Netāēnawemākenak
We are all Related
Living in Relationship
‘Living in relationship’ means recognizing that all of Creation is interconnected, and that we are a part of this system of relationships. We are responsible to protect the lands and waters our ancestors safeguarded and our leaders continue to care for. These lands have taught our people how to live in balance and because of that, protecting and preserving biodiversity is central to who we are. The health of our lands, waters, and the Natural World is inseparable from the wellbeing of our people.
Rematriation
Rematriation is a practice that restores ecological and spiritual balance with grandmother Earth. It means bringing home the relatives who were removed from their place in our ecosystem and renewing the responsibilities that come with them.
Restoration
We view restoration as a resurgence of Self-Determination, where we carry forward Menominee land stewardship practices by moving in relationship with the land and one another.
A Model of Interconnectedness
Bringing ecological balance through the safe return of cultural keystone species is a crucial aspect of our self-sufficiency and wellness, where food sustainability is a positive outcome.
These efforts allow us to face the challenges of our past, strengthen the connections that already exist in our community, and set a model of interconnectedness for future generations.
Our Symbiotic Relationship
The Menominee people have long regarded Buffalo as a sacred relative, known to us as Pesāēhkiw, whose presence is understood as ‘coming from within the Earth’.
Our spiritual connection with these relatives was severed through more than 150 years of colonization and assimilation. Chief Oshkosh, kāēh nap (used to be), was our last known Menominee chief to conduct Buffalo ceremonies with songs and dances on our Reservation in the mid-1800s.
Rematriating Our Pesāēhkiw (Buffalo) Relatives
In 2022, Medicine Fish rematriated our Pesāēhkiw relatives to their ancestral land. This return was made possible through relationships built across Indian Country and marked the first time in nearly 200 years that these relatives were restored to our culture.
Our approach to Buffalo rematriation is guided by the Buffalo themselves, and we draw on traditional knowledge and careful observation to understand how they return to the social, cultural, and ecological fabric of our community.
Buffalo are a vital source of ecological balance and spiritual and cultural sustenance. They are a relative who gives their life for our well-being. Living among our Pesāēhkiw relatives once again teaches us about the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits of being in relationship with them.
Prairie & Savanna Restoration
Our homelands lie along a bioregional edge with rich forests to the north, and prairie and savannah to the south. The Menominee have long been known for their sustainable forestry practices, which are among the world’s most respected. We bring those same values of respect, balance, and interconnectedness to prairie and savanna restoration.
Over the past 200 years, through western farming and agriculture, via westward expansion, much of what was once open land or mixed prairie and savanna has been turned into agricultural fields over generations. The Menominee tribe has re-acquired some of this land several decades ago which Medicine Fish is working to return to ecosystems with purpose and life.
Re-seeding the Land
We re-seed native grasses and plants, remove invasive species, restore natural medicines, and invite back more-than-human relatives that belong here.
Re-seeding the Land
We re-seed native grasses and plants, remove invasive species, restore natural medicines, and invite back more-than-human relatives that belong here.
Prairie & Savanna Restoration
Our homelands lie along a bioregional edge with rich forests to the north, and prairie and savannah to the south. The Menominee have long been known for their sustainable forestry practices, which are among the world’s most respected. We bring those same values of respect, balance, and interconnectedness to prairie and savanna restoration.
Over the past 200 years, through western farming and agriculture, via westward expansion, much of what was once open land or mixed prairie and savanna has been turned into agricultural fields over generations. The Menominee tribe has re-acquired some of this land several decades ago which Medicine Fish is working to return to ecosystems with purpose and life.
Returning the Wolf River to its Natural Flow
We carry forward the long-held desire of our people to see the Wolf River renewed. The return of a natural Sturgeon migration would renew energy into our understanding of the ceremonies, songs, and teachings that come with their presence, ensuring our future generations can witness these relatives returning to their ancestral home.
Namāēw Kēwāēmakat Piatāētuaq
(Sturgeon Coming Home)
For over 150 million years, the great Sturgeon has migrated through the Wolf River to spawn, shaping the river’s ecology and connecting directly to our Menominee creation story. Known to us as ‘Nama’o,’ the Sturgeon were gifted to our people as a source of abundant nourishment, returning each spring to their ancestral spawning grounds at Keshena Falls.
Our Menominee people have lived along these waters for more than 10,000 years, sustaining a sacred relationship with these ancient relatives. For these reasons, Sturgeon are recognized as a cultural and ecological keystone species.
Traditionally, our people welcomed the great Sturgeon with annual feasts and ceremonies, practices that continue today. Yet, because of disruptions to their natural migration, we now rely on external transfer methods to bring Sturgeon back to Namaewak Mawaw-Cēsenituaq, the place where the Sturgeon gather, at Keshena Falls. While these methods keep the presence of Sturgeon alive in our community, it is not a long-term solution for restoring a thriving and sustainable population.
Our efforts allow us to face the challenges of our past, strengthen the connections that already exist in our community, and set a model of interconnectedness for future generations.
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