Monona Indigenous Roots Dinner
Celebrating Ho-Chunk Heritage:A Fundraiser for Cultural Preservation
Gather around the table for an evening of incredible food, rich traditions, and community connection. Share a meal with Ho-Chunk leaders, state and city officials, and neighbors as we celebrate history, culture, and the future of Indigenous recognition in Monona. Enjoy a multi-course feast inspired by traditional ingredients, the energy of drumming and dance, and stories that connect us all.
Ticket sales now closed
other ways to support
Our online auction is now live – and open to the public. Bid on exciting goods, services, and experiences donated by our community partners. The auction will close just before the dinner ends, at 6:30p on Saturday, November 15. Proceeds benefit local Indigenous cultural programming.
Unveiling the East Statue: First in the Four Directions Project
Join us for the unveiling and spiritual blessing of the first statue in Monona’s Four Directions Project, located on the prairie at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center. This powerful sculpture, carved by artist Gene Delcourt, honors the enduring presence of the Ho-Chunk people and marks the East — the direction of beginnings.
Delcourt, a former apprentice of beloved Ho-Chunk artist Harry Whitehorse, continues his mentor’s legacy through public art that uplifts Indigenous voices and traditions. As the founder of the Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival, Delcourt’s work bridges generations of storytelling and cultural preservation.
The unveiling ceremony will feature remarks from Ho-Chunk guest speakers and a spiritual blessing. Proceeds from this event will support future statues facing West, North, and South, with locations to be determined in the coming years — each contributing to a circle of respect, reflection, and recognition.
come to the table
Gather with friends, neighbors, leaders, artists, and teachers, at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center to share Ho-Chunk-inspired dishes incorporating local ingredients. Savor a multicourse meal thoughfully created by Ho-Chunk Chef, Lightning the Earth New Rider. View the menu below.
Enjoy drinks in their stunning space featuring vaulted ceilings, a grand antler chandelier, and a floor-to-ceiling rock fireplace. Take in panoramic views through the wall of windows overlooking the prairie, or step onto the balcony to immerse yourself in the fall beauty of the surrounding grounds.
Connect with others, share stories, and explore unique silent auction items—with easy mobile bidding at your fingertips.
Celebrate Cultural Revitaliztion
Experience the transformative power of culture in motion.
Marvel at the artistry of traditional dancers adorned in stunning handmade regalia, and feel the deep, resonant beat of traditional drumming. Learn about event etiquette below.
Speak with Wakšik Woošga students about the significance of ceremonial language classes and the profound impact of preserving their heritage. Learn about enriching programming offered at the Ho-Chunk Community Center. Find additional local cultural resources at the bottom of this page.
Traditional dishes, Indigenous arts, and a gathering of community.
Monona Indigenous Roots Dinner, Presented by Ho-Chunk Nation | Saturday, November 15, 3-7p | Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Be part of a powerful evening honoring the heritage, resilience, and future of the Ho-Chunk Nation. The Indigenous Roots Dinner is more than a meal — it’s a celebration of community, culture, and connection.
Your $100 ticket includes:
A thoughtfully crafted multi-course dinner spotlighting local and traditional Indigenous ingredients
The unveiling of the first statue in Monona’s Four Directions Project — a tribute to Ho-Chunk past, present, and future
A sweet final course — inspired by traditional ingredients — to enjoy as you mingle and connect
The opportunity to connect with Ho-Chunk leaders, city and state officials, and Ho-Chunk artists and teachers.
Access to our silent auction featuring unique items and experiences, with all proceeds supporting future cultural and educational initiatives
A cash bar will offer wine, beer, and signature craft mocktail selections to complement your evening.
Space is limited for this unforgettable evening. Reserve your seat today and help us build lasting bridges of respect, understanding, and celebration.
Meet the chef
Lightning The Earth New Rider
Lightning The Earth New Rider is a chef, horticulturalist, artist, and cultural educator whose cooking celebrates the ancestral foodways of his Nations — Ho-Chunk, Oneida, Pawnee, Otoe, and Arikara.
Raised on the Oneida Reservation and later in the Wisconsin Dells area, Lightning learned to cook by watching and helping the women in his extended family, who shared with him the secrets of Indigenous food traditions. These formative experiences inspired a lifelong passion for creating dishes that honor the land and the stories of his people.
Today, Lightning The Earth is known for bringing authenticity and creativity to the table, blending traditional ingredients such as wild rice, the Three Sisters, and bison with contemporary techniques. His cooking is both a tribute to the generations who taught him and an invitation for others to connect with Indigenous culture through food.
Lightning The Earth welcomes inquiries on catering as well as workshops on herbalism, horticulture, wild harvesting, and traditional fiber arts — reach out to connect@mononaeastside.com to request to get in touch.
Event Etiquette
When attending the Monona Indigenous Roots Dinner, please be respectful of traditions and customs. This includes observing proper etiquette during the Grand Entry, respecting the dance circle, and being mindful of the significance of regalia. Remember that this is a celebration of Native American culture, not a performance, and should be approached with reverence and respect.
- No flash photography during songs: Avoid using flash photography during dances.
- Ask permission: Before taking photos or videos, ask for permission from the individuals you wish to capture.
- Respect regalia: Do not touch or handle dancers’ regalia without permission, as it is often sacred and can be very personal.
- Stand for special songs: Stand and remove hats during the Grand Entry.
- Avoid using “costume”: Refer to dancers’ outfits as regalia or outfits, not costumes.
- Be mindful of elders: Show respect to elders by giving them your seat or place in line if needed.
event organizers
event sponors
The Chuck Stoncipher Foundation
Indigenous Cultural Resources
LOCAL RESOURCES
Ho-Chunk Community Center – The Madison Branch Office provides a wide variety of support services available to tribal members and their families within the area. We also provide space for community events for the public within the Teejop Area – available to all.
Ho-Chunk Community Center – Madison Branch Facebook Page – Learn about services and programs offered for tribal members, all-ages dance classes from Lillian White Eagle, and weekly craft nights – open to everyone.
Beadwork with Lillian White Eagle – Virtual workshop on YouTube, posted by Rooted
Hocak Worak – a periodical published twice monthly by the Ho-Chunk Nation.
Little Eagle Arts Foundation (LEAF) – a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting American Indian art by cultivating the entrepreneurial spirit of American Indian and First Nations artists to achieve success and promote a cycle of economic security.
Wild Bearies – An educational, community outreach nonprofit that strives to bring ancestral foods to communities in a nurturing and nourishing way.
The Great Lakes Intertribal Food Coalition – Through multiple initiatives, we support Tribes in their efforts to expand their own food systems and coordinate initiatives to build Intertribal food networks based on fresh, minimally-processed, and traditional foods.
Mapping Teejop – A digital mapping project that guides users on Indigenous walking tours of the UW-Madison campus, created through partnership between the American Indian & Indigenous Studies Program and the Department of Geography’s Cartography Lab.
Indigenouse Language Table Events – From simple greetings to conversations on food, from language basics to etiquette, and so much more. Beyond language learning, these language table events are some of the few places where undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff and members of the community can interact with others.
The Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival – Uniting renowned artists worldwide for a week-long residency in Monona, Wisconsin, creating captivating sculptures. It is the first international festival dedicated to an indigenous person, honoring the legacy of the late Monona, Wisconsin, and Ho-Chunk Nation sculptor Harry Whitehorse.
Olbrich Gardens Indigenous Garden – Meet the 23-year-old Ho-Chunk farmer who inspired the garden, growing traditional crops like corn, squash, beans, tobacco, gourds, and milkweed.
Teejop Initiative – A partnership between Clean Lakes Alliance and the Ho-Chunk Nation that will help to educate the community on how to sustainably use the waterways and land around Madison for many generations that follow, using the history and perspectives of Indigenous communities to guide this process.
SUPPORT INDIGENOUS OWNED BUSINESSES
LOCAL EVENTS
Keep an eye on these local events calenders for Indigenous cultural events:
Madison Public Library – Teejop & Beyond: Celebrating Native Nations – Oct – Dec – Each fall, Madison Public Library and Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison welcome a variety of Native artists, storytellers, and community leaders into library spaces for a series of programs celebrating Indigenous people in and beyond Teejop
Monona Parks & Recreation – a powwow organized by Lillian White Eagle will be held at Ahuska Park is planned for Spring 2026
Little Eagle Arts Foudation (LEAF) – 2025 calendar of events
Drumhop.com – listings of upcoming powwows
Arts & Literature Labratory – The 2025 Native Art Market, founded and curated by Dakota Mace and Paige Skenandore, will take place at Arts + Literature Laboratory on Saturday, November 8, 2025, 10am-6pm.
Madison Children’s Museum – Indigenous Heritage Celebration, Nov 6, 4-8p
University of Wisconsin Arboretum – Effigy Mounds of Southern Wisconsin, Nov 8, 1p
LEARNING RESOURCES
The Ways from PBS – a video collection of language and culture stories from Native communities around the central Great Lakes that explores traditional ways, and those of today.
IllumiNative Facebook Page – IllumiNative is a Native woman-led racial and social justice organization building power for Native
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission – feature Ojibwe history, news, press resources, books, language & outreach, events, and more.
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa – news, events, resources, heritage & culture, and more.
Native Erasure 101 – Have you heard the term “Native Erasure” and wondered what it meant? Here’s an introduction.
Wisconsin First Nations – a rich collection of educational videos, teacher professional development resources, lesson plans for all grades, and learning tools for your classroom and library.
This is the official visitor site for Monona, Wisconsin. Learn about the town's history, find places to stay, things to do, restaurants, shops, and more.
Photos by Bruce Fritz ,
Sponsored by:
Contact
Monona Chamber of Commerce: PO Box 6264, Monona, WI 53716
(608) 416-1610
connect@mononaeastside.com
