The largest summer delegation in the 25-year history of Prescott Community Education's trip to the Lac du Flambeau Reservation traveled to northern Wisconsin earlier this month, continuing a tradition that has introduced hundreds of area residents to Ojibwe history, culture and contemporary life through firsthand experiences with tribal members.

A total of 43 participants, including 21 people from Prescott, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Wauwatosa, along with 21 students from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and their professor, Dr. Sterling Wall, took part in the four-day educational experience. Sponsored by Prescott Community Education, the milestone trip marked the 25th summer visit to Lac du Flambeau. Including school-year programs, 51 educational trips have now been organized by Prescott High School teacher and community member Jeff Ryan, providing 434 Prescott students and well over 100 community members with the opportunity to learn directly from Native educators, artists, leaders and community members.

"What an experience," said Prescott alumnus Chloe Rohl. "I now understand why this trip has become such an important part of the summer for so many people from Prescott. I will definitely be going back."

For Dr. Wall, the experience was equally meaningful for his university students.

"Such a fantastic experience—for me and for my 21 Family and Consumer Sciences students from UW–Stevens Point," Wall said. "It seemed to me that every day was the kind of day that we were looking for: hands-on, interacting with people from the community who had been there and done that, who had lived it and were still living it."

Unlike traditional classroom instruction, the program emphasizes learning from Native people in Native spaces. Participants explored the community's history, governance, economy and culture through visits to the renovated boarding school, the tribal fish hatchery, and hands-on workshops with Ojibwe artists Greg Johnson and Doreen Wawronowicz. They also attended community discussions about contemporary issues affecting the reservation.

Wall also praised the longstanding partnership that made the experience possible.

"The graciousness of Mr. Ryan and his group inviting us to join with them, and the clearly powerful and deep relationship that he has built over the past 25 years, allowed us a glimpse into the deep hearts of the community there," Wall said.

"It was so wonderful to see so many people wanting and willing to learn about the people of Lac du Flambeau," said longtime participant Julie Ryan. "Lac du Flambeau has become a second home for my family, and to see others enjoy the sights and sounds of the reservation makes me so happy."

The highlight of the trip was attending the 42nd Traditional Bear River Pow Wow, where participants were given the honor of serving the Saturday evening feast.

"That is always so rewarding," said repeat participant Erik Zielinski. "It gives all of us an opportunity to give something back to the community. It's our way of saying thank you."

Tribal member Dr. Brian Jackson said the annual visits have helped build lasting relationships between the communities.

"It's always wonderful to see the group from Prescott visit our community," Jackson said. "All human beings want to be understood and appreciated, and we are thankful for the hundreds of people who have participated in this experience. It is really something special."

"This place has become a repeat destination for me and a lot of other people," said Prescott High School senior Lilly Hillebrand. "I always learn something new, and it is so much fun to reconnect with people in the community. I can't wait to go back next year."

Fellow Prescott senior Lily Vesperman agreed.

"It was my first trip to Lac du Flambeau, and it has become easy to see why it's such a great learning experience," Vesperman said. "All the activities, the places we visited, and the people we met made it so much fun."

The relationship between Prescott and Lac du Flambeau will continue on Saturday, Aug. 8, when A Confluence of Communities takes place at Freedom Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free, family-friendly event offers the public a unique opportunity to experience Native culture firsthand through traditional Ojibwe singing, drumming and dancing. Visitors will also have the chance to learn about the history, traditions, and living cultures of Wisconsin's Native people directly from Native presenters and performers.

Submitted by Prescott School District