"Today, Native Americans continue to play a central role in the social fabric of the city. On any given day in Chicago, tens of thousands of Native Americans representing over 100 tribes move about their daily lives in the city -- attending Chicago Public Schools, working in organizations across the city, organizing community gardens, developing new art installations and walking museums, and gathering with friends and family. They are a core part of our schools, our civic institutions, our community groups, and our businesses. While not among the largest racial/ethnic groups in the city, they are an important part of our social fabric. And yet, Native Americans in the United States are too often understood solely as located in the distant past, not through the lens of their contributions but through the lens of their subjugation. While deep and forthright engagement with the