Blogpost from Jeanne Roberts and Renee Gralewicz Posoh (hello in Menominee) or Posoh mı̄p (good morning). On April 15, members of all local Wisconsin Leagues were invited to Keshena to learn about the archaeology of the Menominee Nation, the history of the Menominee women and their relationship with the League of Women Voters, to share in some good food and to enjoy the Sturgeon Fest Pow Wow. Dr. David Overstreet, archaeologist andLWV Milwaukee member, led the program using his knowledge from his work with the Menominee Nation since the early 1990s. Over 30 League members and friends gathered at the Menominee Nation Cultural and Logging Center. One of the most interesting pieces of information presented was that there was a local League on the Menominee Reservation!! We don’t know when the local league was established but we do know that the LWV advised the Menominee to oppose the General Allotment Act also known as the Dawes Act. This act was designed to allot reservation lands to individuals and families with the “leftover” lands being put up for sale to non-indigenous. With the support of the LWV, the Menominee were the only tribe to NOT accept allotment and thus keep the lands within the tribe. However, as the years moved forward, the LWV appeared to listen less to the Menominee and their perspectives leading to the abandonment of the local Menominee league. A second insightful part of the lecture was the ancient agricultural practices of the Menominee. Traditional archaeological thought is that farms are in open fields, not woodlands. Archaeologists could not make sense of the geographic formations found in the Menominee area. Along comes Dr. Overstreet in 1985 who listened to the Menominee elders leading him to discover the ancient growing patterns of raised garden beds. For more information, review the articles listed below. The Menominee have centuries of experience in sustainable gardening that allows for woodlands to grow and people to be fed. They live within their ecological means in harmony with nature which is something that we can all take a lesson in.

Following the lecture, League members were treated to a guided tour along the river where two students spoke about the village sites under excavation.  This included an explanation of the importance of Keshena Falls to the Menominee where an underwater drum calls the sturgeon back to the area.

Finally, some League members also attended the pow wow and even participated in an intertribal dance.