Commitment to Indigenous Communities
As a leader in plant conservation, horticulture, and environmental education committed to equity and inclusion, it is our responsibility to recognize the original Indigenous caretakers of the land on which the Chicago Botanic Garden’s main and satellite campuses reside. We acknowledge the historical fact of their violent physical removal and dispossession and recognize that these historical actions have continuing impacts.
The Forest Preserves of Cook County are the current custodians of the land on which the Garden sits. As part of the Forest Preserves, we share their Land Acknowledgement:
The Forest Preserves of Cook County acknowledges that we are on the lands of the Council of Three Fires—the Ojibwa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi—as well as the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sauk, and Meskwaki peoples.
As a land management agency, we acknowledge that we have played a role in shaping the histories of local Native Americans by acquiring this land. We must also recognize, share, and celebrate the history of local Native Americans and their immemorial ties to this land.
We commit ourselves to developing deeper partnerships that advocate for the progress, dignity, and humanity of the many diverse Native Americans who still live and practice their heritage and traditions on this land today.
The Chicago Botanic Garden commits to collaboratively identifying and implementing specific actions with Indigenous communities that they find meaningful. The following list outlines our current commitments and represents an active effort to recognize the past, present, and future of Indigenous peoples in the Chicago region.
We commit to:
- Building and sustaining genuine, transparent relationships with Indigenous communities.
- Supporting Indigenous communities with access to and use of land and resources to meet community-identified needs (e.g., harvesting, plant sharing, and gatherings).
- Collaborating with Indigenous communities to share their stories.
- Working with Indigenous communities to identify additional actions that are meaningful to them.
These commitments were created in October 2022 and revised in July 2025. The Chicago Botanic Garden has a cross-departmental group of staff that meets monthly to move these commitments forward.
Contact Ryan Lothian with feedback, or to request plants, access for harvesting, event space, or free admission passes for community events.
Free Admission and Meeting Spaces
Visitors with Tribal identification can enter the Chicago Botanic Garden free year-round and eligible community groups can reserve free meeting space.