The Ho-Chunk and Starkweather Creek history event on July 25, organized by MEJO’s Starkweather Environmental Justice project team, was a huge success—a really unique multi-cultural gathering. Event co-sponsors were Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison, Northside Planning Council, Gambian Youths of Wisconsin, and the East Madison Community Center.
The event, attended by about 60 people, opened with a song and prayer by Ho-Chunk leader Eric Logan. Missy Tracy and Kyla Beard from Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison then shared presentations on the history of the Ho-Chunk people in the DeJope (Four Lakes) region and Native food sovereignty. After their presentations, Ida Jammeh, Touyeng Xiong, and Maria Powell from the MEJO Starkweather team gave a brief overview of the history of Starkweather Creek, and some of its current challenges. Finally, after Eric Logan gave a beautiful blessing of the meal, everyone shared multi-cultural food–including Ho-Chunk soup and fry bread, wild rice from northern Wisconsin/Minnesota, southern fried catfish, locally-caught white bass, Gambian Yassa and rice, Southeast Asian noodles, and several dishes and/or desserts made from nuts and plants foraged on Madison’s Northside.
Conversations with the meal were lively and many people made new connections.
Some photos of the event are below.
Ho-Chunk leader Eric Logan opened the event with a Ho-Chunk song
After their presentations, Missy Tracy & Kyla Beard of Ho-Chunk Gaming answer audience questions about Ho-Chunk history and food sovereignty
Everyone enjoyed the great food!
Touyeng Xiong, MEJO intern, describes some challenges facing Starkweather Creek currently
MEJO presented data from community surveys on Starkweather Creek
Beautiful Ho-Chunk baskets from Kimberly & Sarah Crowley were displayed
After the presentations, everyone enjoyed talking while sharing the meal
Pi na gigi! Thank you!
