Anaem Omot Listed in the National Register of Historic Places
For Immediate Release (July 7, 2023)
Marinette County, WI. - The Wisconsin Historical Society, in partnership with the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, announces the listing of Anaem Omot in the National Register of Historic Places on June 20, 2023.
Anaem Omot is a Traditional Cultural Property (TCP) of the Menominee Nation. This is a place associated with the cultural practices and beliefs of a living community that are deeply rooted in the community’s history and are important in maintaining the cultural identity of that community. This TCP is directly associated with the Menominee people and the place of religious, cultural, and sacred practices stretching back from time immemorial to present day. This landscape has a spiritual and traditional importance to the Menominee people and is integral in the maintenance of their cultural identity. Anaem Omot contains sites important for understanding the significance of the Menominee Tribe and their continued use. Anaem Omot embodies the history of Native Americans that live and continue to use the area and is an example of their cultural endurance and continuity.
The Menominee Tribe is indigenous to the state of Wisconsin, and they have an extraordinary history with their creation beginning at the mouth of the Menominee River. Their five clans that originated here include the ancestral Bear, Eagle, Wolf, Moose, and Crane. Anaem Omot is the formal name for the ancestral home of the Menominee Tribe located in close proximity to their reservation. As the site of religious, cultural, and sacred practices, the stories and traditions emanating from this place are integral elements in the continuation of the Menominee heritage and way of life.
Anaem Omot retains exceptional integrity. As the cultural landscape of the Menominee Nation, it is important to recognize and preserve their cultural identity and community’s history.
“The listing of Anaem Omot in the National Register of Historic Places showcases the close work of Wisconsin’s State Historic Preservation Office and our tribal partners,” said Christian Overland, the Ruth and Hartley Barker Director & CEO for the Wisconsin Historical Society. “This designation recognizes a cultural site of incredible significance as the ancestral home of the Menominee people.”
“We are so very thankful to the National Park Service for including this site on the National Register of Historic Places,” said Gena Kakkak, Menominee Tribe Chairwoman. “Our ancestors can now rest better in their places of burial. Our original spiritual and ceremonial grounds are recognized and our children can continue to learn and find their heritage in our places of origin.”
The National Register is the official list of historic properties in America deemed worthy of preservation and is maintained by the National Park Service in the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Wisconsin Historical Society administers the program within Wisconsin. It includes sites, buildings, structures, objects and districts that are significant in national, state or local history, architecture, archaeology, engineering or culture.
For additional information on Anaem Omot, visit:
https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/NationalRegister/NR2742
For more information on the Menominee Tribe, visit:
To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visit: www.wisconsinhistory.org.
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.