Menominee History | Tribal Histories

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Published 2020-10-20
Along the banks of the Wolf River, tribal elder and preservationist David Grignon tells the oral tradition of the Menominee people. Grignon shares not only who the Menominee are, but why they’re in Wisconsin, and how he is striving to preserve their traditions.

Watch the full Tribal Histories series online and on the PBS app on your phone, tablet, Roku, other streaming devices and Smart TVs now: pbswisconsin.org/watch/tribal-histories/

All Comments (21)
  • @Nightmarepizza
    My grandmother was moved from new York to Oneida Wisconsin our land was given to us by the Menominee
  • It breaks my heart to see those photo's of children in the boarding schools, especially the very young children🥺. It's just terrible. There are still many elders alive today telling their boarding school horror stories😔
  • @ginnyrosalia
    These are descendants of the people who truly know how to treat this land. They deserve even more than our basic respect. They need more land and deserve to flourish…they deserve to be left alone to recover and become strong again
  • @nazfan01
    (2023) - I am now 61 years old. For many years I have always known my maternal grandmother (1913-2011) was part Indian and part black. My family are from East Tennessee Smoky Mountains. Matter of fact within the start of Trail Of Tears area (Birchwood, Tn) I finally got the Ancestry website account and had my DNA sent in. To my surprise the Indian blood I have is Menominee. I was not expecting that as I always thought it would be Cherokee. Then I realized that my best friend's father and grandfather were originally from Milwaukee, I guess what I am saying is that I assume tribes obviously traveled or were moved. The other half of my blood is my 3x Great Grandfather was a black slave whom ended up fighting in the Civil War. He married a Menominee woman and had 10 children. Around c.1879, Congress had rewarded Civil War soilders 160 acres of farm land tax free as long as the lived on the land. So as expected, my family were farmers.... including myself.
  • I became friends with a guy who was Menomonee. We first met when we fought against each other in the 1982 Golden Gloves state championship finals. His name was Mario Waupoose ( God rest his soul ), we became friends after the fight and even though I won by a decision he was the toughest opponent I ever fought against as an amateur or pro, a true warrior. I would cheer him on at other matches and considered him a friend. We got along good with each other after we fought and I always had and still have respect for him. It saddened me to hear he had passed away. I had hoped to see him again when I return to Wisconsin one day. Rest in peace Mario.
  • @cefcat5733
    Thank you. That was great. I was in your area as a kid. I saw the lumber trucks and many young male adults crossing the street. We stopped at a little gas station in town. Shaw'no they called it but it is Shawano on the map. My brother and I met 3 Indigenous kids.. 2 older taller slender girls maybe 8 or 7 years old and a boy maybe 6 or 7 in the Dime Store. I think that the building was white with red trim on the windows. We all smiled but were too shy to speak. I never forgot that. A lawyer told me recently that being nice gets you no reward. It is hard to be true to yourself and to also know how the world functions to always trick and take. It is hard to avoid all battles even though your heart might not be in it. Like minds, must stick together to outwardly face it, fight it and finish it. Inside you might suffer. I got a lawyer last week. He is my worldly warrior. Please keep the language and culture alive. That is beautiful.
  • @danabergeon6065
    What a beautiful history....I am grateful my friend has let me borrow his tablet so I may receive knowledge of this amazing heritage... I am proud to be a part of my friends heritage and his welcoming of me to be included here ...a part of his family.... As an escanabian I feel a part of this history.... I feel sad to know that this information is not promoted more... I am seen as white ... Although my spirit feels otherwise.... I know my soul and spirit is part of this land... Which is why I am so passionate to support my brothers and sisters of this native land I am blessed to be allowed to freely roam...which is only a fraction of what should be rightly reTurned to them in my opinion... May my friends and in my opinion FAMILY be blessed by spirit still alive in souls long passed... I am blessed to be alive to witness survival and continuation of tradition!!! So... I am truly blessed!!! Thank you my friends... Thank you my family. Jammie berglund
  • @grantmorris465
    Annually I come to the reservation to raft the wolf river. I love all of you members of the menomimee tribe. Thank you for keeping your culture and maintaining a safe and fun operation for others to enjoy