Water is life: Lake Winnebago

Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin’s largest inland lake, is important to many - the Indigenous people who live there now, the Indigenous people who have a long history on its shores, the non-Indigenous residents of the Fox valley, and the local plants and animals. On this episode, we talk to one inter-tribal team that is looking to unite all of these groups for the health of the lake and for Indigenous sovereignty. From leaders at the Brothertown Indian Nation and UW-Madison, we hear about the Water Walk movement, the history of wild rice on Lake Winnebago, the outlooks for rice restoration and the importance of strong partnerships.

Special thanks to our guests:

Jessica Ryan, Brothertown Indian Nation

Skip Blanc, Brothertown Indian Nation

Dr. Jessie Conaway, UW-Madison

Ashley Gries, UW-Madison (former)

Links:

Brothertown Indian Nation (Eeyamquittoowauconnuck)

Meet Josephine Mandamin (Anishinaabekwe), The “Water Walker”

Ho Chunk history of Lake Winnebago

Menominee Place Names in Wisconsin

The Ojibwe People’s Dictionary: wiinibiigoo

Oneida pronunciation: kanyataláheleˀ

Northern wild rice

Southern wild rice

Manoomin Education and Outreach Toolkit