Learn about Ho-Chunk history, culture Feb. 8 at Mitchell Museum
John Dall, leader of the Chicago area Ho-Chunk delegation, will present a lecture on "Ho-Chunk History and Culture" from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, 3001 Central St. in Evanston.
Cost is $10 for members or $12 for nonmembers. Tribal members are admitted free. Teachers can earn CPDU credits.
Ho-Chunk elders say that history begins with the creation of all things on earth. Ho-Chunk means "People of the Big Voice," or "People of the Sacred Language." The Ho-Chunk people have remained one of the strongest indigenous nations in the United States and occupied lands in Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Illinois. The Ho-Chunk held title to more than 10 million acres of the finest land in America.
The Chicago area Ho-Chunk delegation built a ciporoke (Chee-poe-doe-kay) lodge on the museum's west lawn in September 2014. The ciporoke is a temporary structure much like a tent. The design of the ciporoke has not changed in over 1000 years because the construction method worked for numerous Woodland indigenous cultures for centuries. The men would gather the ironwood poles and bury them about 12 inches into the ground. The poles were then bent over and joined to the poles from the opposite side. Historically, the women and youth fasten the poles with basswood cordage. Today, twine is used to tie the poles.
Dall will discuss in detail how the ciporoke plays an active role in Ho-Chunk tribal culture today and will also talk more about its design and historical context. A ciporoke tour will follow the lecture.
Dall is a graphic designer, community outreach leader, tribal legislator, teacher and public speaker. He is the founding officer of the Chicago area Ho-Chunk delegation, and has been an elected representative of the Ho-Chunk nation. Currently, he is the co-chair of the board of housing commissioners for the Ho-Chunk Community Housing and Development Agency. He also sits on the board of directors for the American Indian Center of Chicago.
The Mitchell Museum is one of only a handful of museums in the country that focuses exclusively on the art, history and culture of American Indian and First Nation peoples throughout the United States and Canada.
In 2012, the Mitchell Museum was named "Best Museum of The North Shore: Up and Comer" by Make it Better magazine, won the Superior award by the Illinois Association of Museums and was named a national finalist by the American Association of State and Local History award program.
For more information about the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, visit www.mitchellmuseum.org or call (847) 475-1030. The museum is open Tuesday-Wednesday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday- Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.
Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, students and children and free for Mitchell Museum members and tribal members.