Forest Preserves of Cook County 2026 Fall Brochure

37 Look closely at the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s new Land Acknowledgement artwork and you’ll fiQG a stor\ uQIoOGiQJ iQ eYer\ GetaiO A hummingbird and a bat. Wild berries and medicinal plants. Leaves, ÁoZers aQG ÁoZiQJ patterQs iQspireG by Indigenous artistic traditions. Together, they create a visual reminder that the lands protected today have long been places of learning, nourishment, ceremony and connection. The artwork was created by Indigenous artist, educator and storyteller Negwes White, whose roots iQcOuGe 2MiEZe 1aYaMo aQG Indigenous Mexican heritage. For White, the design began with a simple but powerful idea. “The whole piece is about balance,” White says. “Mother nature takes care of everybody, but she also protects herself.” That philosophy is woven throughout the artwork. The hummingbird and bat represent day aQG QiJht 1atiYe Eerries reÁect IooGs that have sustained Indigenous communities throughout the region for generations. Medicinal plants illustrate traditional ecological knowledge that continues to be shared and practiced today. White says the reaction from his community was immediate. “When they looked at it, they said, ‘You got medicine in there.’ They understood it right away,” he says. 7he proMect Zas especiaOO\ meaningful because of White’s longstanding relationship with the Forest Preserves. Over the years, he has participated in camps, cultural events, powwows and educational programs held throughout the preserves, helping young people explore while deepening their connection to nature. Today, he works as an educator and remains passionate about teaching amongst the trees. “This is where all the lessons are,” White says. “This is where all the teachings and wisdom are.” Created for the Forest Preserves’ Land Acknowledgement, the artwork honors the Indigenous peoples who have cared for these lands across generations. At the same time, it serves as a living reminder that Indigenous cultures, traditions and relationships with the natural world remain vibrant, present and deeply connected to this place. View Negwes’s art at Trailside Museum of Natural History, in River Forest starting September 2026. Join us and support Native American youth by attending Every Child Matters Powwow Saturday, Sept 26, 11am–5pm Bunker Hill Telling the Land’s Story, Through Art