Indigenous Language Books
With the help of funding from Isabel Bader, we are able to help authors publish stories written in an Indigenous language for all ages. EQI can help pay for editorial needs, illustrations, and publishing costs. If you are an author interested in publishing your story, please contact Angela Mesic.
Monster in the Garden and Garden Party were both written by Frances D. Maki and translated into Ojibwe and illustrated by Sarah L. Smith. Both Frances and Sarah are Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) and Lakota Sioux. Sarah has been taking Ojibwemowin classes here at UWM! Learn more about the work Frances and Sarah do, and purchase a copy of their books.
To Fall Asleep Holding Hands is a bi-lingual (Ojibwe & English and Menominee & English) children’s story about the gift of relationships and resilience. Follow Waabooz the Otter as she looks for her mother, sings a song to help her be strong and asks for help from her woodland friends. The book was written by Fionnan Noori, designed by Shannon Noori and illustrated by Dolly Peltier. Margaret Noodin provided the Anishinabemowin translation and Naneque LaTender provided the Menominee translation. Listen to the book and learn where to purchase it.
Erin Leary, author of the bi-lingual book Hummingbird Visits, is beginning to learn Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe), and wrote this book Hummingbird Visits as a way to help herself and other language-learners practice. This book and all of Erin’s work is a reflection of her love for the environment and our more-than-human kin. The hummingbird in this book is one who visits Erin’s backyard. She and her family love watching this hummingbird and others grow and return each year. Purchase a copy of this book.
Publications & Translations with Our Research Affiliates
American Indian Student Density Map of Wisconsin
Each dot on the map represents one (1) American Indian student in grades K3 to 12 according to the enrollment numbers reported in 2013 by the WI Department of Public Instruction.
NOTE: The location of the dot is arbitrary and is NOT intended to indicate the location of an actual student within the county boundaries.
If you have any questions about this information or other data on this website please contact Maurina.
UWM Planetarium Events
In the Spring months of 2018, the UWM Manfred Olson Planetarium, the Electa Quinney Institute, and the native community came together to share stories and connections of star and earth. The development and lessons learned from the “Indigenous Voices” program was published in Vol 47 No 4 – December 2018 issue of the Planetarian (PDF).
Native American Drama: This Dance Among Dances
Play written by Kimberley Blaeser, White Earth Nation (MN), WI State Poet Laureate 2017-18
This Dance Among Dances (PDF). Feel free to contact us with questions about the ways you can use the play with students in your classroom.
This play is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Native American Drama: Morning Becomes Electa
Play written by Alanis King, Odawa Nation, and first Aboriginal woman to graduate from the National Theatre School of Canada.
Morning Becomes Electa (PDF). This script was produced by the Electa Quinney Institute, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, who secured playwright and director Alanis King, Anishnaabeikwe, Ottawa, Canada who led a script workshop held on June 29-July 2, 2015 at the Indian Community School.
Feel free to contact us with questions about the ways you can use the play with students in your classroom.
This play is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Native American Drama: Woodpecker’s Love Song
Play written by Kimberley Blaeser, White Earth Nation (MN), WI State Poet Laureate 2017-18
Woodpeckers Love Song (PDF). Feel free to contact us with questions about the ways you can use the play with students in your classroom.
The translation was done by a group of Anishinaabemowin teachers from Lac Du Flambeau Ojibwe Nation, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Indian Community School. The play is entirely in the Anishinaabe language and the audience is invited to take part in the telling of the story.
This play is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
History Through Art
Experiencing Native North America: Art Installation as Experiential Pedagogy (PDF)
This 12-panel art installation was created by Dr. Bernard Perley, Maliseet Nation at Tobique, New Brunswick. The completed installation was unveiled at the Milwaukee Indian Community School because the school was hosting the Educator’s Network for Social Justice (ENSJ) Conference.
Contact us with questions about the ways you can use the play with students in your classroom.