The Menominee are the oldest continuous residents of what is now known as Wisconsin, having previously occupied over 10 million acres of land to include Wisconsin and the borders of Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan. The Tribe’s creation began at the mouth of the Menominee River where the Great Bear emerged and took human form. Menominee, the “O-MAEQ-NO-MIN-NI-WUK,” means Wild Rice People. It was said that when the Menominee entered an area, the wild rice followed, and when they left, the wild rice passed. We are “Kiash Matchitiwuk,” the Ancient Ones.
