Ryan Winn

History of Restoration coming alive in show

Published by admin on Fri, 12/01/2023 - 2:03pm

What is sometimes lost in the story of Menominee Restoration is that many people acted because it was asked of them. Ada Deer, Sylvia Wilber, Shirley Daly, and countless others became involved with the movement to restore their tribe’s federal trust status because their parents and community asked them to do so. The leaders of DRUMS, which stands for Determination of Rights and Unity for Menominee Stockholders, put their Creator-given talents to work.

Restoration told by those who lived through it

Published by admin on Mon, 11/06/2023 - 10:33am

Last week, a friend from graduate school pinged my phone with a simple question: “Any books I should read for Indigenous Heritage Month?”

Native languages accessible by online means

Published by admin on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 5:12pm

If you’ve recently spent time on the College of Menominee Nation’s Facebook page, you’ve likely seen the Menominee word, kocēqtah. In English, the term translates to “try it.”

In partnership with Menominiyou, CMN is posting a new video in its “Let’s All Speak the Language” series biweekly throughout its fall semester. The goal is for every viewer to watch the language instructions and try speaking Menominee aloud.

Book details maintaining Oneida sovereignty

Published by admin on Sat, 09/09/2023 - 10:44am

Oneida Nation tribal member Rebecca M. Webster is guided by the teachings of her people. “Under the Great Law, we are taught to carry ourselves with three main principles — kanikuliyo/skana (peace of mind), kanolunkwatsla (love) and katsastʌnsla (power).”

Webster’s book, “In Defense of Sovereignty: Protecting the Oneida Nation’s Inherent Right to Self-Determination,” demonstrates how her nation applies these concepts to their social, political and legal dealings with the village of Hobart.

For Morris, ‘it is good’ to be educator

Published by admin on Sun, 08/06/2023 - 7:33pm

Jennifer Morris’ favorite Menominee word is wēskewat. It translates into English as “it is good.” A member of College of Menominee Nation’s teacher education department, Morris’ efforts were deemed wēskewat by the school’s administrators. At the school’s May commencement, she was announced as CMN’s Faculty of the Year. I caught up with Morris on her return to campus this August, and she agreed to share her thoughts on the eve of CMN’s fall semester.

Pageant Players take audience back to onakow

Published by admin on Sun, 07/09/2023 - 11:02am

Last month, the Menominee Pageant Players brought the Native American Tourism of Wisconsin Conference attendees to their feet. At the event in Keshena, the group concluded their presentation as they do every show — with an intertribal dance that they invite everyone to partake in.

Gauthier’s acting career traced back to CMN

Published by LPulaski on Thu, 06/08/2023 - 3:50pm

Last month, Menominee actor Justin Gauthier came to the College of Menominee Nation S. Verna Fowler Library and esiqtawaw — the Menominee word for visited. I use the word esiqtawaw because Gauthier’s conversational presentation was an example of the fine art that previous generations simply referred to as “visiting.”

Clark uses writing as cleansing source

Published by admin on Thu, 05/11/2023 - 12:10pm

The Oneida word for stories is okalaˀshúha. One of the tribe’s most prolific contemporary storytellers is Louis V. Clark III (Two Shoes). This spring, he shared his work with the College of Menominee Nation.

CMN students live their ancestors’ prayers

Published by admin on Tue, 04/11/2023 - 3:33pm

The Menominee word “sawāēnohtawāēw” translates to English as “gives hearing to his or her prayer.” The sentiment is one that College of Menominee Nation students and staff reflected on when they attended a gathering for Tribal College and University (TCU) personnel in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The March conference celebrated the TCU movement through the mantra “Living Our Ancestors’ Prayers.”

CMN’s 30th year of restoring Native nations

Published by admin on Thu, 03/09/2023 - 2:39pm

When President Christopher Caldwell thinks about College of Menominee Nation’s 30th anniversary, he thinks about netāēnawemākanak. The Menominee word translates to English as “all my relations,” which he sees as a component of the “generational” nature of the college.