Native American Community Events in Naperville, IL

Since 2012, the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative has served as the unified voice and organizing force for Native American communities throughout Chicago, IL. Born from recognition that the local Native community lacked cohesion and visibility, CAICC was established through a comprehensive community-driven process involving surveys, conferences, and strategic retreats that engaged nearly 200 participants in identifying priorities and developing actionable change plans. The organization represents the first time in Chicago's Native American community history that such a broad, formalized Memorandum of Understanding has been constructed and endorsed across member organizations. CAICC's members are dedicated to furthering diverse causes while maximizing effectiveness through mutual aid, political support, positive public recognition, and strategic partnerships. The collaborative creates forums for fostering dialogue, advocacy, and planning that empower the community to better address its own issues and needs. Operating from the principle that there is greater power in working together, CAICC members have witnessed heightened levels of inter-organizational cooperation, increased trust, and strengthened resource sharing across Chicago's Native American service landscape. The organization pursues four priority goals: increasing foundation financial support to Native communities, driving systems reform and public policy change through leadership development and tribal outreach, strengthening nonprofit management and community infrastructure, and advancing economic development through employment and business growth. With the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian serving as fiscal agent, CAICC continues building on its foundation of community empowerment, cultural respect, and collective action to create meaningful change for American Indian communities in Chicago.