Explore Native Wisconsin: From History & Celebrations to Outdoor Recreation

Wisconsin is home to 11 federally recognized Native American Tribes, one of the largest concentrations of tribes within a single state east of the Mississippi River. In this broad collection of cultures are nine who are indigenous to the area: the Ho-Chunk Nation, Menominee Tribe, Forest County Potawatomi and six bands of Ojibwe — the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Sokaogon Chippewa (Mole Lake) and St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin. The Oneida Nation and Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans migrated here from the eastern United States. 

Today, each tribe flourishes with its own unique government and a cornucopia of local businesses, and all welcome visitors to experience their history, culture, traditions and beautiful lands year-round. 

Rich History on Display 

Step back in time as you walk through the exhibits at the Arvid E. Miller Library and Museum in Bowler, a treasure trove of manuscripts, photographs and other historical materials of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community dating as far back as pre-contact. Don’t miss the opportunity to pick up authentic arts and crafts, handmade by local artisans, in the gift shop. At the Forest County Potawatomi Cultural Center, Library & Museum in Crandon, interactive exhibits will keep the whole family engaged in learning about the past and present of the Forest County Potawatomi Nation. The state-of-the-art facility also houses a library with more than 4,000 books, including a collection of rare books, about the tribes of the Great Lakes. 

History comes alive at Ganawendamang Ezhibimaadiziyand (“Keeping Our Way of Life”), also known as the Kinnamon School Visitor Center & Museum, located in Hayward and attended by the Ojibwe children of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band. Expect an eye-opening experience learning about the perseverance of the Ojibwe people as you view multiple exhibits and the collection of handcrafted woodland arts. The George W. Brown Jr. Ojibwe Museum & Cultural Center celebrates Ojibwe culture, with a four-season diorama and other exhibits featuring a 24-foot Ojibwe dugout canoe, smaller birch bark canoes, Ojibwe arts and crafts, traditional clothing and a French fur trading post. The world-record sturgeon — speared locally and now on display — will have anglers dreaming of spending a day on one of Lac du Flambeau’s numerous picturesque lakes. 

Families with budding artists within their ranks won’t want to miss the one-of-a-kind Ho-Chunk Museum & Cultural Center in downtown Tomah. Rotating exhibits showcase traditional crafts of the Ho-Chunk people, and visitors are encouraged to then try their own hands at Ho-Chunk artistry with help from the friendly staff. 

For an indoor-outdoor experience, discover the beauty of Menominee culture at the Menominee Nation Logging Camp & Cultural Museums, located along the banks of the Wolf River in Keshena. The museum’s indoor exhibits showcase the tribe’s 10,000-year history in the area, while the logging museum — America’s largest museum of its type — hosts an extensive collection of logging artifacts. For an extra tasty treat, attend the annual Logging Camp Pancake Breakfast the first Saturday in October. 

Big Fun in the Great Outdoors 

If you love the thrill of reeling in trophy-sized fish, blazing the trails of the vast wilderness or swinging for that hole in one, Wisconsin’s tribal nations offer year-round activities for every type of outdoor enthusiast. 

It will be high fives all around as you reel a whopping walleye onto your boat from one of the 260 lakes comprising 65 miles of pristine recreational waters in Lac du Flambeau. Make sure to bring your binoculars, too, to view soaring eagles, local waterfowl and an array of migrating birds in the abundant lands of the Lac du Flambeau reservation. 

Settle in for a casual float to enjoy the relaxing sights and sounds of nature, or — for bolder adventurers — prepare for an adrenaline rush as you roll through whitewater rapids. Both experiences can be had on a Wolf River rafting trip as the waterway courses through Menominee tribal land. Bask in the beauty of the forest, the sprawling cliffs and the wildlife attracted by the water within this special piece of land of the O-Maeq-No-Min-Ni-Wuk, or Wild Rice People. 

Get ready to rev your engines along the plentiful ATV and UTV trails winding through the lands of the Mole Lake Sokaogon Chippewa people. Trails range from easy to difficult, and pit stops include tribal lodging and entertainment destinations where you can dust off, share a hearty meal and rest up for another day of off-road explorations. 

If your family has never witnessed the majesty of a buffalo herd, take a moment to marvel at the massive creatures from the spacious viewing deck at the Buffalo Overlook in Oneida. Then gather the family ’round for a group photo with a six-foot-tall bronze buffalo. It’s all part of the Oneida Nation Farm, where you can also schedule a group tour or simply pick up organic products and other tasty Oneida treats to take home. 

Make memories fireside on a camping trip the family will never forget. Listen to the sounds of the loons and the call of the eagles while you enjoy the beauty of the Apostle Islands at Buffalo Bay Campground on the scenic Red Cliff reservation. From the nearby Point Detour Wilderness Campground, visit the tribally owned fishing company or reel in your own dinner to cook over an open fire at your RV or tent site. While in the area, don’t miss the chance to be the first among friends to visit Frog Bay Tribal National Park, designated just over 10 years ago as the nation’s first tribal national park. Enjoy the lakeshore and the network of hilly walking trails that showcase this truly magnificent place. 

Make sure to bring your clubs and your A game to Wisconsin’s three tribally owned golf courses. From the wide-open fairways on the front nine to tree-lined rolling greens on the back, you are sure to encounter a challenge at Big Fish Golf Club, a Pete Dye design in Hayward. Enjoy the Friday fish fry, Saturday night prime rib and other fine dining after a round in the pines at Pine Hills Golf Course in Gresham. And your foursome is sure to sharpen your game at Thornberry Creek at Oneida. This 27-hole layout is the Official Golf Course of the Green Bay Packers and was the host of the 2019 Thornberry Creek LPGA Tournament. 

Make It A Summer To Remember

Summer celebrations of harvest and community abound throughout Wisconsin’s tribal lands. Immerse yourself in local cultures as you enjoy family-friendly fun, Instagram-worthy culinary delights and live entertainment you won’t soon forget. 

May 

Ho-Chunk Memorial Day Weekend Pow-Wow, Black River Falls 

June 

Ode’Imini-Giizis (Strawberry Moon) Pow Wow, Mole Lake 

June–August 

Waaswaaganing Indian Bowl Pow Wow performances, Lac du Flambeau

July 

Oneida Pow-Wow, Oneida 

August 

Bad River Manoomin Powwow, Bad River 

Forest County Potawatomi Pow-Wow, Crandon 

Menominee Nation Pow Wow, Keshena