Events Calendar

Due to the very strong interest in the June 2017 Native American workshop, the Society is holding a follow-on "Workshop on the Native American Presence: Past, Present and Future" on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the German American Museum. The Workshop includes several noteworthy presentations and cultural exhibitions from the Ho-Chunk Nation, the Ojibwe Nation, the Museum display, and private collection exhibits.

This Workshop includes well known speakers with challenging topics. The keynote address will be delivered by Collin Price of the Ho-Chunk Nation Office of the President. Collin will speak on "The Ho-Chunk Nation: Perseverance and Resiliency." The Ho-Chunk Nation today consists of over 8,000 members, mostly in Wisconsin but some in neighboring states like Iowa and Minnesota.

Collin, who is a key part of the Ho-Chunk leadership team for public relations outreach, states, "The tribe has many unique challenges that require creative solutions and meaningful relationships to achieve our goals."

Katherine McCarville, Professor of Geology at Upper Iowa University, Fayette, Iowa, will present on "Geology and Human Habitation in the Upper Mississippi River Valley." Katherine leads student courses with extensive field studies and analysis of NE Iowa terrain.

Lara Noldner, the Director of Bioarchaeology at the Office of the State Archaeologist at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, will present on "Early Occupation of Northeast Iowa and the Protections Afforded to Burial Sites and Ancient Human Remains".

Cynthia Peterson, archaeologist with the US Army Corps of Engineers at Rock Island, Illinois, will address "Ho-Chunk Gardens, Villages, Camps and More: National Register of Historic Places Archaeological Sites in Iowa." Cynthia has done extensive field research on the Indian Sub Agency on the Turkey River located about two miles northeast of St. Lucas.

During the luncheon break, attendees can view the Ho-Chunk Nation cultural exhibition from Black River Falls, Wisconsin, the Museum’s Native American collection, and prehistoric and historic artifact collections of local private collectors, many of museum quality. The St. Francis Solanus Mission School at the Lac Courte Oreilles Indian Reservation of the village of Reserve, Wisconsin. The School, staffed by the School Sisters of St. Francis of Milwaukee, is providing an Ojibwe cultural exhibit and authentic Ojibwe craft items for sale.

Jon Greendeer, the Executive Director of Ho-Chunk Nation Cultural Heritage, will lead off the afternoon, with his insights on "Experiencing the Ho-Chunk Nation: From a Ho-Chunk Perspective." Jon has served as Ho-Chunk Nation president and is a student of Ho-Chunk language and traditional ways of life.

La Raw Maran, former anthropology professor, University of Illinois-Champaign will lead off with "Past, Present and Future of Ethnic Peoples." La Raw has great insight into the similar challenges facing the ethnic identities of Native Americans, German Americans and other ethnic groups.

Russ Baldner, an accomplished historian and archaeologist will present on "Prehistoric Petroglyphs in Northeast Iowa". Russ is in the process of publishing a three-part article on his field research in the journal of the Iowa Archaeology Society.

Tereasa Lenius, an independent scholar will present on her research on "Winnebago (now Ho-Chunk) Chief Whirling Thunder: Uncovering his Life and Legend". Chief Whirling Thunder was the lead figure in the Winnebago clan near Waucoma in Fayette County, Iowa.

The final session will include local oral historians with knowledge of encounters with Winnebago Indians in this area in the mid 20th Century. Invited to share their stories are: Norbert Hackman, Adrian Kuennen, Clarence Kuennen, Myles Kupka, Ruth Huber Pavlovec, and Helen Huber Langreck. Richard Jensen of Elgin, Iowa, will share his experiences as a Ho-Chunk growing up and living in this area.

The workshop will include a midafternoon field visit (by private cars) to the historic Indian Sub-Agency site near the Turkey River two miles northeast of St. Lucas. Terry Landsgaard, Upper Iowa University, will lead the discussions at the Indian Sub-Agency and nearby historic living sites and burial grounds. Cynthia Peterson, US Army Corps of Engineers, and Al Becker, local historian, will be assisting with the field visit.

Collin Price, Office of the President of the Ho-Chunk Nation, states "Ho-chunk Nation tribal leadership looks forward to participating to help increase public awareness of their long and difficult journey over the past two centuries and the challenges and opportunities facing their Nation today. The speakers can help us increase our awareness and understanding of the past and the future."

Jon Greendeer, executive director of Ho-Chunk Nation Cultural Heritage, and Clair Blong, president of the Society, will serve as co-moderators of the Workshop. Jon and Clair note, "We are very excited about the high caliber of speakers and their desire to share about the Native American presence in this region during the prehistoric and historic periods and the contemporary challenges and opportunities of the Ho-Chunk Nation and its members."

Participants are asked to make a free will donation to help defray the workshop costs including luncheon and refreshment expenses, printing of materials, necessary audio-visual equipment, and related workshop expenses. For attendance and luncheon planning purposes, please let us know of your attendance by registering at stlucasmuseum.org.