Albany Park's First Nations Garden Unveils New Cultural Programming for Winter 2025

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Albany Park · November 3, 2025

The First Nations Garden in Albany Park is making a strong recovery after facing vandalism earlier this year when their wigwam, a sacred space used for teaching and ceremonies, was damaged and items inside were stolen. "We noticed all of our things were missing. We noticed the hole in the fence, but we didn't know we got robbed, also," shared Chi-Nations Garden Manager Janie Pochel after the incident.

Founded by the Chi-Nations Youth Council, this unique space at Wilson Avenue and Pulaski Road serves as both an indigenous cultural center and environmental project. The garden teaches the community about the importance of native plants while passing down age-old farming practices that help combat climate change and cleanse what was once a toxic plot of land. Community involvement continues to grow through regular work days held every other Saturday, where volunteers pull weeds, water plants, and complete other garden tasks. The group also hosts Native Sundays specifically for Chicago's Indigenous communities and has recently announced expanded winter programming for the coming months.

"It's also a space where the community knows that they can come and ask questions and gain knowledge on the native people that are still living here in the City of Chicago, practicing their culture," explains Tamez, one of the garden's leaders. "We're not just beads or feathers, we're not mascots to them - we are their neighbors." The garden's ongoing success is supported by city funding, with Chicago having approved