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As part of our critical cataloging work, CHM librarians are introducing local and alternate subject headings to replace outdated language. In the Fall of 2021, we changed the Library of Congress Subject Heading (LCSH) “Indians of North America” to “Indigenous peoples -- [Geographic location]” and LCSHs with the modifier “Indian” (e.g. Indian silverwork) to Indigenous (e.g. Indigenous silverwork). This work is ongoing and, in an effort to better reflect Indigenous self-identities and traditional knowledge, CHM librarians have begun replacing LCSHs with local headings that better highlight tribal endonyms. An endonym, also known as an autonym, is a name used by a group of people to refer to themselves or their language. For Indigenous endonyms, the name often translates to some variation of “the people.”

These local headings are based on information sourced from official tribal nation websites, documents and language dictionaries authored by Native peoples, and work from GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) organizations. More specifically, we’ve consulted the Manitoba Archival Information Network – LCSH Working Group Indigenous subject headings; Greater Victoria Public Library interim subject headings; Canadian Research Knowledge Network interim subject headings; and the X̱wi7x̱wa Library’s First Nations House of Learning (FNHL) subject headings.

The headings on this list are applicable to the Chicago History Museum’s collection. In almost every heading, we’ve retained the exonym or anglicized spelling in parentheses. This is both for discoverability reasons and in recognition that these are names by which nations are still federally and/or locally recognized. We understand no community is monolith and these headings do not reflect every preferred name or spelling variation. This working document is neither exhaustive nor definitive, and it will be continually expanded and revised as needed. Please note: While plural spellings exist for some endonyms (e.g. Odawak), the adjectival form is used in the local heading (e.g. Odawa), inferring [The] before the tribe name. When a plural spelling is known, it's recorded in the "Notes" column.

We welcome any feedback. For suggestions, questions, or comments about this list, please contact research@chicagohistory.org

To learn more about CHM’s critical cataloging work, please see: https://libguides.chicagohistory.org/research/criticalcataloging

To learn more about CHM’s collections relating to Indigenous studies, please see: https://libguides.chicagohistory.org/research/indigenousstudies
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