her classes center wellness, connection, and cultural reclamation through mindful practice.
2:00 – 3:00pm Planter Decorating
Join our Garden Manager, Camille, for a planter decorating workshop and take home a native plant alongside info about gardening with native plants!
This workshop is limited to 25 participants and is on a first come first serve basis.
3009 Building
Visit the Aloha Center of Chicago and learn about their work and the programs they offer! They will be offering kids craft activities and live music throughout the day. Learn more here https://yourplanbproductions.com/gmiintest/alohacenterchicago/
Artist Alley
Located outside the museum in our parking lot, visit info booths and Native artist booths!
Le’Ana Asher Studios LLC
Prints, cards, miniature originals
www.leanaAsher.com
Moonflower Beadwork
Beadwork, earrings, keychains
ig: @moonflowerbeadwork
Zani Beauty Studio
Native American owned beauty studio in South Loop Chicago offering holistic skin care, healing and empowerment.
https://zani.glossgenius.com/
Hinano by Design
Art prints, Paintings
ig: @hinanobydesign
Face Painting by V
Face painting for everyone
Amawa Cultural Center
Handmade decorative llamas, blankets, and jewelry.
ig: @amawaculturalcenter
Aloha Eats
https://www.alohaeats.com/
Kohl Children’s Museum
Lanialoha Lee – Pacific Soundz Productions – (Native Hawaiian)
My continuing work as a professional performing artist in music and dance encompassed chanting, vocal work, instrumentation characteristic to both Western and Pacific Island cultural arts, and production. Throughout my career, I’ve taught thousands of `ukulele, hula, and Tahitian drum students, enhancing my curriculum and cultivating a new generation of artists with a refined sensitivity to the culture bridging the Midwest to the islands through shared repertoire. As a Midwest-based Native Hawaiian, I continue to preserve, perpetuate, and protect Pacific Island cultural arts. I hope an appreciation will develop and augment the cultural literacy of those less familiar with the mesmerizing rhythms of music, dance, and poetic text of the South Pacific islands.
All Day – Artist Alley
Located outside the museum in our parking lot, visit info booths, Native artist booths, and Food will be available for sale during the event.
Indigenous Artist booths
Sunset Kwe Designs
We are an Indigenous women owned business creating fun and expressive apparel, bags and accessories mixed with ribbon skirts and beadwork. https://sunset-kwe-designs.square.site/
ChaChaBeads
IG: chachabeads_
Author Maria Des Jarlait
Meet the author after her story time from 10-11am in the library!
Atika’s Medicine
I’m Not A Costume
Indigenous Foods
Native American Foods and Fox Way Catering
Food will be available for purchase from Fox Way Catering, including: Fry Bread, Indian Tacos, Veggie Tacos, and beverages.
Info Booths
California Indian Manpower Consortium, Inc. – Chicago Branch Office
Burton Snowboards
The City of Evanston has set aside $3 Million for community members to decide how to spend through a process called Participatory Budgeting. Community members can register now to vote during the whole month of September. PB staff and volunteers will be at Family Day to tell people about proposals and help them register to vote.
For more information about this program, please contact: info@gichigamiin.org | (847) 475-0911.
Details
Organizer
Venue
Evanston, IL 60201 United States + Google Map