Why The Ways

First Nations communities are part of the fabric of our state, our country and our world. The contemporary video stories, maps and questions to consider in The Ways can be woven into many experiences you create with students in your learning space. Educator guides for each story offer supplemental essays and Wisconsin state standards alignment.

Begin here

Use this quick-start chart to see how the featured stories map to First Nations communities, geographic locations and standards.

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The Ways Educator Guides

A color photograph showing Molly Miller and another person standing in front of a wooded area. They are looking at each other and are smiling. Molly wears a blue hooded shirt with the word

Clan Mother

Molly Miller, a Stockbridge-Munsee Community elder reflects on healing from trauma and caring for her community.

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A color photograph showing Greg Biskakone Johnson outside in a wooded area. Greg is wearing a black hat and coat and has his head turned, looking to the viewer's right.

Hunting Deer

Greg “Biskakone” Johnson, a member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa hunts honoring traditional ways.

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A color photograph showing Jessica House and her teammates giving each other high fives during a basketball game.

Lady Thunderhawks

Jessica House of the Oneida Nation infuses the values of her culture into her role leading her school’s basketball team.

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A color photograph of the Peterson family in front of their fish market.

Lake Superior Whitefish

The Petersons, members of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa share their experiences with treaty fishing.

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A color photograph of Arlene Thunder Blackdeer sitting at a kitchen table with her daughter. The two are looking at each other smiling.

Language Apprentice

Arlene Thunder Blackdeer learns and teaches the Ho-Chunk language to connect and strengthen the community.

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A color photograph showing Roy Corn Jr. pushing his daughter on the swings outside in winter.

Living Language

Ron Corn Jr. teaches his youngest daughter the Menominee language to ensure it lives on in the next generation.

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A color photograph showing Fred Ackley Jr. holding a curved tray containing manoomin that he is winnowing.

Manoomin

Fred Ackley Jr. of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community of Mole Lake harvests wild rice.

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Off-Road Racing

Hunter VanZile, a young off-road racer from Forest County Potawatomi, discusses the impact his community has on his racing journey.

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A color photograph showing Dylan Jennings wearing powwow regalia in a tented area filled with people.

Powwow Trail

Dylan Jennings, a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa provides insight into contemporary powwows.

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A color photograph showing Tall Paul (Paul Wenell Jr.) rapping in front of a wall mural that includes a horse.

Prayers in a Song

Tall Paul (Paul Wenell Jr.) of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe raps about language learning and his Native identity.

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A color photograph showing Jason Bisonette spearfishing with his son at night.

Spearfishing

Jason Bisonette of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe practices spearfishing as part of his culture.

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A young man with a beard smiles warmly outdoors in a snowy winter setting, partially framed by snow-dusted evergreen branches. He wears a patterned blanket coat with orange and red geometric designs.

Talking Medicine

Rainer Posselt, a Psychotherapist at Stockbridge-Munsee Health and Wellness Center, talks about celebrating culture and knowing who you are.

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A color photograph showing two students holding papers and pencils against a tree to write while doing sugaring in the woods.

Waadookodaading

Waadookodaading educators integrate the tradition of sugaring into the curriculum to support Ojibwe language learning.

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A color photograph showing a Mark Antonio Daniels Jr. looking down at his hands as he wraps them with hand wraps in the boxing ring.

Warriors Boxing

Mark Antonio Daniels Jr., a member of the Forest County Potawatomi continues a longstanding boxing tradition.

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Quotation

Logo for The Ways

“I absolutely LOVE The Ways! Great modern resource to add to any lesson when talking about Native Americans.”

Casey Ineichen
Library Media Specialist, Monona Grove School District