Native Americans living in Chicago condemn the Native American Guardian Association's participation in the Columbus Day Parade

The Native American Guardian Association has partnered with the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans to celebrate Christopher Columbus at the annual Chicago Columbus Day parade in Chicago.

However, the collective effort is misleading in that the Native American Guardian Association is primarily made up of Native Americans living outside of Chicago. The Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative, a true representation of Chicago's Native Americans, does not support the parade – and has not for several years.

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Instead, they celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day.

In a terse statement released last week, the collaboration claims Columbus was a villain who initiated the greatest genocide in human history and was the father of the transatlantic slave trade.

The Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative is a network of 16 organizations and programs based in Chicago or the state of Illinois.

“The collaboration of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans and the Native American Guardian Association (NAGA) creates the false impression that the Native American community of Chicago and Illinois supports Columbus Day. “Nothing can be further from the truth,” the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative said in a statement released last week.

Andrew Johnson (Cherokee), who heads the Native American Chamber of Commerce, believes Columbus should not be celebrated as a hero.

“Recognizing Columbus in this way confirms the falsehoods and myths about contact, colonization, and their impact on our Native American community in Chicago, the state of Illinois, and the Western Hemisphere.” We will continue to fight to ensure our stories are told, the true ones “Heroes are recognized and we have proper representation.” Johnson said it Local news online.

The Native American Guardian Association, based in North Dakota, is dedicated to promoting Native American history and preservation. Contrary to the opinion of most Native Americans, the association supports mascots and the use of Native American images for sports teams.

“The Native American community in Chicago and Illinois does not support the recognition of Columbus Day or the work of the Native American Guardian Association to represent our local interests. Many of its members are simply individuals who do not have the authority to speak on behalf of their tribal nation, much less the Chicago and Illinois Native American community, the statement continued. “Our Native American community celebrates all Italian Americans and their contributions to our country, but we cannot support the negative impact and legacy of Christopher Columbus.”

The following groups and programs have signed the declaration:

Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative

American Indian Health Services of Chicago

Caroline and Ora Smith Foundation

CPS American Indian Education Program

D'Arcy McNickle Center for the American Indian and Indigenous Studies at Newberry Library

St. Kateri Center of Chicago

Chicago American Indian Center

Illinois Native American Chamber of Commerce

Visionary Ventures NFP

Mitchell Museum of the American Indian

Trickster Cultural Center

Tunica Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana (Chicago Branch)

Representative

Andrew Johnson, Registered Citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Illinois Native American Chamber of Commerce

Matthew Beaudet, enrolled citizen of the Montaukett Indian Nation

Les Begay, enrolled citizen of the Dine' Nation, Illinois Indigenous Peoples Day Coalition

Dave Spencer, enrolled citizen of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, co-executive director

Director, American Indian Center of Chicago

Jay Young, enrolled citizen of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, co-executive director,

American Indian Center of Chicago

Nataka Moore, Board Chair, American Indian Center of Chicago

Mary Smith, Registered Citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Caroline and Ora Smith Foundation

Marne Smiley, enrolled citizen of Otoe-Missouria

Susan Stanley – enrolled Ojibwe citizen, Lac du Flambeau, WI

Felicia Peters – enrolled citizen of the Menominee and Santo Domingo Pueblo

Cyndee Fox-Starr – enrolled citizen of Omaha-Odawa-Potawatomi

Kim Vigue, enrolled citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin/Menominee descendant

Nation and Executive Director, Mitchell Museum of the American Indian.

Rose Miron, Director, D'Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies

Shelly Tucciarelli, registered citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin

Vincent Romero, enrolled citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna

Megan Bang, Ojibwe/Italian, Professor, Northwestern University

Julianna Castro, Registered Citizen, Navajo Nation, American Indian Health Service of Chicago

Jody Roy, Ojibwe enrolled citizen of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, Director of St. Kateri

Downtown Chicago

About the Author: Levi “Calm Before the Storm” Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, editor and publisher of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded the Native Media Award for Best Column 2021 in the Print/Online category by He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at [email protected].

Contact: [email protected]