Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Annual Summer Institute
The annual Wisconsin American Indian Studies Summer Institute is an active, highly participatory, week-long workshop designed to increase participants’ understanding of issues related to the histories, cultures, and tribal sovereignty of the American Indian nations and tribal communities in Wisconsin, and education of Native American students. This year, the 27th Annual Wisconsin American Indian Studies Summer Institute was held in Bayfield, WI and Red Cliff, WI. Sponsors included Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, School District of Bayfield, CESA 12, and the DPI. Over 60 participants attended the summer institute from all across Wisconsin, which was held on July 31 through Aug. 4, 2023.
During this year's summer institute, participants learned about Red Cliff Ojibwe histories, tribal sovereignty and its impact on Indigenous treaty rights, and related resources about the community. On day three, all participants took a day-long tour of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa community, learning about historical areas and current industries. Throughout the week, School District of Bayfield staff shared experiences collaborating with the Red Cliff Education Department, as well as explaining how they incorporate the requirements of Wisconsin Act 31 into the general curriculum, beyond just providing instruction in social studies courses.
Overall, the summer institute aims to improve teaching and learning and to enrich student services, resulting in becoming more culturally responsive. During this summer’s institute, participants were given the opportunity to learn how to adapt or develop new techniques best suited to their unique circumstances when it comes to American Indian Studies and teaching and learning for all students.
2023 Wisconsin Act 31 Celebration
This annual event celebrates the anniversary of the enactment of Wisconsin Act 31 in August of 1989. Just a few weeks ago, in early August, the 2023 event was hosted by the Wisconsin Indian Education Association (WIEA), and this year’s special host, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
Attendees were welcomed by Dr. Jim Pete, a local community member who is also the Board President of the WIEA. After an Ojibwe welcome and a blessing, participants were provided with a feast featuring local fresh ingredients, including fish from Lake Superior and locally harvested wild rice. Over 75 educators and community members attended the event.
After dinner, DPI Deputy Superintendent Dr. John Johnson provided a welcome on behalf of DPI State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly, which included recognizing ongoing efforts to incorporate Wisconsin Act 31 in schools across Wisconsin. He also acknowledged prominent Indigenous educational leaders who recently walked on: Ada Deer, Dr. Verna Fowler, and Dr. Rosemary Ackley Christensen.
After the welcome remarks, Dr. J. P. Leary, of the University of Wisconsin Green Bay First Nations Studies, gave a presentation on the history of Wisconsin Act 31. After his presentation, the audience heard from two separate educator and community panels who discussed the role and impact of Indigenous education in their schools and tribal communities.
The DPI American Indian Studies Program and the Wisconsin Indian Education Association (WIEA) established this annual event in August 2014. The event has continued to be hosted by WIEA and held previously in:
- August 2015 with the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa,
- August 2016 with the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior,
- August 2017 with the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin,
- August 2018 with the Oneida Nation
- August 2019 with the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
Due to the pandemic, the celebrations were not held in either August 2020 or August 2021, but returned back in August 2022 with the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. The DPI encourages all educators across the state to engage with the mandate set forth in Act 31, and to find ways to incorporate American Indian Studies and information about Wisconsin's tribal nations into their curricula and everyday learning activities.