Indian Nations of Wisconsin

Focusing on oral tradition—stories, songs, the recorded words of treaty negotiators, and interviews—along with other untapped Native sources, such as Tribal newspapers, Loew presents a distinctly different view of history. Elders and Tribal historians from each of the Native communities participated in the book’s development. Indian Nations of Wisconsin also emphasizes contemporary historical events and initiatives of the twenty-first century, covering the economic, social, and environmental advancements of Native communities, including urban Indians. Forewords by Paul DeMain (editor of News from Indian Country) and J. P. Leary (associate professor of First Nation Studies at UW–Green Bay) further help readers understand how the history chronicled in these pages is the history of all of us.

Lavishly illustrated with maps and more than 140 photographs, Indian Nations of Wisconsin is indispensable to anyone interested in the history of the region and its Native peoples.

“Only with an understanding of the culture, values, and wisdom of our Nation’s first citizens can we achieve a more just and tolerant society that will serve all citizens and protect our natural world. A must-read for educators, policy makers, and community leaders.”

—James E. Zorn, Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission

“In this unprecedented era of cooperation between Native Americans and non–Native Americans, a new epoch in our nation’s history, we continue to enrich our understanding of our shared histories, and ultimately, our shared futures together. We are lucky. Patty Loew gives us educational treasures in Indian Nations of Wisconsin. The rich stories, images, and symbols in her book have all been collected and shared in partnership with the Native American Nations and communities in Wisconsin. These invaluable texts are the first steps any educator or person should take in learning about the complex 12,000-year human story of our home, the multi-ethnic and multilingual Western Great Lakes.”

—Aaron Bird Bear, inaugural Director of Tribal Relations, UW–Madison

“Containing a plethora of primary documents, maps, archival photographs, and interviews, Indian Nations of Wisconsin . . . does an exemplary job of demonstrating the importance of Wisconsin’s native people in Wisconsin’s history, politics, and culture. Indian Nations of Wisconsin is a crucial resource for any school district that effectively implements the requirements of Act 31. Our First Nations Studies program at Prescott High School would not be complete without this impressive book.”

—Jeff Ryan, First Nations history teacher, Prescott High School

“Patty Loew demonstrates with her research and writing that there are multiple ways of understanding the past and present. She has consulted the standard written sources, but she also took the time to interview tribal historians to learn what they had to teach based on the oral histories of each tribe. No other published work does this for Wisconsin tribes.”

—James W. Oberly, Department of History and American Indian Studies Program, UW–Eau Claire

“A living and breathing history book.”

—Kanak Odekirk, School District of Wabeno Area