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Nicki
Nicki
Some information I gathered was that timber and wild rice were very important to the Menominee. They believe that they would not be where they are today if it weren’t for their sawmill and their gaming enterprise. The Menominee were on of the first I the area to establish a casino. He talked about how the origin of the Menominee people was at the mouth of the Menominee River. The over 8,000 tribal members were separated and belonged to one of five cans. The clans were the Bear, Eagles, Wolf, Moose and Crane. Each of theses clans contributed very importantly to the Menominee government system and way of life. The Menominee are also very concerned with putting forth strong efforts to conserve their culture. One of the great ways they do this is by having Pow Wows. This is where many people come together to get dressed up and dance either for fun or for competition. It is a strong tribal tradition. Soon, we arrived at the Wolf River Dells. We were taken to a place among the trees near the water. Dave Greeno told us of how this was a sacred area. He told us a story of the Thunderbird, which represented good and the Serpent, which represented evil. Long ago they had a brutal battle that lasted for days in that very area. In the end, the Thunderbird chased the serpent into the rocks below and he can never get out although he tries. Stories like theses keep the Menominee people and their culture alive.
Later, we arrived at the Menominee Tribal School. Our class was split into two groups ad I was sent into a Menominee History classroom with Mrs. Wauka. We were immediately split and seated next to some Menominee students and some of our own classmates so we weren’t sitting separated. I was seated next to an Indian girl named Shirley. We got to talk to each other and ask each other questions. I found out that she liked to go to Pow Wows and play softball. She was interested in her Menominee Language class and History class. I shared information with her about myself also. Throughout the class we were finding we had a lot of things in common with the Menominee students and they were all really nice. We also discussed the big differences in our schools. Our school was really, really big compared to theirs. Mrs. Wauka talked to us about some things in history. It was very interesting to hear the Menominee point of view on subjects like their history, land and government.
A new class was brought into the classroom. I started talking to a girl named Renai. I found out that she liked to play soccer, volleyball and basketball and she was interested in her Menominee Language class. I had some things in common with her also. We were then moved to a Menominee Culture classroom. We listened to the teacher as he told us a lot about the Menominee culture and traditions. He told us about the game of La Cross and how it was like a ceremony for the old, sick and hurt people. It was said that they received the life and strength of the players while they watched the game. In school, the students hand-made their playing sticks for their game. He also talked to us about “smudging”. It was something they did once a week in their school and it was used to cleanse the mind of the students and to keep them connected to each other, the school, their culture and heritage. They breathed in the smoke from kindling burning in wooden bowls and it cleansed their mind opening them up to their school and the people they’re surrounded with. It was said to relieve their stress and it was a good way to keep a bond of the students and teachers within the school. He also talked to us about the four stages of life for the Menominee. He got into detail about the “sweat boxes” the boys used. They were supposed to go into it for a period of time with no food or water and sweat to show suffering. They were to sleep as a little as possible and sit there ion their own. It was part of the process of becoming a man. It was very important to keep traditions like these going. It’s another contributing factor to keeping the Menominee culture alive.
Going to the Menominee Indian Reservation was a great learning experience for me. It was good to get some fresh perspective from a different group of people on things like life, culture and history. They are a very strong and independent group of people that have persevered through many tough issues but have managed to stay a united and culturally based group of people. It was fun to get to meet Menominee kids my age and get to learn about their interests and hobbies. I had a fun time talking with them and interviewing a Menominee adult was very interesting, too. I had a fun time with my classmates and it was a good social time. I’m glad I got to go on the trip and learn new things from new people that I never would have been able to learn in a better was than actually going there.