Special Events

Throughout the year, the Mitchell Museum hosts a series of unique and authentic events exploring the art, culture and lives of Native Americans.  The events below are sure to be of special interest.

Appraisal Day Returns

Have you ever wanted to learn more about your American Indian art, crafts, or jewelry? Visit the Mitchell Museum for our second annual Appraisal Day on Saturday, June 11 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM to learn more about your pieces. Joe Zeller from River Trading Post and other Native art experts will be on-hand to review items and offer informal appraisals of market price and well as let you know more about the history of your pieces. Last year’s event featured several wonderful surprises, including a Sioux chief’s wearing blanket ($8000), an Inuit wall hanging from Rankin Inlet ($4000), and an Acoma Pueblo ceramic pot ($10,000+). Outside of understanding the dollar value of your objects, knowing more about the history of the object is half the fun of owning it. Bring your favorite items to the museum and learn more about the innovative cultures that created them.

The events below are some of the highlights from our special events programming to date.

Native Poetry Night

The power of the spoken word was showcased on April 1, 2011 when the museum was honored to welcome three renowned American Indian poets: Kimberly Blaeser, Chippewa, Mark LaRoque, Ojibwe, and Thirza DeFoe, Ojibwe and Oneida.

2011 Spring Benefit: Food, Fun and Games

This year's benefit held at the Levere Memorial Temple in Evanston was loads of fun with great silent auction gifts, trivia games, and a flat screen TV raffle.

We would like to thank our sponsors:

Mrs. Joyce Chelberg, Mrs. Joan Goldberg, Reed and Joe Hagee, and Kristofek Financial

Volunteer and Board Recognition Evening

The staff and Board of Directors of the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian gathered together in December to honor the important work of the many museum volunteers and to thank Reed and Joseph Hagee for the many years of service and dedication they gave as founding members of the Board. They were presented with two Pendelton blankets in a blanket ceremony led by Board Member Frances Hagemann.

Dr. Carlos Montezuma Honorary Lecture:
“A Path to Social Justice”
Lecture by Ada Deer, Menominee

In December, the Mitchell Museum held its first annual lecture in honor of Dr. Carlos Montezuma (Yavapai), a physician and founder of the Society of American Indians, who worked heroically for Native citizenship. The guest speaker, Ada Deer (Menominee), is a Native American activist, the former Assistant Secretary of the Interior, the former head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and a tireless lobbyist. She gave an overview of Dr. Montezuma's life and legacy, and also spoke about her own work for social justice and her achievement in restoring the Menominee Nation as a federally recognized tribe.

A Night of Music with the Mark Cleveland Band: The 2010 Mitchell Museum Fall Benefit

In November, the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian hosted the Mark Cleveland Band in a special benefit concert at the Prairie Moon Restaurant in Evanston. Guests enjoyed the band's music, drawn from a mixture of Native American tradition, World Culture, and contemporary American life, accompanied by a Native dancer.

An Evening Celebrating the Shared Indigenous Cultures of Canada and the United States

In March, the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian was honored to host the Consulate General of Canada at our Celebration of the Shared Indigenous Cultures of Canada and the United States inspired by our exhibit "Raising the Totem:  Exploring Northwest Coast Indigenous Cultures," which features artifacts from the United States and British Columbia. In attendance were major donors and sponsors of the Mitchell as well as our dedicated volunteers, staff, and Board of Directors. This event was sponsored by the Consulate General of Canada.

Taste of Native America: The 2010 Mitchell Museum Spring Benefit

In February, the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian hosted its 2010 Spring Benefit: “Taste of Native America.” Held at “Now We’re Cooking!” in Evanston, over 75 guests enjoyed elk meat meatballs, wild rice cakes and other delectable morsels. Over 40 items were purchased at the Silent Auction including Bulls tickets, jewelry, and many gift certificates to area restaurants and shops. This benefit was sponsored by Northern Trust, Brown, Kaplan & Liss, LLP, John J. Cahill, Inc., and Morgante Wilson Architects, Ltd. and raised over $13,000 to support the operations and programs of the Mitchell.

Events are funded in part through a generous grant from the

HOURS & ADMISSION
Tuesday – Saturday:
10am – 5pm
Thursday: 10am – 8pm
Sunday: 12pm – 4pm

Adults: $5.00
Children, students,          seniors: $2.50 
Mitchell Members: FREE
Tribal Members: FREE

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