Bridging Past and Present: Exploring Native American Cultural Series of Presentations, Workshops, and Lectures

Bridging Past and Present: Exploring Native American Cultural Heritage: a Series of Presentations, Workshops, and Lectures 

Opening Presentation on February 23, 2025, at 2 p.m. in the large ballroom of the Oshkosh Convention Center.

2 North Main Street, Oshkosh, WI 54901 

Details on the opening program:

The public is invited to join us for the free opening program kicking off the Bridging Past and Present: Exploring Native American Cultural Heritage program series. On the Sunday event,  a panel consisting of Jennifer Haas, Director of the Cultural Resource Management Program at UWM, David Grignon, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, and William Quackenbush, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer of the Ho-Chunk Nation will share their involvement and perspectives about the recent Menominee Park archaeological work.

The Sunday program is the first in a new programming series presented by the Oshkosh Public Museum and Friends of the Oshkosh Seniors Center. This series will provide opportunities to increase understanding of our region's Indigenous communities, both past and present. Participating in this program can contribute to a more inclusive and culturally aware community here in Oshkosh.

In the fall of 2023, the City of Oshkosh engaged the University of Milwaukee's Cultural Resource Management (UWM-CRM) to provide consultation for the road construction project in Menominee Park to ensure compliance with historic preservation regulations. During their archaeological work, UWM-CRM identified evidence of an early Native American village from circa 900 to 1600 CE. Through consultation with the Wisconsin Historical Society, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and associated Tribal Nations, UWM-CRM developed a plan to protect the site. From the local community to national news coverage, much interest followed these discoveries.

In response, the Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM) and the Friends of the Oshkosh Seniors Center partnered to develop a project to demystify this archeological work and highlight Native American art and cultural heritage through a series of presentations and workshops. The program received funding through the Wisconsin Arts Board and the Friends of the Oshkosh Seniors Center.

Our goal is to enable the community to learn more about the enduring cultural contributions of the Indigenous Ho-Chunk and Menominee people through the findings of the early historic Native American Village and highlight the enduring vibrancy of Native American art and culture.

The program series will include presentations, lectures, and workshops with Native American artists, scholars, and professional UWM-CRM archaeologists.  

After the opening event, we will announce the upcoming workshops, lectures, and hands-on opportunities that celebrate the Native American cultural heritage of the past through the art of contemporary Native American artists. These educational programs are designed to stimulate intellectual curiosity by providing a unique learning experience. They allow the public to find connections, learn, and honor the cultural heritage of the Tribal Nations through art, fostering a sense of engagement and enrichment.

The series will take place in February, March, and April 2025. Links to ticket sales will be posted - https://www.oshkoshwi.gov/SeniorServices/ 

Sign language interpreters will be on-site at the February 23, 2025, opening event. 

If you have questions about the new series, please call Anne Schaefer, the City of Oshkosh's Marketing and Fund Development Coordinator, at 920.232.5306.