Schumacher Farm Park will host its second annual Indigenous Culture Celebration on Saturday, July 11 from 2:00-5:00 p.m.. The free community event will feature hands-on activities, live performances and a special traveling exhibit honoring the traditions of the Ho-Chunk people and their connection to the natural world.
“True historical representation requires honoring the original stewards of this land. Providing these spaces fosters empathy, breaks down cultural barriers and enriches the collective identity of the greater Madison area,” Schumacher Farm Park Administrator Nelle Kempfer said.
The cultural presentation will feature the Wisconsin Dells Singers and Native artisans from the Little Eagle Arts Foundation (LEAF), both of which helped launch the inaugural event last year. As a nature conservancy and historical museum, Schumacher Farm Park held its first celebration seeking to deepen community impact with an event that “accurately reflects the Native historical culture that predates and shapes rural Wisconsin life,” Kempfer said.
With support from the Village of Waunakee, the idea became reality last year with nearly 250 community members in attendance, drawing visitors from “far beyond our immediate neighborhoods,” Kempfer said. This year, community sponsorship has expanded to include the Waunakee Community Foundation, Waunakee Rotary Club and the Dane Arts Foundation.
Returning visitors can expect a similar lineup of performances and activities, but on a larger, more developed scale.
“Performers will have a much larger tent this year to create a more immersive storytelling, dancing and musical experience. The Wisconsin Dells Singers will perform authentic Ho-Chunk songs and chants set to a traditional large dance drum, complete with narrations explaining the spiritual significance of their clothing and movements,” Kempfer said.
LEAF’s artisan marketplace will offer hands-on public activities while demonstrating traditional creative practices. Attendees can participate in crafts such as friendship bracelets, black ash sculptures and cattail mat weaving. Local artisans will also sell their authentic, handmade items. Additionally, The Center for Rural History will present a Traveling Museum Exhibit highlighting Ho-Chunk environmental movements and cultural beliefs. The Village of Waunakee, the Ho-Chunk Nation Museum, Wisconsin Humanities and UW-Madison UniverCity Alliance developed and debuted this project last year to further education on Ho-Chunk values including environmental protection.
Attendees can further explore Ho-Chunk natural history by taking a self-guided exploration of traditional plants in the prairie.
“We hope visitors leave with a profound sense of appreciation for the land’s native culture and a meaningful, personal connection to it,” Kempfer said. “We are fully committed to keeping this event completely free so that people from all walks of life can access and celebrate Indigenous culture without barriers.”
Schumaker Farm Park welcomes community members of all ages to this free event. No registration is required.
