Message-ID: <SNT104-W1249463E75C51117CFBEB3A1720@phx.gbl> From: Destinee Udelhoven <destineekae@hotmail.com> Subject: Indian Agency House Begins Native American Cultural Site Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 11:06:33 -0500
Agency House and Local Charter School
Collaborate on Native American Cultural Site Project
Portage’s River Crossing Environmental Charter School, under the leader
ship of teacher Stacie Enders, and the Historic Indian Agency House (HIAH
) are teaming up to better tell the story of Wisconsin’s Native Americans
. With the expert help of Ho-Chunk Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Wi
lliam Quackenbush, River Crossing is installing a Native American Cultura
l Site and Native Prairie Garden on the grounds of HIAH.
This spring, a small group of River Crossing students selected this long-
hoped-for HIAH vision as their community service project. In association w
ith the endeavor, they have signed on to install a Native American “vil
lage site” (including several housing units or “ciporokes” and a foo
d preparation area), as well as the clearing of the ground needed for thi
s site, and analyze and accurately re-seed the already existing “prairi
e garden.” The students have also committed to providing informational p
ackets and hand-outs to accompany the cultural site and prairie garden.
Since February, they have since been researching the historical backgroun
d and traditions of the Ho-Chunk people, in order to ensure an accurate r
epresentation of their culture and ways of living. Mr. Quackenbush even ma
d e the drive down from his Black River Falls office in February to give an
in-class presentation on ciporoke-building.
Then, this April and May, the entire River Crossing student body, wit
h the help of HIAH Caretaker Scott Benson, delved into the physical work
of erecting the associated structures and elements of the Native American c
ultural site. Mr. Quackenbush again joined us on two occasions to oversee
their efforts, sharing his extensive Native American knowledge base, hi
s good humor, and his tools with the eager students.
As of Friday, April 29, two ciporokes frames and a food cache are compl
ete, with a third ceremonial ciporoke started. In addition, the River
Crossing Students burnt the prairie garden area, under the supervision of
Mr. Benson and Fire Chief Clayton Simonson. The burning cleared the area o
f invasive species growth and view-obstructing undergrowth, in preparatio
n for a re-planting of native seeds.
Although a majority of the young trees used as building material for the Cu
ltural Site could be found on site or was donated by generous landowners,
it will be necessary to purchase a variety of supplies for the project,
including oversized canvas tarps to cover the ciporokes and native seeds fo
r the prairie garden. HIAH is fortunate to have on hand monies donated by t
he recently-dissolved Discovery Depot Children’s Museum, whose former B
oard President Eleanor Voigt specifically mentioned a “Native American vi
llage” as a particularly appropriate use of the funds in a 2010 letter a
ccompanying their donation.
The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Wisco
nsin (NSCDA-WI), owners and operators of the site since 1932, approved
the project at the governing Board level in April and are very excited to s
ee it move forward. The project is a perfect fit with the mission of the N
SDCA-WI, who have expended much time and resources in the promotion and e
xecution of public education and historic preservation—including, of co
urse, their care and oversight of the Historic Indian Agency House.
As mentioned above, this project joins many different entities in a worth
while and innovative educational undertaking—the National Society of the
Colonial Dames of America State of Wisconsin, the Historic Indian Agency
House, River Crossing and the Portage School District, the Ho-Chunk Nat
ion, and the former Discovery Depot Children’s Museum. It is hoped tha
t the Native American Cultural Site and Native Prairie Garden will provide
visitors to the site, including students and tourists, with a deeper un
derstanding of the too-often untold Native American history of the Portage
area.
HIAH Site Director Destinee Udelhoven expressed her thanks to the many peop
le working on the project, stating: “I know the idea of a Native Americ
an interpretative component has been floating around the organization for y
ears, and it is a vision that has been made a priority since I came aboar
d in 2008. I am overjoyed and deeply humbled by the assistance provided by
River Crossing’s talented students and Ho-Chunk Preservation Officer Mr.
Quackenbush. It is definitely a team effort.” Udelhoven also enthusiast
ically invited the public out to see the progression of the Native American
Cultural Site and Native Prairie Garden, encouraging everyone to, “C
ome out and let us know what you think!”
The Historic Indian Agency House opens for the season on May 15, with gui
ded tours offered daily for a nominal fee. For a full listing of events an
d further information contact 608-742-6362 or visit www.agencyhouse.org.
See a few photos of the process below, and check out our Facebook page (s
earch "Historic Indian Agency House") for a full photographic record of the
cultural site's development.
Ho-Chunk Tribal Historic Preservation Officer William Quackenbush demonstra
tes to River Crossing students how to secure the limbs of young saplings to
form the walls of a Native American ciporoke, built in historically-accu
rate style.
Ho-Chunk Tribal Historic Preservation Officer William Quackenbush, Teache
r Stacie Enders, and the students of Portage’s River Crossing Environme
ntal Charter School proudly pose in front their first Native American-style
ciporoke (housing unit) frame, built on the grounds of the Historic Indi
an AgencyHouse, which sits on the ancestral territory of the Ho-Chunk peo
ple.
River Crossing’s Mrs. Enders (in purple bandanna) and her students carefu
lly burn the prairie garden of the Historic Indian Agency House, to clear
invasive species and prepare the area for a re-seeding with native plants.
___________________________________________________________________________
_
Destinee K. Udelhoven
Executive Director
Historic Indian Agency House
Portage, Wisconsin
(608) 742 - 6362
Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.
~John D. Rockefeller