Celebrating Detroit's Indigenous Culture

Story by Biba Adams

Detroit is the traditional homeland of the Anishinaabe. Elder and linguist Basil H. Johnston maintained that Anishinaabe translates as “Beings Made Out of Nothing” and “Spontaneous Beings.” Others maintain that it means “The Men or People Who Live upon the Earth in the Right Way.” However, Anishinaabe is most commonly translated to mean “Original Man” or the “Good Humans.” The names are all a fit for our beautiful community--which has several ways and places to go and honor the legacy of our Indigenous ancestors.

Detroit Institute of Art

Africa, Oceania & Indigenous Americas collection features the captivating arts of African cultures south of the Sahara Desert and Egypt or experience the contemporary and ancient arts of the Indigenous people of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, and other Central and South American countries.

Detroit Institute of Art
5200 Woodward Ave.
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 833-7900

North American Indian Association of Detroit

This museum features programs that assist the Indigenous of Detroit including food service programs for elders. But, in the basement is where the treasure lies. All of their books are Native American related as well as all of the research materials. The NAIA Detroit has books covering genealogy, fiction, non-fiction, plants, maps, medicines, and crafts as well.

North American Indian Association of Detroit
22720 Plymouth Road
Detroit, MI 48239
(313) 535-2966

Detroit Historical Museum

One of the most significant museums in our area, the Detroit Historical Museum has a keen take on our city's history--including one of their signature exhibits--ORIGINS: LIFE WHERE THE RIVER BENDS.

Beginning with the area’s Native Peoples, this signature exhibition explores the many people who have lived here, and how and why they came. This region’s First People called it Waawiiyaataanong, or “where the river bends,” but it would earn many monikers over the years including “le détroit” and the “Motor City.”

Detroit Historical Museum
5401 Woodward Ave.
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 833-1805

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