Monday, June 10, 2019
With the assistant of IMLS Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services funds, the “People of the Wild Rice” can continue planning for improvements to exhibits at the Menominee Cultural Museum and Logging Museum. The Menominee Cultural Museum preserves artifacts and stories from the tribe’s 10,000 year history. The Menominee Logging Camp Museum is the largest logging museum in the United States and is comprised of seven log buildings and thousands of artifacts. The grant will allow the tribe to add expanded opportunities for learning about their rich culture, rooted in sustainability, both inside and outside of the buildings. If you visit these historic Wisconsin sites this summer, be sure to congratulate them on the grant award.
The Menominee Cultural Museum is open year round 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday.
The Logging Museum is open May through October 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday.
Their application summary: The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin will build on the results of ongoing research to develop an interpretive plan for both interior and exterior exhibits at the Menominee Cultural Museum and Logging Museum. The interpretive plan will reflect the Menominee origin narrative and their known identity as the "People of the Wild Rice." The outdoor exhibit will provide opportunities for seasonal community events, such as processing of wild rice and harvesting maize and other crops. These outdoor activities will help acquaint visitors with the Menominee philosophy of sustainable way of life. Project activities will engage museum staff, consultants, elders, and students in planning and implementing a robust series of traditional activities that supplement and support the exhibit development.
Image Citation: Retrieved from the Digital Public Library of America <http://content.mpl.org/cdm/ref/collection/cmnlsc/id/3514>.
Written by Cindy Fesemyer, Public Library Development