Presenting written documents, American Indian oral histories, songs, dances, trails, rock writings, photographs, and other mediums that tell Native American history

Chicago American Indian Urban Education


Native Scholars Academic and Cultural Program

Susan Powell, Native American senior is a source of oral history

Native Scholars is the after school tutoring program offered by the American Indian Association of Illinois. Children, youth, and out-of-school teens have the opportunity to receive homework assistance, GED and ACT test preparation, and instruction in American Indian language, history and culture. For more information, call Melanie Cloud, Director of Educational Development at 773.338.8320.




Susan Powell, Native American senior is a source of oral history

American Indian people from over 150 federally recognized tribes have lived in Chicago and Illinois for thousands of years. Tribal members of those Indian people continue to live here and throughout the United States predominately in urban areas like Chicago.






The art programs of AIAI help to tell the history of Urban American Indians

The first people of Illinois were native people. Stories of their tribes, important events and people are present in written documents, oral histories, songs, dances, trails, rock writings, photographs, and other mediums.





Native American community members are excellent sources of oral history

The arts, languages, and histories of great tribal nations and leaders can be found in modern times. They serve as markers, leading Native people forward to a new Native American tribal and multi-tribal future filled with hope and achievement.

Historic Events

In 1951, the University of Chicago hosted the Chicago American Indian Conference to assist native people in developing a statement of American Indian purpose about the conditions and needs of their people.

In 2010, the American Indian Association of Illinois and the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration hosted the first Urban American Indian Families Conference to draw attention to the many social, economic, and political issues facing the large majority of native people who live outside reservations.

American Indian Educational Resources