Open to the Public!
Honoring the legacy of Bella and Leo Capser, founders of the Madeline Island Museum.
Bella and Leo Capser created the Madeline Island Museum in 1958 to preserve the long and rich history of our beloved Island. They donated the museum to the Wisconsin Historical Society in 1968, after establishing a trust to support and enhance the museum’s artifacts and historic buildings. Leo died in 1975 and Bella in 1986, but both remained involved in the museum until their death. The museum is a testament to Bella and Leo’s love for Madeline Island.
Come to Learn:
Noted historian Rick St. Germaine will share stories about
“The Historic Relocation of the Ojibwe from Madeline Island”.
Rick has this to say about his talk: “It is not as gloomy as the title may sound. It is actually a rather upbeat account of a migration of people away from the island.”
How do 21st century Ojibwe view their historic connection with Madeline Island?
Significant numbers of Wisconsin Ojibwe have a basic but not fundamental knowledge of the Anishinaabe migration account from the East to Madeline Island, including a variety of notions about dates of arrival, circuitous routes in and around the island, and a vague idea about departure from Mooningwanakaaning to their reservation areas.
But what was the attraction for venturing away from their home into the interior and how did the Ojibwe adapt to the loss of their mother place?
Rick will share some stories about the disconnect and what has occurred in several centuries since that time.
Rick St. Germaine
Rick St. Germaine is Professor Emeritus of History and Education at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. He is enrolled in the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Band and is a former Tribal Chairman. He is currently writing an 1855 account of the imprisonment of Ijidiwashikwe, an Ojibwe woman whose abusive husband shot at her and instead killed her brother; the judge reasoned that her physical beauty drove her husband mad and caused the death of her brother.
Stay to Socialize:
Social hour with locally-sourced appetizers from the Farmhouse.
Register for the Event:
Attendance is limited to 70 people.
Members attend for free — sign up here
Non-Members attend for $10 — register here