Nekoosa schools bring in Ho-Chunk culture to enlighten the people
By Ken Luchterhand
It began with an idea by an AmeriCorps volunteer to connect the Ho-Chunk people and culture with non-natives.
It grew into an event called “Nekoosa Culture Event 2016,” a program that brought Ho-Chunk identity for everyone to experience.
That event was held on Monday, April 11, at Alexander Middle School during school hours and at the Nekoosa High School that evening.
Karen Redcloud, Tribal AmeriCorps representative, said it started about seven months ago when she was looking for a way to bring about more exposure to the Ho-Chunk culture.
“There seems to be a disconnect – a curiosity about the Ho-Chunk culture. People are asking questions,” Redcloud said. “This seemed to be a good fit to get information about the Ho-Chunk Nation out there.”
Redcloud met with a group of teachers and Nekoosa School District Administrator Terry Witmore, who all welcomed the opportunity to bring a better understanding among people.
“We’ve been meeting monthly to see how we can bring about a better relationship and work together with the Ho-Chunk Nation,” Whitmore said. The Nekoosa School District currently has a Ho-Chunk charter school in which students can learn the language and culture along with other standard school topics.
“We’re striving to break down the barriers of the past and how to work together in the future,” Whitmore said. The Ho-Chunk people are living in two worlds, their own culture, plus the world of non-natives, he said.
“We’re excited about the Culture Committee,” he said. “We’re looking to advertise so that people can be getting to the powwows.”
When the group was formulating ideas, a group of teachers came to Black River Falls to tour the Ho-Chunk Nation facilities to get a better understanding of the Nation.
The Culture Event can be considered part of Act 31, where the schools implement programs to educate students and public about the local indigenous people, Whitmore said.
Angeline Decorah, interim center director of the Nekoosa Youth and Learning Center, has been a part of the Culture Planning Committee and she said the effort has been to work toward integrating Act 31 into the classrooms.
To help with that effort, students and teachers from Port Edwards came to attend and participate in the Nekoosa Culture Event at the Alexander Middle School.
The lessons given for fourth- and fifth-grade students were about black ash basket making, frybread making, kinship and clans, moccasin games, bandolier bags and regalia presentation.
In the evening event at the High School, the event began with a meal of traditional Ho-Chunk food and a thank-you song in the cafeteria. The event continued in the auditorium beginning with a welcome by Karen Redcloud. A student introduction was given by ninth-grade student Isaac Decorah, followed by dances being described and introduced by master-of-ceremonies Dillon Prescott.
“What makes it even more wonderful is that a majority of the dancers were Ho-Chunk high school students,” Decorah said.
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