October 20, 2024
While furthering my research on the Winnebago Tribe, I was able to learn more about their tribal name and where they lived prior to where they are established today in Nebraska. During the time when the Winnebago Tribe had lived on the Red Banks of what is today’s Green Bay, Wisconsin, their original name was Hocak which can also be spelt as Ho-Chunk. Those of the Hocak Tribe would refer to themselves as Ho-chungra. This is defined as “people of the parent speech” (Milwaukee Public Museum, n.d.). Even though the Winnebago Tribe had moved down to Nebraska, this is not the only place where those of the Hocak Tribe is located. There are several other locations in different counties in Wisconsin and an area in Illinois. The name Hocak of the Hocak Reservations in Wisconsin was renamed this in 1993, after being referred to as Winnebago for several years. However, the Winnebago Tribe in Nebraska had kept the name Winnebago (Milwaukee Public Museum, n.d.; Wisconsin First Nations n.d.).
Before moving to Nebraska, the Winnebago Tribe had endured many hardships. During the 1620’s, they had gone to war with one of their neighbors which were the Potawatomi Tribe. Sometime after, they were hit with illnesses known as measles and smallpox. Because of this, they had lost 24,850 out of 25,000 members of their tribe. Time went on and in 1816, the Winnebago’s had signed a treaty with the United States of America. Many years later they signed more treaties referring to boundaries. With these treaties they were moved continuously until this group of the Winnebago Tribe had ended up in Nebraska, which is where they are located today. Their final treaty was signed in 1874, which created their final establishment in their current location today (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, n.d.).
Throughout my research, I continue to gain more knowledge about the Winnebago Tribe’s past with every journal entry I write. The main reason why I have enjoyed doing research about the Winnebago Tribe is because I am someone who enjoys learning about history. Choosing this group to learn more about has helped me to gain more knowledge about a culture that is different in many ways of the way I live. I was also excited to learn more about the history and practices of a Native American Reservation that is not too far from where I live. I am looking forward to continuing my research and being able to teach others what I have learned through my presentation.
References
Milwaukee Public Museum. (n.d.). Ho-Chunk.
https://www.mpm.edu/content/wirp/ICW-52
Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. (n.d.). Tribal history.
Wisconsin First Nations. (n.d.). Ho-Chunk Nation.
https://wisconsinfirstnations.org/ho-chunk-nation/