Free Day + Celebration: Homelands

Join us for a free day inspired by the Homelands: Mnë’nának, Māēnāēwah, Tešišik gallery in the American Art collection. During this daylong themed celebration, we’re amplifying Indigenous knowledge, past, present, and future, while honoring how Native communities are central to the protection and safekeeping of the land and city we call home.

Lineup

Basket Weaving | 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Try your hand at basket weaving inspired by Truman Lowe’s Feather Canoe on view in Homelands: Mnë’nának, Māēnāēwah, Tešišik. The activity is led by Liandra Skenandore, a black-ash basket weaver, enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, and member of the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Native Advisory Group.

Portrait Pop-Up | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Have your portrait taken by local photographer Clarissa Friday of the Forest County Potawatomi. Then experience a pop-up exhibition of select pieces from her body of work.

Story Time with Kaluhya| 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Gather to hear a story read by Oneida language and culture teacher Kaluhya Muscavutch VanEvery. Then create a drawing inspired by what you have seen and heard, and build meaningful connections and community with other parents of children ages 5 and under.

Film Screening | 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Watch the PBS Wisconsin documentary series Tribal Histories, a series of half-hour programs that present the histories of all eleven federally recognized tribes and bands of Wisconsin, plus one community seeking to regain its federal status.

Community Engagement Fair | Noon–7 p.m.
Meet several art organizations from across Milwaukee that are centering Indigenous communities and knowledge, and protecting the lands we call home.

Live DJ | 3–6 p.m.
Groove to the music of DJ B-TRAX.

Drop-In Tour | 3–4 p.m.*
Tour the reinstalled gallery Homelands: Mnë’nának, Māēnāēwah, Tešišik with Chyna Bounds, assistant curator of American decorative arts and design. Tour will be joined by an ASL interpreter.

Satellite Teen Intern Spotlight | 5:30–6 p.m. and 7:20–7-50 p.m.
Meet the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Teen Interns as they welcome you at check-in, give spotlight talks, and lead tours of Homelands: Mnë’nának, Māēnāēwah, Tešišik they’ve designed just for this event. See the Museum through their eyes and discover new ways of looking at art!

Artist Talk: Monica Rickert-Bolter | 6:15–7:15 p.m.*
Join Monica Rickert-Bolter, co-founder of the Center for Native Futures, for a conversation about her work at the intersection of art, community, and Indigenous identity. Drawing from her experiences in the arts ecosystem, she will explore themes such as collaboration with tribal communities, engagement with public and gallery spaces, and the Center’s mission to advance Native fine arts, support contemporary artists, and uplift Indigenous Futurisms.

*Includes ASL interpretation.

Presenting sponsor

Image: Truman Lowe (Ho-Chunk/American, 1944–2019), Feather Canoe, ca. 1993. Willow, turkey feathers, and copper wire. 12 × 24 × 74 in. (30.48 × 60.96 × 187.96 cm). Gift of Jan Serr & John Shannon, M2025.5