CELEBRATION OF INDIGENOUS CULTURE

Photos courtesy of Wisconsin Dells Singers

Gathering of Traditions: A Celebration of Indigenous Culture

Date: Saturday, July 12, 2025
Time: 2:00 – 5:00 PM

Join the Friends of Schumacher Farm in partnership with the Village of Waunakee for Gathering of Traditions, A Celebration of Indigenous Culture featuring traditional arts, music, and exhibitions. This collaborative event brings Little Eagle Arts Foundation (LEAF) and the Wisconsin Dells Singers to the park, offering a unique opportunity to engage with local tribal traditions through hands-on activities, live performances, and a special traveling exhibit unveiling.

This event is FREE and family friendly! Rain or shine, with indoor/tented options as needed. Soda and water will be available for purchase from the Friends of Schumacher Farm Park, and guests are welcome to bring their own snacks as well as blankets or chairs. Come celebrate, learn, and connect with the rich traditions of the Ho-Chunk people!

Event Highlights:

Indigenous Art Activities & Demonstrations (2:00 – 5:00 PM)

• Hands-on activities: Friendship bracelets, black ash sculptures, and cattail mat weaving.
• Displays of Ho-Chunk arts and crafts, including beaded regalia and black ash baskets.

Wisconsin Dells Singers Performance (3:00 – 4:00 PM)

• A powerful performance featuring songs sung in Ho-Chunk to the steady beat of a large dance drum.
• Insightful storytelling about traditional songs, drumming, and regalia.

Unveiling of the Traveling Museum Exhibit

• The Village of Waunakee, in partnership with the Ho-Chunk Nation Museum & Cultural Center, Wisconsin Humanities, and UW-Madison UniverCity Alliance, has created a Traveling Museum Exhibit highlighting Ho-Chunk cultural beliefs, practices, and environmental movements. This exciting exhibit will be displayed publicly for the first time in the Center for Rural History for this event before moving to the Waunakee Public Library in the fall and eventually being donated to the Ho-Chunk Nation.

This programming is funded in part by a grant from Wisconsin Humanities, with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the State of Wisconsin. Wisconsin Humanities strengthens our democracy through educational and cultural programs that build connections and understanding among people of all backgrounds and beliefs throughout the state. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.