Teejop & Beyond: Celebrating Native Nations, a program created by Madison Public Library in partnership with Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison, kicked off in libraries across Madison on Indigenous Peoples’ Day yesterday and will be celebrated throughout autumn.
Teejop & Beyond highlights both traditional and contemporary practices, stories, and community relationships, according to a press release from the City of Madison, and six presenters representing different Native tribes will lead programs throughout October and November on a wide range of topics including Native citizenship and participation in the electoral process, the recent discovery of canoes in Lake Mendota, the history and process of making musical instruments, and more. Four presenters are returning from last year’s program series.
“I enjoy speaking and sharing stories and the Madison Public libraries have given me many opportunities to do so. I always look forward to sharing my poetry and stories,” said Sherman Funmaker, who has presented a program called Growing Up Native in Wisconsin for the past two years as part of the Teejop & Beyond series.
Program participants will also have the opportunity to try hands-on crafts important to Native tribes in Wisconsin – like beading and basket weaving – and understand the ways techniques and approaches vary depending on the tribal traditions guiding them.
This year, presenters represent the Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Ottawa, and Choctaw nations: They include:
- Kimberly Crowley [Ho-Chunk Nation – Thunder Clan]
- Torey Dolan [Chocktaw Nation of Oklahoma]
- Sherman Funmaker [Ho-Chunk Nation – Bear Clan Elder]
- Dawn Moneyhan [Little River Band of Ottawa Indians]
- Yvette Peguero [Menominee Tribe Elder]
- Bill Quackenbush [Ho-Chunk Nation – Deer Clan]
Read the full bios of the presenters online here.
