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Indian Nations of Wisconsin: Histories of Endurance and Renewal
From origin stories to contemporary struggles over treaty rights and sovereignty issues, Indian Nations of Wisconsin explores Wisconsin's rich Native tradition. This unique volume—based on the historical perspectives of the state’s Native peoples—includes compact tribal histories of the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Oneida, Menominee, Mohican, Ho-Chunk, and Brothertown Indians. Author Patty Loew focuses on oral tradition—stories, songs, the recorded words of Indian treaty negotiators, and interviews—along with other untapped Native sources, such as tribal newspapers, to present a distinctly different view of history. Lavishly illustrated with maps and photographs, Indian Nations of Wisconsin is indispensable to anyone interested in the region's history and its Native peoples.
The first edition of Indian Nations of Wisconsin: Histories of Endurance and Renewal, won the Wisconsin Library Association's 2002 Outstanding Book Award.
The first edition of Indian Nations of Wisconsin: Histories of Endurance and Renewal, won the Wisconsin Library Association's 2002 Outstanding Book Award.
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 2001
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248 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 30, 2014
I must begin with an explanation of my reasons for reading this book. I am not an Indian and my exposure to them has come mostly in Western movies. As a frequent visitor to Wisconsin I am familiar with the Oneida Nation Gate at Lambeau Field and references to their casino on television had kindled a curiosity to know more about the people behind the gate. “The Indian Nations of Wisconsin” reveals the stories and the faces about which I had been curious.
Author Patty Loew presents factual histories of the nations that have lived in Wisconsin far longer than the whites or blacks. She begins with the early history, the people known only by the mounds, effigies, rock art and utensils they left behind. She continues with the first encounters with European explorers and traders during the seventeenth century that created a Middle Ground in which both became dependent on the other and were no longer totally Indian or totally European. She then moves into chapters on the individual nations: Menominee, Ho-Chunk, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Oneida, Stockbridge-Musnee Community (Mohican) and Brothertown. She cannot stop the story there. Indians, like other races, live in the present, not the past. Like many other rural dwellers, many Wisconsin Indians have moved into cities, bringing with them their culture and their unique problems.
Although each nation has its own story, they all share common threads. Every nation played its role in the War of 1812 and took sides in the Black Hawk War. Their warriors enlisted in America’s conflicts thereafter, even when they were not citizens. All entered into treaties with the United States and saw promises broken, trust betrayed and their people removed to new reservations. Each had to deal with changing national policies including homesteading, allotment, the policy that transferred land from the tribe to the individuals who could then sell to non-Indians, and the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 that changed policy from assimilation to a recognition that Native culture could be a source of strength and opportunity. From this low point the nations reassembled their reservations and seized the opportunity to operate casinos that enable them to expand into other enterprises that have assisted their people and have become integral parts of the Wisconsin economy. Lowe narrates examples of Indian concern for the environment and hope for the future is shaping the Twenty-first Century for both Indians and other Wisconsin residents.
There are several things I like about this book. First is the history contained on its pages. It is the history of the encounter, and on occasion the clash, of cultures. Regardless of your ethnic background it is a history that should be of interest. Second are the pictures that without being overwhelming, put faces to the stories. Most important, I like the way it is written. Prof. Lowe tells the stories from an Indian perspective, but in an even handed and fair-minded fashion. The reader feels like he is being informed, but never preached to, introduced but never berated. For anyone who wants to read of a little known sliver of Wisconsin history or has ever asked “Who sponsored that gate anyway?” “Indian Nations of Wisconsin” is a great place to start.
I did receive a free copy of this book for review.
Author Patty Loew presents factual histories of the nations that have lived in Wisconsin far longer than the whites or blacks. She begins with the early history, the people known only by the mounds, effigies, rock art and utensils they left behind. She continues with the first encounters with European explorers and traders during the seventeenth century that created a Middle Ground in which both became dependent on the other and were no longer totally Indian or totally European. She then moves into chapters on the individual nations: Menominee, Ho-Chunk, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Oneida, Stockbridge-Musnee Community (Mohican) and Brothertown. She cannot stop the story there. Indians, like other races, live in the present, not the past. Like many other rural dwellers, many Wisconsin Indians have moved into cities, bringing with them their culture and their unique problems.
Although each nation has its own story, they all share common threads. Every nation played its role in the War of 1812 and took sides in the Black Hawk War. Their warriors enlisted in America’s conflicts thereafter, even when they were not citizens. All entered into treaties with the United States and saw promises broken, trust betrayed and their people removed to new reservations. Each had to deal with changing national policies including homesteading, allotment, the policy that transferred land from the tribe to the individuals who could then sell to non-Indians, and the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 that changed policy from assimilation to a recognition that Native culture could be a source of strength and opportunity. From this low point the nations reassembled their reservations and seized the opportunity to operate casinos that enable them to expand into other enterprises that have assisted their people and have become integral parts of the Wisconsin economy. Lowe narrates examples of Indian concern for the environment and hope for the future is shaping the Twenty-first Century for both Indians and other Wisconsin residents.
There are several things I like about this book. First is the history contained on its pages. It is the history of the encounter, and on occasion the clash, of cultures. Regardless of your ethnic background it is a history that should be of interest. Second are the pictures that without being overwhelming, put faces to the stories. Most important, I like the way it is written. Prof. Lowe tells the stories from an Indian perspective, but in an even handed and fair-minded fashion. The reader feels like he is being informed, but never preached to, introduced but never berated. For anyone who wants to read of a little known sliver of Wisconsin history or has ever asked “Who sponsored that gate anyway?” “Indian Nations of Wisconsin” is a great place to start.
I did receive a free copy of this book for review.
December 27, 2018
Recommended to all Wisconsinites. Patty Loew summarized compactly an enormous, complex body of documents and oral histories. Reading each short chapter made me hungry for more depth and for first hand accounts. The bibliography is a great resource.
April 2, 2023
Many stories and much information I am deeply overdue in learning and witnessing.
July 26, 2018
With "Indian Nations of Wisconsin: Histories of Endurance and Renewal", Patty Loew goes into a detailed history of the native peoples of the state of Wisconsin & their roles throughout the history of the state & US in general. With great detail, she gets into the histories of the tribes one at a time & gives a perspective that helps understand just how important these people are to the fabric & culture of the state of Wisconsin. The book is extremely easy to read & would be fascinating for anyone who is or isn't a native of the state. An extremely well done book that I'm glad I had a chance to find on a recent visit to the Badger state.
October 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, lots of knowledge packed into it. Which does make it a little overwhelming to look at on paper and then trying to read it, but I learned so much about the tribes in my Home state and learned lots about my own tribe's culture and History!
January 11, 2021
Packed with history, personal stories, and photographs, this textbook-like book should be required reading for everyone who lives in Wisconsin. The injustices made me weep.
July 19, 2022
If you live in or love Wisconsin, this is required reading.
November 21, 2022
This book was absolutely incredible. I really got a sense for the richness and diversity of cultures, languages, values, ideas, and experiences of different Indian Nations in Wisconsin. Of course the tribes suffered terrible trauma and have been beaten down over time. However, I found that throughout the book Loew focuses on the resilience and endurance of native peoples and the incredible lengths that many different tribal nations and leaders have gone to in order to bring about a better world for their people in spite of the difficulties. Each nation she writes about seems to have reason for hope moving forward.
July 18, 2025
Familiar places - never known histories
Thank you for putting this together. It is a beautiful book containing rich history of Wisconsin. It predates the history I was taught in Fourth grade, and enlightened my thin knowledge of tribal history and treaties. It brought me to tears and also made me cheer at times. Thank you !
Thank you for putting this together. It is a beautiful book containing rich history of Wisconsin. It predates the history I was taught in Fourth grade, and enlightened my thin knowledge of tribal history and treaties. It brought me to tears and also made me cheer at times. Thank you !
December 24, 2018
A good survey of Native American histories in Wisconsin that help the average reader understand the common and unique trials, tribulations and victories of the Native Americans in Wisconsin, but also leading the reader to consider the histories of other nations, groups and tribes.
January 14, 2025
Read for my American Indian Studies Course.
This was by far one of the most difficult books to comprehend. From the parts I could comprehend, it was good information. There was just a lot of information and words and phrases that probably should’ve been explained better.
This was by far one of the most difficult books to comprehend. From the parts I could comprehend, it was good information. There was just a lot of information and words and phrases that probably should’ve been explained better.
November 24, 2025
Excellent
December 30, 2025
Great book I enjoyed learning about the different tribes and understand what happened to lands, reservations and tribal unwarranted moves.
December 18, 2020
No rating, since I read this for work. However, I will say I found this very informative, and was grateful to participate in a book group discussion facilitated by the Wisconsin Disproportionality Technical Assistance Network.
December 29, 2022
Excellent Reference source! It took me months to read but I pored through every chapter and took notes, which I added into my PDA.
December 15, 2023
This is one of those small but essential books that appears to be just a coffee table flip-through until you start reading it.
Loew shares each First Nation's history up to the 20th century. Each chapter is chronologically structured by tribe and includes a map of ancestral or reservation lands. I read details in Loew's book that I'd not read elsewhere, or with greater coverage despite the books short length. And Loew covers both the worst period of time and the often forgotten "endurance" and "renewal" of Indigenous culture that continues to this day.
Like another reviewer said, the Biblio is excellent. Loew has pulled in many primary sources to synthesize into this small book, including interviews with tribal members to ensure the oral history is remembered.
This is a must read for folks learning the history of First Nations along the western Great Lakes.
Loew shares each First Nation's history up to the 20th century. Each chapter is chronologically structured by tribe and includes a map of ancestral or reservation lands. I read details in Loew's book that I'd not read elsewhere, or with greater coverage despite the books short length. And Loew covers both the worst period of time and the often forgotten "endurance" and "renewal" of Indigenous culture that continues to this day.
Like another reviewer said, the Biblio is excellent. Loew has pulled in many primary sources to synthesize into this small book, including interviews with tribal members to ensure the oral history is remembered.
This is a must read for folks learning the history of First Nations along the western Great Lakes.
April 24, 2013
Not a bad book as far as textbooks go. Each chapter focuses on the general history of a different tribe that either moved to or originated in Wisconsin. Not a difficult reading level but I just couldn't get excited about what I was reading or keep a ton of it straight. Perhaps I'd have retained more if they're been more references to what the other tribes were going though at the time to A) keep them straight and B) develop a clearer timeline for the reader. Nothing personal - I have a habit of not liking textbooks much.
June 21, 2011
I enjoyed this book (which was a required read for my Native American Literature course). Short, easy to read, and full of information about the Indian tribes in Wisconsin. It provided a nice overview for me.
July 5, 2016
An informative and shocking history of the Native American peoples who lived in Wisconsin and the horrible treatment, subjugation, and deaths they met at the hands of white Europeans and later by the American government and white settlers. Truly eye-opening.
July 30, 2016
A well-organized clearly written book (used as a text in K-12 education) that acquaints readers with the Indian nations in Wisconsin. I plan to purchase a personal copy as a reference for travel in the state.
June 21, 2010
Wow. We really fucked these people over...again and again and again.
September 27, 2013
I have no knowledge of Indian tribes. This gave me an overview and an appreciation for the history of tribes. Should be included in state history classes like those offered at UW-Eau Claire.
January 22, 2014
As a transplant to Wisconsin, 99 percent of this was new to me. Great overview of the Indian nations in the state and a fascinating read. Highly recommended.
July 12, 2012
A great book for an introduction to the history of native people in Wisconsin.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews