APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Building for Kids Children’s Museum in downtown Appleton is kickstarting Native American Heritage Month with a brand new interactive art installation.
Museum officials held a ribbon cutting Friday for the opening of “The Story of the Land Where We Stand” — an exhibit honoring Menominee land and culture. The goal is to inspire conversations among children and their families about the history of the land where the Building for Kids stands today.
“Where Building for Kids is very important to Menominee history and so we want to be able to recognize that and really start that discussion with families,” said Beth Vanderloop, vice president of learning and engagement at Building for Kids Children’s Museum.
The installation was designed in partnership with the College of Menominee Nation, Kaehkenawapahtaeq Charter School and the Menominee Language & Culture Commission.
It features a mural by Menominee artist Renny Katchenago that depicts the creation story of the Menominee tribe. It also incorporates the voices of native Menominee-speaking children sharing their language.
Our community is what it is because of all the people before us. It is immensely important that we are willing to share those stories in a way that’s authentic and in a way that is built on trust and relationships.
“I think I would like them to take away that there’s so much more to our community. So many people have made this place what it is and we want to be able to share all of those stories. The hope is that they walk away with a new understanding of the Menominee story, in particular, and that they can go forward and share that with others,” Vanderloop said.
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