There There: A One Book, One Chicago Book Selection
Tommy Orange by Elena Siebert
It’s not your mother’s “One Book, One Chicago” (OBOC) program anymore. Theme-centric since 2013, the Chicago Public Library presents events all year long including, of course, book presentations.
Those of us who were fascinated by Native American lore as children — courtesy, of course, of our local public libraries — will not want to miss OBOC’s 2023 keynote event. Tommy Orange, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, will discuss his novel “There There,” a best-selling page-turner about the lives of urban Native Americans. The November 15 program begins at 6 p.m. at Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St. Details and to register.
Other discussions of the book
Photo courtesy of Chicago Public Library
In-person: Thursday, Nov. 2, 2-3 p.m. - Loyola University Chicago's Lewis Library on the Water Tower Campus, 25 E. Pearson St., Room 900. Register.
Virtual: Tuesday, Nov. 14, 3:30-4:30 p.m. – Hosted by Northeastern Illinois University. Registration is not required; use this Zoom link.
Stories, films, and books
If you never had that special experience with Native American stories, in November — Native American Heritage Month — OBOC will offer you another chance. Chicago Public Library is sponsoring a tantalizing variety of events exploring aspects of that heritage at libraries and community partner locations around the city.
Chief White Winnebago. Image courtesy Chicago Public Library
Close to home our very own Edgewater Branch will screen “Windtalkers,” a dramatic feature film about the Navajo radiomen who encoded military messages in their native language during World War II. See it on Monday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m., 6000 N. Broadway. Details.
Not too much further away, the Uptown Branch, 929 W. Buena, will present Chief White Winnebago telling five Native American stories, mostly of HoChunk origin, for all ages on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 11 a.m. Details.
Farther afield, at the Oriole Park Branch, historian Max Grinnell will tell stories behind such familiar street names as Menomonee, Winnemac, and Milwaukee; and give special attention to the fascinating origins of the word “Chicago.” See Max on Monday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m., 7454 W. Balmoral Ave. Details.
The Little Village Branch, 2311 S. Kedzie Ave., will screen “Teachings of the Tree People,” a documentary about Skokomish Tribal Leader Gerald Bruce Miller (subiyay). This gentle and generous film documents his race against time and ailing health to pass the knowledge of his ancestors on to those who would listen. See it on Thursday, Nov. 16, at 6 p.m. Details.
Really far out might be the discussion on the Native American-authored “My Heart Is a Chainsaw,” only one of the books on the “Indigenous Horror and Thriller Fiction” list. The discussion will take place on Monday, Nov. 27, at 7 p.m. at The Map Room 1949 N. Hoyne. Other books in this genre.
For a complete list of “One Book, One Chicago” offerings and American Heritage Month programs at branch libraries and other OBOC locations around the city, see Events on the Chicago Public Library website.
Blog post by Friends’ member Lee Price
Member, Communications Committee
P.S. From the editor — There are lots of events and activities going on in Chicago throughout November to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. Check out these links.