It’s easy for me to say that the Woodland bowl in Keshena is a place I absolutely love. There on my reservation is a natural depression in the earth deep in a part of our forest that my people have lined with fallen trees as seating along the greater and more gently sloped two-thirds of the depression.
Through decades we have maintained the forest that surrounds the depression as well as the nearby sturdy river that gives its impression of balance between depth and the width of its continuous flowing water.
We often see many fishing from the banks and bridge as well as many people going in for a swim throughout the summer months, especially during our August Pow Wow. It’s simply just a staple of the area and is just as greatly affixed to our mental landscape of the Woodland bowl as is the newer Totem Poles that were recently erected in the center of the bowl where people gather to dance, sing and drum.
Our Totems are a great source of pride, honor and joy for me. They tower high and are well representant of our sturdiness and traditions. It lights my heart up seeing at the top of each one the lone animal that is the depiction of each one of our five principle clans as told by our creation story.
I have great pride in knowing that we have placed in the heart of our gathering place our calling markers. Having our principle totems, placed in a great circle in equal paces from each other all facing inward towards each other, brings forward our history with Totem. Totem is how we know who to expect in the area, to know which family resides in the space where we walk.
But it also speaks of the formation of the Menominee, with the Five Principal Clans forming from the Five Brothers who each took a role and set of duties that they oversaw.
Eagle – First Brother; Warring (defensive only).
Bear – Civil Administration.
Wolf – Hunting.
Crane – Construction.
Moose – Harvest.