Native American Heritage Month 2023

As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month 2023, we invite staff, patients, and community members to participate by supporting various events and initiatives throughout our UIH/UIC community that honor Native American culture and heritage.

Here are a few ways to participate:

Odehmenan Center Mural

Visit the recently-launched Odehmenan Health Equity Center

The naming and beautiful artwork within the Odehmenan Health Equity Center (Odeh Center) follow UIC’s “Acknowledge” is a Verb initiative to increase UIH/UIC collaborative support of Native American and Indigenous people and culture. Located on the second floor of the UIC Library of Health Sciences MC 763, 1750 W. Polk Street, Suite 220, Chicago, IL 60612.


Support or attend Cultivating Indigenous Brilliance

Hosted by the newly-established UIC Indigenous Graduate Student Association (IGSA) on November 3, 2023. Click here to register and learn more about the event.

FeaturedProvider

A person planting an Eastern Red Cedar

Learn more about the history and uses of the four plants sacred to Indigenous people

Cedar, sage, sweetgrass, and tobacco are depicted in the Odehmenan mural and have been added to the Dorothy Bradley Atkins Medicinal Plant Garden this year. The Atkins Garden is a resource for people to learn about medicinal plants, their history, and their uses. The garden is at the corner of Wood and Polk Streets, next to the UIC College of Pharmacy.   

During Native American Heritage Month and beyond, UI Health reaffirms our commitment to acknowledge, respect, and value the contributions of Native and Indigenous peoples in our words and actions.