People of the Big Voice

Following introductory essays from three of the authors are more than three hundred beautifully detailed duotone photographs. Unique to the project are captions that identify over ninety percent of the individuals pictured—made possible by the continuing efforts of tribal members and genealogists—and include both English and Ho-Chunk names.

Also featured are candid shots of Ho-Chunk people on the streets of Black River Falls, outside family dwellings, and at powwows. As author and Ho-Chunk tribal member Amy Lonetree writes, "A significant number of the images were taken just a few short years after the darkest, most devastating period for the Ho-Chunk. Invasion, diseases, warfare, forced assimilation, loss of land, and repeated forced removals from our beloved homelands left the Ho-Chunk people in a fight for their culture and their lives." 

A significant contribution to the history of Native peoples, People of the Big Voice is a breathtaking portrayal of a resilient community whose story continues today.

"This amazing collection of photographs documents a remarkable American Indian tribe, the storied Ho-Chunk people. It etches into our mind’s eye haunting images of a hard-pressed Nation emerging from smallpox, dispossession, and removal. This stirring visual legacy allows us to gaze into the eyes of a proud and handsome people who overcame these tragic hardships and successfully returned to their beloved homeland. We are all enriched by this remarkable feat!"

—Walter Echo-Hawk (Pawnee), author of In the Courts of the Conqueror: The 10 Worst Indian Law Cases Ever Decided

"People of the Big Voice should be in the hands of everyone who cares about the history of Indian people. Non-Indian photographer Charles Van Schaick did not intrude into the lives of his subjects, nor did he force his expectations and assumptions upon them. Instead, the Ho-Chunk people chose to have Van Schaick record their images. The photographs in this book thus offer a distinctive opportunity to encounter Indian people on their own terms."

—Patricia Nelson Limerick, author of The Legacy of Conquest: The Unbroken Past of the American West

"As a Ho-Chunk enrolled in the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and a scholar, I feel very happy that our ancestors are honored and remembered in such beautiful photographs. A deeply touching and academically significant book, People of the Big Voice is a must-read for all!"

—Renya Ramirez (Ho-Chunk/Winnebago), associate professor of American studies, University of California, Santa Cruz

"People of the Big Voice marks the emergence of critical scholarship on Ho-Chunk history and self-representation by Ho-Chunk scholars, with essays that combine analytical insights and personal reflections on Van Shaick’s photographs. A vital contribution to the understanding of Ho-Chunk history, People of the Big Voice is a moving tribute to the individuals depicted in Van Schaick’s photographs, and a testament to the strength and survival of the Ho-Chunk Nation."

—Grant Arndt, professor of anthropology and American Indian studies, Iowa State University

"This well designed and well written book opens a doorway into another time, place and culture, but it's the hundreds of faces that look out at us from its pages that speak to us with a big voice."

—Reggie McLeod, Big River Magazine

"This volume presents 330 duotone photographs taken over six decades. . . . Although taken in a studio with backdrops and props, the photographs are rich with cultural information, particularly as they depict clothing and material culture of the period. While Van Schaick was a commercial photographer, and the Ho-Chunk paying customers, the images are captivating, respectful, and dignified."

—Library Journal