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American Indians of the Menominee Tribe invite you to visitAmerican Indians of the Menominee Tribe are the some of the original inhabitants of the land that is now Shawano County. For 10,000 years before the first European immigrants set food in Wisconsin, the Menominee and other native American tribes hunted deer, speared lake sturgeon from Shawano Lake, and gathered the bountiful wild rice and edible roots and berries.
Paper Mill Dam built in 1892 on the Wolf River near Shawano for commercial processing of wood and paper cut off the sturgeon's access to their spawning grounds at Keshena Falls. Efforts have been made in the past decade to reintroduce the lake sturgeon, a traditional Menominee food source, back into the Wolf River above the dam.
With the arrival of newcomers, starting in the late 1700's came many diseases to which the American Indians had no previous exposure. Epidemics of cholera, influenza, smallpox, and measles swept through the communities with deadly impact. One notable smallpox epidemic occured in Keshena in May, 1865. The Catholic priest in town insisted on carrying out usual funeral rites for those smitten with smallpox despite Board of Health directions to the contrary. By this means he spread smallpox to all in attendence, resulting in 79 deaths in total. He was eventually arrested in order to halt the spread of disease. Despite the many hardships and interference with their way of life, The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin is unique among North American tribes in that they still reside today on a part of their ancestral home. As a developing tribe thousands of years ago, they developed a complex clan system, with five major (Bear, Eagle, Wolf, Moose, and Crane) and many minor divisions. The Chiefs of the Menominee American Indians gave their names to the towns in the area--Shawano, Neopit, Keshena, and Oshkosh. The Menominee of today continue to practice their traditional beliefs and system of government and speak their native language. Their cultural contributions can be seen in the many examples of native American Indians artwork and crafts available for viewing and purchase in Shawano. On the Menominee Reservation, a logging camp museum, casinos, and natural attractions such as Spirit Rock and several Falls await your visit.
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